Connecting Laptop to Broadband..clueless

maccoll

Need some help please ... recently bought a Laptop, we already have an old computer connected to Broadband with Eircom. Wireless connectivity will cost me 200 Euros with Eircom, 50 for wireless card and 149 for wireless modem. We currently use Netopia Modem. I don't really want to spend another 200 Euros at the moment - how do I connect the Laptop to Broadband without wireless modem ?

Do I need to have an Ethernet cable ... I might have got one with the modem about a year ago ....but have no idea where it is. Where's the best place to get one of these ? And is this the best way to connect the Laptop ... as you can see I haven't got a clue ... would welcome any info.

Ta in advance, McColl

Bard

200 euros? Madness... Just get a Belkin Wireless Router. I sell them where I work for €75. Attatch that to your Netopia Modem and bang - broadband shared over a wireless network.

If you have a WiFi card in your laptop, all you have to do is search for and connect to your new wireless network and you're online. If not, they cost about €39.99 RRP. All that adds up to €115 - a lot less than €200.

maccoll

Bard..You might just have made my day. I've a few more questions for you..will the Belkin Wireless Router have a problem talking to Windows 95 which I am running on the old PC ? The Laptop has XP . I got the Wireless PC Card from Eircom already, that was before they told me I would need to spend another 150 Euros. It's a Netopia 3D Reach 802.1.b/g. I can send it back and get a different one if that's a better idea. Will I need to get an extra cable or connection to link the Netopia with the Belkin ?

Your knowledge is much appreciated ... Thank you ..

Bard

It should work fine with Windows 95.

The cable to connect the Netopia to the Belkin Wireless Router comes in the box with the router.

If you live near Swords or Dundalk, pop in to Harvey Norman and ask them about sharing broadband over a wireless network. I work in the Dundalk branch.

Splinter

macoll how is the old computer connected to the modem? if its by ethernet then u can use that connection to connect the laptop, if by usb then u can just got a ethernet cable and connect the laptop then, but as bard said the wireless option isnt too difficult to do

penexpers

Bard wrote:

200 euros? Madness... Just get a Belkin Wireless Router. I sell them where I work for €75. Attatch that to your Netopia Modem and bang - broadband shared over a wireless network.

It's not quite bang. He'll need to reconfigure the Netopia so that it acts as a bridge and also set the Belkin up to do PPPoE.

Bard

penexpers wrote:

It's not quite bang. He'll need to reconfigure the Netopia so that it acts as a bridge and also set the Belkin up to do PPPoE.

Fair enough ... it was that simple for me - but having avoided Eircom like the plague recently and having gone with a local wireless broadband company instead - with a quick and painless installation and setup, I have no experience of the Netopia box or Eircom's configuration, so I can't comment there.

Setting up sharing of broadband over a wireless network isn't rocket science, but if you need help, there's always experts there to be asked - either here on the boards or in your local friendly computer retailer (... well, some of them...).

dub45

penexpers wrote:

It's not quite bang. He'll need to reconfigure the Netopia so that it acts as a bridge and also set the Belkin up to do PPPoE.

A simpler option but slightly more expensive option would be to get the Linksys wag54g which is an all in one (modem plus router) so minimum configuration needed and you can get that for just over 100 euros in IT direct in Parliament st.

It would be easier to keep the pc connected to the router/modem by cable and go for the wireless connection with the laptop.

maccoll

Hi again Bard .. just catching up on my messages now. I'm gonna take your advice on the Belkin Router, also asked a friend and he suggested it as well.. said that some of the more expensive ones won't work with Windows 95.
Thanks again for the info.
Regards McColl

maccoll

Thanks Splinter. Bought the Ethernet Cable and connected to the Modem, simple when you know how ! Next step wireless modem..

chump

I just got an IBM thinkpad t41

as http://www.epinions.com/pr-IBM_ThinkPad_T41_Centrino_23737fu_PC_Notebook/display_~full_specs

If I get the same wireless router, could I connect that to my IOL BB modem, and would my new laptop have all the right bits to connect to it?

Or can I just add a wireless NIC to the desktop pc and connect thru it to the net?

Which is better, faster and cheaper?

thanks

gandalf

I would recommend this baby. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000TZ8Z8/ref=br_ce_ts_1//202-1534609-9471057

I've been running it now for nearly 3 months and it is the dogs bollix. Have 2 Laptops running off it. I found it fairly easy to set up, no need for a separate modem.