wireless network

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22 Nov 2005
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Forgive me if i ask some stupid questions here but wireless networks are not my forte... neither are wired networks for that matter!

I don't actually need a network because I've only actually got one computer (though i would like another one as a media centre) but it's the only solution I can think off to my problem, which is this:

Our telephone line died last week and after a unwiring and rewiring all the extensions throughout the house i established that the line i put from my bedroom to my office/study for broadband is broke. Only problem is I can't replace it because its under laminate floor and skirting boards in the bedroom and carpet on the landing.

so my proposed solution is to have a wireless router/broadband modem it the bedroom and get a wireless adapter for my computer and get broadband that way. Then I can add another computer to the network in future.

It seems like an expensive way to get broadband but its got to be better than the wire I temporarily have trailing across the house, and will be useful if i do make my media centre.

The problem is I have no idea which bits to buy. Some routers seem to have a broadband modem built in and some don't, then I keep seeing access points listed with routers but I don't even know what an access point is... then am i better getting a pci or usb adapter for my computer? I assume PCI.... then do i need to have a computer physically connected to the router to set it all up in the first place.... argh... all i want to do is ply CoD4 online!!!

Sorry that turned out to be a long post and thanks for any help and advice offered!
 
Who suppplies your broadband is it via a BT phoneline?

Do you already have a broadband 'box', does it have USB or a network cable to connect to your PC?

Chances are your broadband arrives by BT phone line in which case its adsl and to get wireless in more than one location you should replace your existing unit with a wireless router with adsl. The access point is just the wireless facility you automatically get it if the box is wireless.

I prefer PCi wireless adapters over USB but both work. Lots of adsl wireless routers, many would reccomend the ordinary netgear units. New models tend to have high speed wireless (MIMO or pre N) which is only needed if you have difficult conditons for the radio signal or transfer big files over a network. Even basic routers are fast enough for broadband sharing if the wireless reception is good.

Theres an alternative to wireless which is to use Homeplug (ethernet via the mains supply) but you would need to have ethernet ports on all your PC's and one on the broadband box. Very very easy to set up and reliable, 2 adapters to start then one more for each pc to be attached to the network.
 
thanks for the response. My broadband is via the bt line and i currently just have a cheap usb modem, so i assume i need a router with adsl as apposed to just a router.

i saw those mains things when i was browsing in john lewis the other day... so they are good are they? are they more expensive? are they more reliable than going wireless.
 
just looked at those mains thingies... it looks like they cost at least £30 per adapter and i'd still need to by new modem.

maybe wireless is the way forward. what are wireless connections like. would it screw with my online gaming?
 
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