Help me setup a Wireless network?

[Blackhawk47]

Hi guys,

So i am becoming increasingly interested in getting a wireless router. I am on aol and currently use a aging, bt voyager 105 usb modem.

Now according to the aol website the router that they support is this one:
http://help.aol.co.uk/configure-your-netgear-dg834g-wireless-modem/article/20060802093109990031
http://www.netgear.co.uk/wireless_adslrouter_dg834g.php

which can be had for £43, so its not too expensive.

Now basically i have never setup a wireless router before, because i have always been with aol and used usb modems (like the 105).

So if someone could help walk me through what i need/do and the steps, i would be grateful.

A few questions though, on the first link above, it says this:

To configure your modem router

1. Download the Easy Installer for Netgear DG834G wireless modem router.
2. When prompted to save the file to a location select an appropriate place, such as your desktop.
3. Once the AOL Easy Installer is downloaded, double-click the file: DG834G_V4-2_DL.exe.
This will launch the modem router installer and show the Welcome screen.
4. Click Start to continue. If you wish to cancel, click Exit.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your modem router and connect to AOL Broadband.

So does that mean i should use the easy installer, so basically plug everything in and just run that or is there a driver cd with the router that i need to install and should ignore the easy installer? (if there are any aol users here i would be grateful).

Now, what i aim to do is connect my main desktop pc to the router via an ethernet cable, and then i want to be able to connect via wireless, laptops and other devices like my ipod touch. can this be done? and does the router come supplied with an ethernet cable?

Also how does one go about setting up protection like WPA for the first time?

And would you unistall the modem and the dialbb connection that is already set up?

I am probably making it a lot more difficult then it needs to be, so is it a relatively simple/easy process?

Thanks

 

[joey1211]

I never bother with an install cd. Plug in the pc via ethernet, make sure it's set up to get it's ip address via dhcp, open we browser and type in "192.168.0.1" or "192.168.1.1"

There is normally a walkthrough in the manual if you choose not to use the cd.

 

[WobblerJW]

Hi guys,
... snip

as a aol user you would think so but after trying that we found we didn't get supplied with a new username and password when they "Changed Servers" after god knows how many phone calls we got it working but their not helpful and the service now is like watching paint dry

:<

 

[Blackhawk47]

as a aol user you would think so but after trying that we found we didn't get supplied with a new username and password when they "Changed Servers" after god knows how many phone calls we got it working but their not helpful and the service now is like watching paint dry

:<

what do you mean? you mean when they switched and it now comes up with dialbb or do you mean when you got a wireless router?

 

[radderfire]

So does that mean i should use the easy installer, so basically plug everything in and just run that or is there a driver cd with the router that i need to install and should ignore the easy installer? (if there are any aol users here i would be grateful).

Now, what i aim to do is connect my main desktop pc to the router via an ethernet cable, and then i want to be able to connect via wireless, laptops and other devices like my ipod touch. can this be done? and does the router come supplied with an ethernet cable?

Also how does one go about setting up protection like WPA for the first time?

And would you unistall the modem and the dialbb connection that is already set up?

I am probably making it a lot more difficult then it needs to be, so is it a relatively simple/easy process?

Thanks

Some quick answers:

Router will come with an ethernet cable. You do the router config with the computer attached to the router with the ethernet cable.

Setting up the wireless network and using WPA encryption will be a step in the setup process.

You don't need to uninstall existing internet connections.

General comment - You could get your router installed using only the router install disk providing you have an ADSL username and password from AOL. However, I'm guessing AOL probably want to control your connection in some way for business reasons, that's why they ask you to use their own software. Using the AOL software will probably be reasonably straightforward but you're bound to end up with some additional AOL specific software too (any AOL users care to comment?)

Rgds

 

[Blackhawk47]

Hmmm i guess when/if i get the router i will use the aol easy installer it appears to run through the whole installation process, ie plug cables in and then it starts installing drivers and asking for your screen name and what not.

 

[Skidilliplop]

There shouldn't be any drivers for a router.
Believe me you're better off setting it up manually as when it comes to trouble shooting you'll know what all the settings should be.