I'm not stupid but... modem/router?

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to the
spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
doesn't have the luxury of internet.
If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does it have
to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's job
properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone & power
socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason, natch)?
Sorry if it's a stupid question...
Thanks, John.

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

I would think that would be ok. The reason for a land ethernet is to
configure the router. I would have a ethernet cable to configure your router
because my Lynksys at least has a web browser interface, but I've done it
wirelessly. But sometimes the ip adresses change and you would want to still
be able to get in there to reset them. So if you have a ethernet socket in
one of your machines it should have a different mac address (land) so that
ip address should stay the same to still get in there.
"John" <shoppingdogremovethis@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4158012c$1_1@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
>I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to the
>spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
>doesn't have the luxury of internet.
> If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does it
> have to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's
> job properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone &
> power socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
> delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason,
> natch)?
> Sorry if it's a stupid question...
> Thanks, John.
>

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Is that possibly a U.K. configuration or a typical U.S.? I don't have ADSL,
but rather cable. I thought though that at least here in my area in the
U.S., the modem had ethernet rather than USB. Interesting point though.
That's a bummer if it does not provide ethernet.

Jeff


"Frank le Spikkin" <zaq@invalid.jp> wrote in message
news:Xns95718E21B3316FlSxxx@130.133.1.4...
> "Jeff Durham" <jdurham.outdoor.life@cinci.rr.com> wrote in
> news:0DT5d.121564$787.49000@fe2.columbus.rr.com:
>
>> Did not your phone company already provide one?
>
> ADSL modems provided by ISPs typically only have a USB downstream
> connection ... and routers don't typically have networkable USB.

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

"John" <shoppingdogremovethis@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4158012c$1_1@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to
the
> spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
> doesn't have the luxury of internet.
> If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does
it have
> to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's job
> properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone &
power
> socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
> delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason,
natch)?
> Sorry if it's a stupid question...
> Thanks, John.

others might have already answered your questions...
also noticed you are in the UK -
and things may be different than the USA...probably not.
How is your DSL physically connected to the single laptop now ?
Is there a DSL modem and then a Ethernet connection to your laptop,
or is there a USB connection from the modem ?

If Ethernet, then a wireless access point merely changes the "transport"
from wired Ethernet to "wireless" Ethernet.. but you still have a
problem with TCP/IP.
You will need a 2nd IP address for the 2nd laptop - this is usually
resolved
with a router that "hides" your local network from the real outside
network.
The "router" creates a virtual network with many IP addresses (you just
need 2).
So - you need a wireless access point to roam, and a router to get more
than
a single IP address for your local network of 2 laptops -
You can do this all in a single unit - a wireless router,
which usually also has a few Ethernet wired ports -

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 13:01:01 +0100, "John"
<shoppingdogremovethis@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

>I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to the
>spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
>doesn't have the luxury of internet.
>If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does it have
>to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's job
>properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone & power
>socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
>delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason, natch)?
>Sorry if it's a stupid question...
>Thanks, John.

Nope, not a stupid question. This was key to my needs as well when I
as at the same stage as you.

Yes, a wireless ADSL modem / router will happily sit there and
broadcast your network so that both of your laptops can roam happily
with no need for either to be anchored to your spare bedroom desk.

In fact, FYI, I went one step further. I reclaimed my spare bedroom
completely by boarding over the loft and installing a server at one
end. The only bit of IT equipment in the spare room now is the router
in the corner. I generally work on my lap in front of the TV or if I
have more serious work to do set the laptop down on the dining room
table, plug in a USB keyboard and USB mouse and work from there. All
files are stored on the server which provides soooo many advantages
over the laptop in terms of storage capacity and changeable
components. The loft is a fully functional office should I need it,
which I do for running backups and various other functions, but
primarily I need not venture up there. So great functions, and no
wires.

The only note of caution I would suggest is that making configuration
changes to the router and performing firmware updates over the
wireless is not advisable. A piece of cat5 was supplied with the
router and my laptop (as with most) has an on board LAN connection.
To do any of the above I simply plug this into the router and sprawl
out on the spare bed - the rest of the time there is no cable
connection.

Hope this re-assures you :-)