advice on installing wierelss adaptor with Livebox

I have been with freeserve for years using my own router(netgear). However, my son wants to join Orange and install a wireless adaptor to his desktop to go with livebox. I notice that Orange prefers : Speed Touch wireless adaptor connecting via usb. Can anybody recommend an adaptor which connects to ethernet card alrady in his machine. Also is it possible to connect wirelessly for the first time without first connrcting through ethernet cable.He already put his machine and peripherals upstairs, but the BT socket is downstairs.( posted this on Orange section, but no response)

If you have a Netgear router attached to Freeserve (Do you mean Orange?) Why doesn't your son simply attach to your router? Especially as you can only have one ADSL modem on a telephone line. Unless of course you live in different houses.

In either case, your son could install any 802.11g Wireless Adapter in his PC - it is not necessary to use a speedtouch USB adapter - no matter what Orange say. Addtionally I would not recommend a USB attached adapter in a desktop. A PCI adapter would be much more efficient and would not be so liable to damage.

You do not connect wireless adapters to Ethernet. In a desktop they are either PCI or USB.

Yes you can connect wirelessly without using Ethernet first but as he has an Ethernet adapter in his PC it doesn't actually arise.

Yes we live in different houses! actually it is possible to attach an adaptor to ethernet card. My other son who lives in a flat has a netgear bridge attached to his desktop to the ethernet/network card and connects wirelessly to the Netgear router in a different room. I really wanted to know if somebody has managed to attach an adapter to a network card rather than to USB port as Orange support. Then we know that the adaptor is going to work and will not give him problems.

Actually your other son's PC is attached to the network via Ethernet in that case but I won't go into the subtle differences.

As to your question then my original answer based on you being in different houses stands. There is no reason why a PCI 802.11 wirless card shou;ld not be able to connect to a Livebox.

BTW, you don't attach adapters ot network cards - network cards are adapters.

Having said that the Livebox does not have a very good reputation (which may be a refletion of the router or Orange support) and therefore I'd be inclined to use a better, more featured router. There are lots of threads here discussing the merit so the various brands/models. In fact I'd be inclined to read the comments on Orange as an ISP before going down that rout.

Edited by Beerhunter (Wed 06-Jun-07 09:26:24)

Your comments are noted with thanks. However, my son wants to give the Livebox a try(in view of the telephoe connection). Can anybody recommend a Bridge to plug into the Ethernet pci adaptor in his desktop( only one slot is empty), which will talk wirelessly to Livebox(placed downstairs).

I have searched and found: wall-plugged ethernet bridge (Netgear)- XE 102. Apparently, two are required, one plugged into the mains! and into Router( eg Livebox), and the other plugged into the mains near the computer and into the ethernet card. You can have as many XE 102 as you have computers!. My question is: has any body used this system with Livebox? any info would be appreciated.

If he has a PCI Ethernet adapter in his PC and he is now going wireless. Why don't you remove the Ethernet Adapter and put a PCI Wireless card in?