Wireless Router and DSL

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bill Anderson
  • Start date Start date
B

Bill Anderson

I built a new computer around an Asus P5K mbo and with the leftovers and
a cheap cheap case I put together a pretty nice spare computer using my
old Asus P4C800-E mbo. Then I decided to be a nice guy and I offered
the leftover to some friends. Of course they wanted it -- as a second
computer they'll use with their DSL connection. That's when I realized
I know nothing about networking computers -- and they don't either.

So I've done some Googling and I've come to the conclusion they'll need
a router. I also think that since they plan to put the gift computer in
a part of the house a couple of rooms away from their current computer
(and DSL modem) they'll need a PCI wireless card.

So to help them figure out what they need to buy to make this work, I've
gone to Newegg and selected a router:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833124190

and a PCI wireless card for the computer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833124115

Now a few questions:

1) Are these two items a smart buy? Is there better, cheaper, easier to
set up hardware out there?

2) Are these two items all that'll be needed to connect their new
computer as well as their current computer to the Internet using their
DSL modem?

3) I do have a bit of DSL experience from long ago, and as I recall my
DSL modem worked pretty much like a dial-up modem. I wasn't connected
to the Internet all the time as I am now with my cable modem. I could
connect or disconnect at will with DSL. So I wonder -- does the connect
command pass from a computer through a router and on to the DSL modem?
Either computer -- the wireless or the wired computer -- will be able to
activate the DSL modem through the router individually or
simultaneously? I think that's how it should work, but I'm not certain.

4) Will the Linksys router and wireless card arrive with all the
software I'll need to make their wireless connection secure? If not,
what will I need? I've never tried to secure a wireless network, but
I've read enough to know it's something they'll want to do.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Bill Anderson said:
I built a new computer around an Asus P5K mbo and with the leftovers and a cheap cheap
case I put together a pretty nice spare computer using my old Asus P4C800-E mbo. Then I
decided to be a nice guy and I offered the leftover to some friends. Of course they
wanted it -- as a second computer they'll use with their DSL connection. That's when I
realized I know nothing about networking computers -- and they don't either.

So I've done some Googling and I've come to the conclusion they'll need a router. I
also think that since they plan to put the gift computer in a part of the house a couple
of rooms away from their current computer (and DSL modem) they'll need a PCI wireless
card.

So to help them figure out what they need to buy to make this work, I've gone to Newegg
and selected a router:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833124190

and a PCI wireless card for the computer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833124115

Now a few questions:

1) Are these two items a smart buy? Is there better, cheaper, easier to set up hardware
out there?

2) Are these two items all that'll be needed to connect their new computer as well as
their current computer to the Internet using their DSL modem?

3) I do have a bit of DSL experience from long ago, and as I recall my DSL modem worked
pretty much like a dial-up modem. I wasn't connected to the Internet all the time as I
am now with my cable modem. I could connect or disconnect at will with DSL. So I
wonder -- does the connect command pass from a computer through a router and on to the
DSL modem? Either computer -- the wireless or the wired computer -- will be able to
activate the DSL modem through the router individually or simultaneously? I think
that's how it should work, but I'm not certain.

4) Will the Linksys router and wireless card arrive with all the software I'll need to
make their wireless connection secure? If not, what will I need? I've never tried to
secure a wireless network, but I've read enough to know it's something they'll want to
do.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...

Normally the DSL package includes 1 or 2 NIC cards or wireless cards. The modem is usually
a 2 or 4 port router with wireless built in.
 
JAD said:
Normally the DSL package includes 1 or 2 NIC cards or wireless cards. The modem is usually
a 2 or 4 port router with wireless built in.
Click to expand...

Wow. So they should already have everything they need? I'll check with
them tomorrow. Maybe their DSL provider can give us what we need.
 
I built a new computer around an Asus P5K mbo and with the leftovers and
a cheap cheap case I put together a pretty nice spare computer using my
old Asus P4C800-E mbo. Then I decided to be a nice guy and I offered
the leftover to some friends. Of course they wanted it -- as a second
computer they'll use with their DSL connection. That's when I realized
I know nothing about networking computers -- and they don't either.

So I've done some Googling and I've come to the conclusion they'll need
a router. I also think that since they plan to put the gift computer in
a part of the house a couple of rooms away from their current computer
(and DSL modem) they'll need a PCI wireless card.

So to help them figure out what they need to buy to make this work, I've
gone to Newegg and selected a router:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833124190

and a PCI wireless card for the computer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833124115

Now a few questions:

1) Are these two items a smart buy? Is there better, cheaper, easier to
set up hardware out there?

2) Are these two items all that'll be needed to connect their new
computer as well as their current computer to the Internet using their
DSL modem?

3) I do have a bit of DSL experience from long ago, and as I recall my
DSL modem worked pretty much like a dial-up modem. I wasn't connected
to the Internet all the time as I am now with my cable modem. I could
connect or disconnect at will with DSL. So I wonder -- does the connect
command pass from a computer through a router and on to the DSL modem?
Either computer -- the wireless or the wired computer -- will be able to
activate the DSL modem through the router individually or
simultaneously? I think that's how it should work, but I'm not certain.

4) Will the Linksys router and wireless card arrive with all the
software I'll need to make their wireless connection secure? If not,
what will I need? I've never tried to secure a wireless network, but
I've read enough to know it's something they'll want to do.
Click to expand...


