anyone have more than 1 computer at home? I need help

[gm]

Okay I have 2 computers at home and my house if full of wires going from one computer to a moden and than to another computer. I cannot stand the way my house looks with all the wires.

What is wireless router and is it easy to install. I have SBC DSL. I heard that a wireless router will make it easy but I do not want to open up my computers since I know nothing about the insides lol.

How do you all handle more than one computer as far as wires. I wish I can take a pic and show you how my house looks with all the wires(well in addition to the computers, I have one room with xbox live with wires everywhere, the other room with the old supernintendo system with wire everywhere. Its summer and kids are all into games now. lol.

on top of that, I really want to buy a laptop but want to get rid of all the wires attached to my computer. I will have to put up tape all over the wires so no one trips.

help.

 

[makinorlando]

I have three computers in my house - I desktop and 2 laptops (one business and personal). I have a wireless router that was easy to install. My desktop computer is wired to the router and the modem, and my two laptops are wireless - one requires a wireless card and the other was wireless ready.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge can give you some details on using a desktop computer wireless-ly (is that a word). I think the wireless "card" on the desktop goes in one of the expansion slots on the back of the CPU.

I am sure that the "Geek Squad" at Best Buy or something similar would be able to help you out. Maybe just go speak to someone in the computer department and ask what it would required - take you computer models, etc.

Wireless is the best thing! I worked a full 8 hour (+) workday on Thursday sitting on the patio table on my lanai! Cordless phone and wireless laptop!

 

[ktpool]

For your desktop (or laptop not wireless capable), purchase a USB wireless 'card' when you get your router. They are relatively inexpensive and should be very easy to install. We use it with 2 desktops in our house and it works very well, even on different floors from where the router is.

 

[tmt martins]

A wireless router is easy to install.

Make sure you use the WEP security so no one can use it but who you tell it to.

You can get USB wireless adapters that you just plug in so you don't need to take your computer apart.

Most new Laps have wireless built in so all you would have to do is link it in.

I have my main computer on hard wire to the Modom .DD's is on wireless and my lap is on wireless.
We also link her PSP when needed for updates.

It's real easy and if you are not worrying about the latest and greatest you can get some great deals .Best Buy ,Staples, Comp USA will all have evrything you need.

Office Depot has Netgear G for $40 for the router and $40 for the Adapters.Super G is about $60 for each.

 

[gm]

thanks for the replies.

I will try what you all suggested and let you know how it goes.

I will also try office depot and best buy.

 

[LoraJ]

When buying a router, I would do a little research on the best one. Try this forum:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wlan

They usually advise to stay away from store brands like D-link, etc.

How old is your laptop? Does it already have an internal wireless adapter?
If not, you can get a card like this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...tCategoryId=pcmcat7000050001&id=1051384663962

And it pretty much just slips into the slot on the side of your notebook. Thr wireless router hooks up in between your DSL modem and your desktop. As someone advised above, make sure you set up a WEP passcode. This will secure your network. Unless you don't live too close to anyone else.

My notebook can see about 10 other connections, so I have to keep mine protected.

 

[ktulu]

I personally like the Linksys brand, it's a division of Cisco, and Cisco is one of the leading router companies that most ISP's use to get your packets around the internet.

When you choose your security level, you will most likely be using 802.11g, so I recommend WPA over WEP. WPA provides better security over WEP, you can google the differences between the two. The router should also have the ability to restrict what computers can access your wireless device via the MAC, or hardware address. This provides security on two fronts, one someone would have to know what MAC addresses you allow, and they would have to know the key as well.

If you have a device that can only do 802.11b, then you will have to use WEP, but by restricting by MAC address, you should be okay.

Oh, finding the MAC address will be easy, most (if not all) of the wireless adapters have the MAC printed on the bottom with the serial number. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

darren

 

[miss missy]

no wireless here, I got 2 FIOS (fiber) kick butt fast connections! It plugs into phone jack, love it! Kicks way better than DSL. But FIOS not out everywhere yet. Product is from Verizon.

 

[Dream]

Just wanted to add that since you say have video game players in the house and if you think they might do any online playing with their system, you need to be careful which security settings you use on your router! There are some settings that won't allow that.

That is the bulk of my technical knowledge in this area! But I can swear by the Geek Squad at Best Buy. They installed my router (we have 3 computers ) and things work flawlessly .

 

[Barb D]

While I have you all here, maybe you can help me with my wireless problem...

My desktop (with a USB wireless card) keeps its connection well, but my laptop has been losing the wireless connection about every 10 minutes. If I look at the wireless properties twice (without even changing anything) it will reconnect. Any ideas?

 

[ktulu]

no wireless here, I got 2 FIOS (fiber) kick butt fast connections! It plugs into phone jack, love it! Kicks way better than DSL. But FIOS not out everywhere yet. Product is from Verizon.

Yes it does I have the 15/2 package (Texas), and it rocks. Now if I could just get them to do a 100/100 I'd be even happier, I could run my servers from my house (I have static IP's).

Barb D: I recall a microsoft knowledge base article on this, if I can find it again I'll PM it to you.

darren

 

[Poohnatic]

We have my laptop and one pc, soon to be two. We use a Linksys and it's been fantastic. My older laptop needs a wireless card, but can be plugged in to the network.

In a week, we switch to FIOS and Verizon is providing a wireless router free. The only concern I have is how it can be firewalled. We're a security enabled network, and when I view the rest of the neighborhoods networks (5 or 6 now), none are secured. FIOS has been here for a few months, and that's when everyone else when wireless.

Suzanne

 

[Disney Doll]

We have a 2wire wireless, that we got from SBC.

 

[ktulu]

We have my laptop and one pc, soon to be two. We use a Linksys and it's been fantastic. My older laptop needs a wireless card, but can be plugged in to the network.

In a week, we switch to FIOS and Verizon is providing a wireless router free. The only concern I have is how it can be firewalled. We're a security enabled network, and when I view the rest of the neighborhoods networks (5 or 6 now), none are secured. FIOS has been here for a few months, and that's when everyone else when wireless.

Suzanne

You can choose to broadcast your SSID (network name) or not too. If you enable WPA (or WEP) and restrict what computers can be on the network via the MAC address, you'll be okay.

Nothing is 100%. You could take a pc, seal it in a safe, encase that in steal re-enforced concrete and drop it into the deepest part of the ocean, and if someone wanted the data bad enough, they'd get it

darren

 

[LoraJ]

While I have you all here, maybe you can help me with my wireless problem...

My desktop (with a USB wireless card) keeps its connection well, but my laptop has been losing the wireless connection about every 10 minutes. If I look at the wireless properties twice (without even changing anything) it will reconnect. Any ideas?

make sure both the card and adapter have the latest firmware, you can get it from the companies website.

 

[Barb D]

make sure both the card and adapter have the latest firmware, you can get it from the companies website.

I fixed the problem. I was thinking it had something to do with WEP, because the problem started after I changed to WEP encryption from WPA. (I had to switch to WEP because the USB wireless card on the new desktop couldn't do WPA.) Anyway, I fooled around with it and figured out that if I turned off IEEE 802.1x authentication the problem went away. I guess it must try authenticating at certain intervals.

Anyway, it's fixed now.