Question about a Router

[Sthronds]

Here's my plan. . . I just recently got cable internet access (yeah!). My parents live next door and they are still on dial-up. They are getting a new computer next month and I was wondering if I could just get a router that had a large enough span to reach their house. Is that even possible? Can you hook a PC up for wireless access? I have tried to look up info online but as soon as something get's technical my brain refuses to decipher it. So, if anyone knows anything about this and can answer me in simple terms, I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well -- there is a new standard .... whatever number XXX.N that is supposed to reach much further than the old routers.

I bought one about 2 months ago and I can go way out into our backyard and still get a good connection. We have a 2 acre lot so when I say way out there -- I mean way out there.

I think it'd be worth a try but I make no promises.

And yes, you can buy a network card for a PC.

 

[helenabear]

Yes you can, depending on how far apart your homes are. My laptop picks up three or four different routers in the neighborhood. Most aren't secured either so rather annoying to see. These are all the "G" routers that I find. I can also use my laptop all over my lot w/o any troubles at all.

You can do wireless cards on your PC, however I find them to be terribly unreliable. I had my desktop on wireless and I kept dropping a connection. Not bad if you use it occasionally, but not the best.

I would suggest trying it out before they get rid of dial up all together.

 

[bicker]

It's possible to hook up a desktop workstation to a wireless router with a wireless adapter (sold separately), but also possible that connecting a device that is outside your property would violate your cable internet provider's terms and conditions by doing so, so I'd call them and check first.

 

[ZebraStripes]

Yes, I believe you can do this with a wireless router. In my brother's neighborhood he says this is quite common, using each others signals. I have a Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster that the cable modem hooks into, then we run laptops with a Wireless-G Notebook Adapter. So, its definately possible, I'm just a bit techno challegened so I can't tell you exactly how to do it.

 

[cardaway]

Yes, I believe you can do this with a wireless router. In my brother's neighborhood he says this is quite common, using each others signals. I have a Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster that the cable modem hooks into, then we run laptops with a Wireless-G Notebook Adapter. So, its definately possible, I'm just a bit techno challegened so I can't tell you exactly how to do it.

That's what ours is like except we are currently just using it for other locations in our large house. When the secondary computers seach for a connection they pick up our network and at least two of our neighbors.

 

[Sthronds]

Thanks for the help. I think we might try it. They just need to get their new computer and I need to research routers. What fun! It sounds like it could work though.