new to home networking

Hi all,

Firstly I am new to home networking, I have been trying to figure it out by researching on net but it's a bit confusing. At the moment I am using a pc, broadband connection with the speedtouch 330 modem.

Here's what I want to do, share the internet connection with a laptop, it hasn't got a wifi or anything like that. The pc has an ethernet too though, haven't used as yet!

What would I have to buy in order to do this..im not really up on wireless, might like to just stick to wired for now, is this possible?? Basically I need a first time user home networking instructions, easy and straight to point. Maybe a step by step process, can anyone help??

Also I just looked in my network connections on pc and I noticed I have the broadband connection going (which should be) and also something under that saying 1394 connection net adaptor connected too, should this be connected???

It's all dutch to me....any help would be great, thanks

Buy a wireless ADSL router. As an example, something like http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4N1P

Buy USB wireless dongles for the devices you want to use wirelessly and which don't have wireless already (many modern laptops have wireless built-in).

Connect your main PC to the router via Ethernet cable (normally supplied with the router, check the contents list of the model you go for).

Configure your router according to its instructions (usually CD based wizard) from your PC.

Then configure the router for wireless operation.

This may sound daunting, just remember it's designed for home use and is pretty straightforward. If you have any problems post on a forum like this and there will be plenty of people willing to help.

I think from what you have said this would be totaly perfect for your situation.

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=DG834GT-WG111T

It's a dsl wireless router with 4 ethernet ports and wireless capability of coarse these netgear routers are VERY populer there will be plenty of people including myself to help you here if you have any problems installing it altho you prolly wont.

What you get for that is the router as mentioned a ethernet cable which you can connect to your pc via the ethernet port you mentioned your pc has but you've never used.
But also what your get there is a usb wireless dongle which after setting up router just connect the usb device to your laptop and enter the wpa pass key etc and your laptop will be online as easy as that.

Basicly if you do choose to buy this when it arrives connect the router to the dsl phoneline cable thats currently in your current speedtouch modem connect router to power cable and plug it in and connect ethernet cable which will come with it to router and to pc's ethernet port.
Then after thats all connected and its powered up insert the cd that came with the router it will bring up a auto install wizard and just follow the instructions. It will ask you for simple stuff like your isp's user name and password etc. Make sure when you come to setting up the wireless part in the wizard you select "wpa encryption" if you dont any naighbers could gain access to your broadband.

Again theres not much more to it apart from that really its pretty easy to follow the automated wizards instructions. However if you do have any problems u can always just reconnect cables etc to speedtouch modem come back here and tell us with as much info as possible the problem you've encountered and we'll try to help.

Oh yeh thats also a point i just remembered netgear have a freephone helpline you can phone if you have problems installing there devices too it will be printed on the box.

Blackmesa8

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Then configure the router for wireless operation.

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As mentioned in another post, don't forget to turn on some form of encryption when doing this, preferably WPA. This is not the default setting on some modem/routers.

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Here's what I want to do, share the internet connection with a laptop, it hasn't got a wifi or anything like that. The pc has an ethernet too though, haven't used as yet!

What would I have to buy in order to do this..im not really up on wireless, might like to just stick to wired for now, is this possible?? Basically I need a first time user home networking instructions, easy and straight to point. Maybe a step by step process, can anyone help??

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Hi, your speedtouch 330 modem is connected to the Desktop PC via a USB cable, so all you need is a RJ45 crossover patch lead to connect between your laptop and the Desktop PC. Then configure the PC and laptop.

http://www.active-robots.com/products/accessories/patch-leads.shtml

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080330163235AANlHRU

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/99/33602445-internet-connection-sharing-with-windows-xp.html

http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/forum/hardware-advice/27176-transfer-file-pc-laptop.html

http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=594953

http://www.networking.windowsreinstall.com/directconnectionnetwork/index.htm

Edited by deleted (Sun 13-Jul-08 23:49:28)

Thanks guys...

I will look into doing this.

I'd try to avoid USB devices for reasons that I have made here many times before. You are better off using mini-PCI or PC Card (PCMCIA) in a laptop and PCI in a desktop/tower.