Help for total novice!

Hi

I'm looking for some help and recommendations for setting up my first
wireless network.

I currently have a PC running XP pro connecting to net using a USB broadband
modem. Shortly I'm buying a laptop which will have XP Home installed and I
want to connect this to my existing set up with a wireless connection.

There are so many products out there I'm a little confused. Some routers
come with modems, I presume I can buy one without and just connect my PC to
the router using an Ethernet connection, then share the broadband connection
by purchasing a PCMCIA wireless card? Also I'll be using this in a 3 story
Victorian house (i.e. quite thick walls and ceilings) are they all capable
of providing a good connection through this?

Can anyone point me in the direction of a beginners guide or point out what
hardware I need, any recommendations on good products would also be
appreciated.

Many thanks

CmH <thelamiaATyahooDOTcom> wrote:

> Can anyone point me in the direction of a beginners guide or point out what
> hardware I need, any recommendations on good products would also be
> appreciated.

<http://www.wireless-starter-kit.com/>

CmH <thelamiaATyahooDOTcom> wrote:
> I currently have a PC running XP pro connecting to net using a USB
> broadband modem. Shortly I'm buying a laptop which will have XP Home
> installed and I want to connect this to my existing set up with a
> wireless connection.

You don't say where you are or what kind of modem you have, or who the ISP
is.

Some USB modems also have an ethernet connection on them. My Motorola
SB5100 has both, and can supposedly use both at the same time. I haven't
tried that.

If you have a modem that already has an ethernet port, you might be very
close. Add any wireless router, maybe "clone" a MAC address if you are on
a cable system and your provider requires it, and away you go.

> Victorian house (i.e. quite thick walls and ceilings) are they all capable

That might be the hard part. Proper positioning, antenna orientation,
maybe external antennas or reflectors, maybe bouncing off the neighboring
building so you only have windows and not brick to penetrate.

> Can anyone point me in the direction of a beginners guide or point out what
> hardware I need, any recommendations on good products would also be
> appreciated.

I wouldn't buy a router with a modem built in. I would get the modem with
ethernet that your ISP offers for rent, and then connect a WiFi router:

Netgear WGB511 802.11g Wireless Networking Kit
WGR614v4 Router and WG511 CardBus card that I have.
$69.79 - $35 = $34.79 for the pair.
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000117DGW/qid=1105746394/sr=8-7/ref=pd_csp_7/002-3005537-5404050?v=glance&s=pc&n=507846>

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

<dold@XReXXHelpX.usenet.us.com> wrote in message
news:dcmaap$t4r$1@blue.rahul.net...
> CmH <thelamiaATyahooDOTcom> wrote:
> You don't say where you are or what kind of modem you have, or who the ISP
> is.

ah, i should have probably also pointed out im in the UK. The modem is a
Fujitsu FX one (defeinately no ethernet on it) and my ISP is plus.net.

Thanks for the help!

CmH <thelamiaATyahooDOTcom> wrote:
> ah, i should have probably also pointed out im in the UK. The modem is a
> Fujitsu FX one (defeinately no ethernet on it) and my ISP is plus.net.

Have a look at
http://www.telephonesonline.co.uk/_modems_routers.asp

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5