Wireless Internet

[kloofnek]

A while back I was advised on Answerbank to use an ethernet network adapters as my desktop pc is not wireless enabled,and I wanted to do away with the long cable running to my pc.....which I am using at the moment,however these seem to be causing problems as the internet access keeps stopping..I got these so when my service provider VM,relocated my tv,top box and hub to the other side of lounge.,I could get rid of the cable.
So I had VM out today,supposedly to put the long ethernet cable back but he told me they don`t do them anymore...I even have the cable they left when doing the relocating but not the bits on each end,had to cut one off as it was running through a hole in the wall.He told me if I had had them he could have done it ...but they don`t have them !!!!

Does this mean I have to buy a new wireless enabled desktop to avoid the connection problem????
Or can I get someone other than my service provider..who cannot do it..to do it,if so,whom do I look for?

[kloofnek]

it is the latest VM hub,50GHZ...only had it 6 weeks..not a telephone cable

[bhg481]

The internet icon can tell you the situation without clicking on it. If you float your mouse-pointer over it, it will tell you what network access you have ie, local or local+internet (the globe on the icon disappears too if you have no internet access). If you have local access it means that your connection to the router is good. If internet access has gone then it could be Virgin's fault. I'm with TalkTalk and occasionally lose internet access for a minute or two but never lose access to the router. Internet access comes back by itself after a short while.

[kloofnek]

I think it is connected to my Tivo box

[bhg481]

Tivo box should be a separate entity, connected to you Virgin wall box by a coaxial cable (I have Virgin with Tivo for TV ONLY ie, no internet access).
I guess there will be a separate cable from your wall box to another box to get your internet access and it is this box which will have an ethernet connection to your ethernet adapter. Not having Virgin for internet access I can't really comment on how they organise their connections.

[Fitzer]

Kloof, can we step back a bit please, is your problem that you have a desktop PC which you wish to connect to your new Virgin router without a cable and the desktop PC is not wireless enabled? Is the router in the same room as the PC or at least fairly close and not through any mediaeval thick stone walls, if so then any USB Wifi dongle from Amazon such as Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation (this isn't a reccomendation as I've never used one just an example) should do as long as you have a spare USB port. Your engineer doesn't sound as if he was very helpfull, ours have always been really good.

[Fitzer]

BHG, yes there should be separate connection to the router (TiVo has it's own broadband connection), the router/hub will have the normal ethernet connections but since Kloof wants wireless we can ignore those unless the distance between PC & hub is too great.

[kloofnek]

the pc is in the next room,had cable running through the wall to pc which is just on the other side.I find the network connectors ok ...yes,it disconnects sometimes but as i have said it is a problem when my son is playing games( usually snooker/pool) ,thus he wants the long ethernet cable back...but apparently not possible...and yes the router is connected to my Tivo box

[SlackAlice]

If you've got Internet and TV then the fibre optic cable goes via a two way splitter, one to Wireless Enable Router(either Super Hub or Super Hub 2) and one to Set Top/Tivo box.

[kloofnek]

SlackAlice..exactly that!

[kloofnek]

methyl...it is black,shiny,has blue lights up the edge of it.on the front just says VirginMedia

[SlackAlice]

The pretty blue lights are too damn bright, stuck a piece of tape over mine ☺☺☺

Normally the powerline type adaptors are pretty foolproof but I'd clean all the cable end/connections with methylated spirit. Thats the cables from router to plugin adaptor and from plugin adaptor to pc, with particular attention to the pc end (it gets a bit dusty there). I'd even consider buying new cables from somewhere like Maplins.

I can understand the gamer wanting a cable connection, there's no substitute.

[mikey4444]

Kloofnek. I may have recommended this item before ::

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

You don't need to faff about with cables. If your PC doesn't have a Wifi card, just plug this into a USB socket and it will pick up your router. its a simple as that. I have been using one since February and it works just fine !