Help needed with talktalk broadband

[kitty1950]

I have just changed my isp from orange to talktalk but i am experiencing some difficulty setting up my new wireless router. I changed because of the cost as orange was £33 per month and talktalk is free for 12 months, paying for line rental only. I can get an internet connection using an ethernet cable no problem but when it comes to wireless the fun starts, i have a netgear ma111 usb adapter which was ok with the orange livebox but i am now being told by the technical people at talktalk that it is not compatible with the Huawei HG521 talktalk router and need to get a new one and that carphone warehouse sell them for about £15, well carphone said that they don't sell them but argos do, they have I don't know what to buy, am I being fobbed off by talktalk cos they say they can't tell me what to buy. Please help a pensioner from going stark raving bonkers, if I haven't made myself clear then I will try my best to answer any queries, i am fairly new to computers. Thanks Kath.

[ChuckFickens]

For best results you would need a wireless N adaptor with that, the netgear you have is only wireless b (which is really old and slow) so they are not really fobbing you off.

I take it your laptop has not got wireless built in then?

[ChuckFickens]

oh and can you say what version of windows too please.

[overthetop]

I signed up for TalkTalk, then cancelled because it all sounded too complicated for me - I'm totally technophobic and had understood that it would all be done remotely.When I told them why I wanted to withdraw they offered to send somebody to do it for me, but I decided to stick with what I had. Perhaps you could ask for a visit.

[kitty1950]

Hi Chuck, I have a desktop that runs vista home premium, which is my newest computer but I also have a laptop that I have had for five years which runs xp and ideally I would like them both to be wireless, neither of them have built in wireless, so will I have to buy two adapters? In the argos catalogue there is a Netgear N150 and an Isus N but I don't know which one I would need. Your help is appreciated. Kath

[kitty1950]

Hi overthetop, I am beginning to wish that I had never changed but I'm sure it will all turn out ok. I have already told them that I am not very happy and are thinking of cancelling. I will wait and see what help I get from Answerbankers. I don't want to go back to paying £33 a month. Kath

[ChuckFickens]

Do everything you possibly can to NOT run the desktop wireless, it really should only ever be a last resort to have a desktop computer on wireless. the only benefit of wireless is keeping a computer portable, it's is inferior in every other way and as you'll never want to walk round the house using a desktop computer wireless is never needed.

The Netgear N150 seems to be a wireless router, not a wireless dongle. and although it is undoubtedly a better router than the one you have, you don't need another one :)

this is the sort if thing you need..

http://www.argos.co.u...xt%3EUSB+WIRELESS.htm

Or if you are not too far away from the router and only use it for internet use and not copying large files between computers often a wireless G adaptor would be fine

http://www.argos.co.u...xt%3EUSB+WIRELESS.htm

(I can't find specs on your router, but while I can believe it might not support wireless b, it will support g)

[kitty1950]

Thanks for that info Chuck but my desktop is nowhere near my phone line so having a cable connection is not really suitable, I have been running my desktop on wireless using my netgear adapter for the last 14 months and it was fine with no problems using the orange livebox. The problems have only started because I decided to change to talktalk. When I first got my laptop five years ago a friend set me up with a belkin wireless router and a wireless G Notebook Network Card and then when I got the orange livebox he set it up using the netgear adapter that I have now, unfortunately that help is no longer available and I have to sort it out myself albeit with a lot of help from answerbankers. I have tried to connect my Belkin G network card with the new router but while trying to install the software I am told that windows does not recognise the signature or something like that and to stop the installation, so thats what I do, can you tell me what that means. I really am unsure what to do next so any suggestions would help. Kath

[realaleman]

My desktop is also a long way from the phone line (and of course the router). When I first got the router I tried a Belkin wireless dongle, but it was never really successful. What really works is a pair of Powerline ethernet connectors, you plug your ethernet cable into one powerline and it uses the mains wiring to connect to the other powerline which is connected to the router. It works just like you connected directly to the router with an ethernet cable.
The ones I'm currently using were supplied free with my BT Vision box, but I previously used Advent powerline ethernet adaptors which cost me about 50 quid and gave a very reliable connection. Hope this helps.

Geoff

[kitty1950]

Hi Geoff, Yes that is really helpfull, although I am not really keen on spending that amount of money, if it is the only way I can do it then I will. First of all, where do I buy these powerlines and is there anywhere I can look them up and get a bit of info on them? Thanks.

Kath

[realaleman]

Kath.
I googled the advent 85Mbs homeplugs and came up with this site:-http://www.pcchecker.co.uk/forum/viewto
pic.php?f=55&t=56
where they say that with PC World if you reserve online and collect instore they only cost £34.99. You could try somewhere like Amazon, I've usually found them to be pretty cheap for most things.

Geoff.

[kitty1950]

Thanks Geoff, I looked in argos catalogue first and they have a belkin gigabit powerline starter kit for £99.99. I then googled and found the same as you did but it seems that you need another adapter to go with them, i'm sorry but I can't remember exactly what it was but when I clicked on it to order it that is when it showed the other thing that was needed, will you have a look and let me know what you think please.

Thanks

Kath

[realaleman]

Kath.
That link I gave you to PC Checker is unfortunately a couple of years old and when you follow their link to buy the homeplugs it seems that PC World don't do them anymore. But the first homeplug on their list, the DEVOLO 1382 dLAN Highspeed II HomePlug Adapter sells for £39.97, but I can't vouch for it's performance from personal experience, only from looking at the specs online. The ones I'm using at the moment are Comtrend from BT and seem to be a bit expensive from BT shop, but you can plug a 13amp plug into them and turn them on and off, and they might be 200Mbs, I'm not sure. The devolo homeplug is 85Mbs so should be ok. I bet ChuckFickens can give the definitive answer, he seems to know everything that is worth knowing about technical bits and bobs.
Hope this helps Geoff.

[kitty1950]

Thanks again Geoff, you have been very helpful. I agree with what you say about ChuckFickens, he is very knowledgable, it's a pity I can't get him or maybe her to help me out in person. Anyway I am now debating with myself whether to go for a new usb dongle or to buy the powerline adapters. I will probably post again later, bye for now.

Kath