Shoutbox

In a couple of days I will be getting a new laptop. It's supposed to be ready to get online, but I've been looking into routers and they've got different sorts of connections. (802.11g etc.) How will I know what type of router I should get? Also, I want to keep my desktop pc hooked up with the wire, and if possible want to make it so that I can access data on the pc with the laptop. I think I can do that by getting a router with a switch built in, is that true?

It depends on the wireless card you have the router you need. And for conect a pc to laptop you can use remote acces

Point is, I don't know what kind of wireless card the laptop has.

Go to Control Panel > Red & Internet Connections > Wireless Red Connections > Properties and i think you'll find what kind of wireless card is

If it is 802.11b/g, any 802.11g router would serve your needs. Just make sure it has at least 1 ethernet port on it, or you wont be able to connect to your computer. Do you have an internet connection youd like to share?

Cloudy

quote:

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Originally posted by Rodney
In a couple of days I will be getting a new laptop.

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So, yeah.

I was kinda hoping to have the router by the time I got the laptop but it seems I'll have to wait and see what card it's got.

You wont have to wait. If it has a 802.11g wireless card, all wireless routers (g standard) will access it. Just make sure your wireless router supports WPA and WEP, so you are prepared for any kind of encryption.

Cloudy

Well I'm getting the laptop through my university and all it says in the specs is WLAN, LAN, Modem. However, looking through their site, all of their other laptops seem to have 802.11g so I think it's worth the risk and get one of those.
That leaves my other question: if I buy a router that's also a switch, will I be able to set up a network and access the pc with the laptop and vice versa?

Yes Just after you set your wireless up, set it like a normal network. We have a similar setup here, 2 desktops and 1 laptop on wireless, and a desktop on cable, all connecting and accessing through the router.

Cloudy

PS: If you get a 802.11g router, its backwards compatible with 802.11b.

Right, thanks. I'll be doing some shopping tomorrow then