You need no software, the router comes with all that built in. I'd
buy a usb wireless adapter instead, much more flexible if the signal
ends up being poor you can move it around to get the best signal.
 
Wow. So they should already have everything they need? I'll check with
them tomorrow. Maybe their DSL provider can give us what we need.
Click to expand...

AAAARG!!! Prune has been cloned!!! Now the Mighty FugOff!!
 
I built a new computer around an Asus P5K mbo and with the leftovers and
a cheap cheap case I put together a pretty nice spare computer using my
old Asus P4C800-E mbo. Then I decided to be a nice guy and I offered
the leftover to some friends. Of course they wanted it -- as a second
computer they'll use with their DSL connection. That's when I realized
I know nothing about networking computers -- and they don't either.

So I've done some Googling and I've come to the conclusion they'll need
a router. I also think that since they plan to put the gift computer in
a part of the house a couple of rooms away from their current computer
(and DSL modem) they'll need a PCI wireless card.

So to help them figure out what they need to buy to make this work, I've
gone to Newegg and selected a router:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833124190

and a PCI wireless card for the computer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833124115

Now a few questions:

1) Are these two items a smart buy? Is there better, cheaper, easier to
set up hardware out there?

2) Are these two items all that'll be needed to connect their new
computer as well as their current computer to the Internet using their
DSL modem?

3) I do have a bit of DSL experience from long ago, and as I recall my
DSL modem worked pretty much like a dial-up modem. I wasn't connected
to the Internet all the time as I am now with my cable modem. I could
connect or disconnect at will with DSL. So I wonder -- does the connect
command pass from a computer through a router and on to the DSL modem?
Either computer -- the wireless or the wired computer -- will be able to
activate the DSL modem through the router individually or
simultaneously? I think that's how it should work, but I'm not certain.
Click to expand...

A router need be setup only once by logging on to it and providing the
username and password that the ISP requires in order to connect.
Thereafter, the router can either be left on permanently. Which means it
will stay connected to the ISP and any computers that are part of the
network will also be automatically connected to the internet. Or,
whenever the router is turned on, it will automatically connect to the
ISP. No software is required on any computer that is connected to the
router to allow it to connect to the ISP.

Obviously what I'm providing here is very basic info about setting up
your router. Also there are such details as WEP/WPA encryption, SSID
etc when using wireless, assigning IPs for each computer, etc, but
basically the above info should at least get you started.
 
Peter said:
A router need be setup only once by logging on to it and providing the
username and password that the ISP requires in order to connect.
Thereafter, the router can either be left on permanently. Which means it
will stay connected to the ISP and any computers that are part of the
network will also be automatically connected to the internet. Or,
whenever the router is turned on, it will automatically connect to the
ISP. No software is required on any computer that is connected to the
router to allow it to connect to the ISP.

Obviously what I'm providing here is very basic info about setting up
your router. Also there are such details as WEP/WPA encryption, SSID
etc when using wireless, assigning IPs for each computer, etc, but
basically the above info should at least get you started.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Pete. My friends will arrive in about 20 minutes to start
discussing what they need. Your note is very timely.
Click to expand...
 
Peter said:
A router need be setup only once by logging on to it and providing the
username and password that the ISP requires in order to connect.
Thereafter, the router can either be left on permanently. Which means it
will stay connected to the ISP and any computers that are part of the
network will also be automatically connected to the internet. Or,
whenever the router is turned on, it will automatically connect to the
ISP. No software is required on any computer that is connected to the
router to allow it to connect to the ISP.

Obviously what I'm providing here is very basic info about setting up
your router. Also there are such details as WEP/WPA encryption, SSID
etc when using wireless, assigning IPs for each computer, etc, but
basically the above info should at least get you started.
Click to expand...


Then why do I have to run Microsoft Broadband Networking on all of my
outlying computers to get my wireless system to work?

Am I doing something wrong? My system works, but I'm all for
simplification. Why run extra software if you don't need it?

Ed, NM2K
 
Ed Cregger said:
Then why do I have to run Microsoft Broadband Networking on all of my outlying computers
to get my wireless system to work?
Click to expand...

You have MSN for an ISP? DSL? The only ISP I know of, that will not function very well
without the software (connection manager staus monitor etc), Is AO-Hell. Most are PPOE and
can be accomplished with the firmware of decent routers.
 
JAD said:
You have MSN for an ISP? DSL? The only ISP I know of, that will not function very well
without the software (connection manager staus monitor etc), Is AO-Hell. Most are PPOE and
can be accomplished with the firmware of decent routers.
Click to expand...

No, I used this with Charter Cable ISP and now am using it with Bell
South DSL.

I'm not a computer whiz, so I could be taking unnecessary steps, etc.
But this is how I have my WiFi/DSL set up running at the moment.

I'm using a Microsoft wireless router (older model) with a mix of
Linksys and Microsoft USB adapters. I also have a couple of laptops with
their own cards (one has a built-in card, the other utilizes a PCMCIA
module). All get along now.

Only problem is I'm stuck using 128 bit WEP because the Microsoft
components in my system will not handle WPA, or whatever that designator
is, for more robust encryption.

Of the four systems that I can receive in my community, I am the only
system running any encryption at all.

Ed, NM2K
 
Back
Top