Wi-fi help needed.

[wolf63]

Hello and help. I have a PC and have bought a laptop. I want to set up a wireless system so that I can surf on my laptop elsewhere in the house. I have broadband via Telewest/Virgin. Windows XP. I have a wireless networking PCMCIS adaptor which I think is for the laptop. I know I have to buy something to stick in the PC is this thing the right one to use? http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumb er/0622079/Trail/searchtext%3ECABLE+ROUTER.htm If it is and I, amazingly, work out how to set it up how do I get broadband on my laptop? I don't have a disk. I have money-off tokens for Argos so it would bring the price down a little bit. Thanks

[wolf63]

Change of product - previous one not available at my Argos.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6 754257/Trail/C%24cip%3D1500011728.Office%2C%2BPC%2 Band%2Bphones%3EC%24cip%3D1500011742.PC%2Bperipher als%3EC%24cip%3D1500011747.Modems%2Band%2Brouters. htm

[Ethel]

I am also with Virgin and have a desktop and laptop.

I do not like bellkin. I have used a Linksys WRT 54G for three years. The deskptop and router are in the loft. The desktop connects to the router by ethernet cable - my choice, I could connect wirelessly with an adapter.

My laptop is wifi enabled as most laptops under 2 years old are. It connects wirelessly all over the house, in the summer house at the bottom of the garden and from my next door neighbour's house.

When you buy your router follow the instructions exactly. If you connect the laptop by ethernet during the setup it will find the connection once you disconnect the cable.

[wolf63]

Ethel

Thanks for your answer - but I got lost after the word loft.

I live in a 2 floor flat in the city centre. The PC is on my first floor and the laptop will only really be used in my bedroom - so I can surf under the duvet etc

Basics -

I bought a second hand Dell laptop and got the adaptor with the laptop.

Do I just buy the cable router thingy and plug that into the PC and plug the adaptor into the laptop?

Do all the routers have firewalls or should I look for this when looking for one?

I might buy from Argos and I might not.

How do I get the Virgin internet software onto the laptop?

I get lost with all this technology. Any help would be gratefully accepted.

[Ethel]

Okay - I only mentioned my router was in the loft to show the excellent range it has.

When you buy the router you plug it in to to the Virgin broadband modem by the cable supplied.

If you plug your laptop in to the router during the setup it will detect the settings and be ready to go when you unplug it.

You do not need to have any further software installed on your laptop - the adapter will pick up the internet signal without problems.

If you want to install the Virgin software on your laptop you can phone them up and they will send you a disk.

I don't know if all routers have a firewall - my linksys does.

As your desktop will be right next to the router, I would connect to the router via ethernet cable. You should have one already, going from the desktop to the broadband modm. Simply unplug it from the modem and plug in to the router.