Wireless Broadband

[Skyryder]

Wife wants one for Cxmas. I have no idea what wireless broadband is except that it comes in a box. So I need a bit of help here. I underestand that you can run more than one PC with one. So any ideas on makes brands what I should be looking for etc. The best the worst?? Dick Sith or should I shop around etc. So any help much thanks etc.

Skyryder

[Indiana_Jones]

Do you mean getting a wireless router and using wireless network cards in your PC's?

-Indy

[MSTRS:Me]

I have a Dynalink router, with one PC hardwired and one running wireless. It has 'slots' for 3 more wireless.
Basically, you will need a router, a wireless card and aerial, and a filter on the phonejack if you use it for the phone as well.

[Indiana_Jones]

If you're not PC minded, grab a Belkin Router + USB network stick, they're pretty handy and quick to set up, but PCI cards are generally better. For a laptop, those skinny cards that go into the side, i forget the name, I bet someone here will know what they're called.

http://www.gpstore.co.nz/Hardware/1498573.html

-Indy

[jrandom]

Do you mean getting a wireless router and using wireless network cards in your PC's?

Dude, he doesn't know. Your post will be just so much gibberish to him.

Skyryder, do you already have a broadband internet connection? That's the first thing you need to arrange (I like Orcon's connection plans).

Once that's turned on, go to Dick Smith and buy one of these.

Yes, that particular brand and model.

Then, for each PC that you want to hook up to the internet without plugging a cable between the PC and your new Netgear Wireless ADSL Router, buy one of these.

Then get a friend who knows about computer shit to come round and set it up for you.

[Indiana_Jones]

Dude, he doesn't know. Your post will be just so much gibberish to him.

I didn't know if he meant a wireless network or wireless broadband

-Indy

[jrandom]

I didn't know if he meant a wireless network or wireless broadband

My point is that neither does he.

You don't have much experience working with people who genuinely don't give a shit / have no experience dealing with computers, do you?

[The Tazman]

I'm guessing that you have a laptop if you she wants wireless. If you don't there is no point going wireless!!

The first question is do you have a broad band connection?

The second question would be how old is the computer or laptop you have? If they are quite new there is a good chance they will have capability to use broadband and/or wireless.

I would definitely find a friend who has some good computer knowledge to have a look at what you've got before you start trying to buy stuff that you may not need.

[turtleman]

I'd check it with the missus first, before going to far and confusing the issue even more.

I guess she either wants a wireless LAN (Local area network) in the house that can access an existing (or new) ADSL broadband connection from either a single, or multiple computers, or she wants totally wireless broadband via woosh, vodem (vodafone) or something of that ilk.

[Indiana_Jones]

My point is that neither does he.

You don't have much experience working with people who genuinely don't give a shit / have no experience dealing with computers, do you?

I'm no mind reader!

And damn right I have no customer service, I loathe it lol

-Indy

[scracha]

Orcon are ok..I'm a customer.

Were I not in their contract though I'd be switching to the Vodafone/ihug deal. iHug's customer service is $hite though but you can't complain about free broadband.

Wifi router. The Belkin Mimo stuff is great for coverage but there's nothing really wrong with a basic D-LINK DSL-G604T. Tried and tested. Netgear & SMC also good. Avoid Linksys as I have to replace lots of them. Also avoid the new 'N' wifi stuff as the standard isn't ratified yet....unless you REALLY need the extra speed and range...if so my advice would be to stick to one brand.


If you need a wifi adapter for the desktops then they're all much of a muchness (a lot of them share the chipsets)...the TP-Link stuff seems well made and cheap. Avoid the USB wireless dongles as they are generally $hite. If the laptop is a bit older and hasn't wifi then go for a PCMCIA wifi adapter.

Noel Leeming is generally the cheapest high street place for these sorts of toys although www.qmb.co.nz is OK for mail order.

If you're needing extra coverage, adding a cheapo reverse SMC antenna is good (I've connected a farm to an outhouse about 250m away with the cheapo yagi antennas and they've been faultless...been as surprised as anyone about that).

[HTFU]

Wife wants one for Cxmas. I have no idea what wireless broadband is except that it comes in a box. So I need a bit of help here. I underestand that you can run more than one PC with one. So any ideas on makes brands what I should be looking for etc. The best the worst?? Dick Sith or should I shop around etc. So any help much thanks etc.

Skyryder

Slingshot give you a wireless router for $50 with a new broadband connection to their services it is a dynalink wireless modem/router combo. Is rated in Australia as one of the best. I run my laptop from it and so does my neighbor so it gets good coverage. I also use a belkin range expander $ 100 which gives me further coverage at the school hostel where I work at nights, it basically just plugs into a power point, picks up the signal and sends it over a new area, good for two storey houses etc.

If you already have broadband you will already have a modem so will need the wireless router to send out the signal to your laptop or PC, most laptops have a wireless card built in to recieve the signal from the router, for the PC you may need to buy a card to go inside or though you can get a usb card pretty cheap that just goes into the usb port (works on a laptop as well, but as scracha said can be shite) .

[Skyryder]

Appreciate all this. Don't have Broadband yet but going to go this way.

At least I got some idea of the questions to ask. That's a help in itself.

Skyryder

[scracha]

Appreciate all this. Don't have Broadband yet but going to go this way.

At least I got some idea of the questions to ask. That's a help in itself.

Skyryder

Oh, and if you're not getting a central splitter then mind put line filters basically everywhere.....except the ADSL modem. Number of businesses I go to who's broadband cuts off when the phone rings is astonishing. Limit devices attached to phone system to 4 ....mibby 5. Happy surfing.

Plug one of these into your router for backup and sharing files. They're ace.
http://www.digizone.co.nz/index.php?...roducts_id=321

There's good backup software here too. Better than Norton Ghost and Acronis and it's FREE.
http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm

Gawd I love my job....getting paid to play (sorry..fix) with other folks toys. Shame all the money goes on paying other folk to fix my toys.

Oh...last but definitely not least. Most wireless router arrive with wifi switched on and encryption switched off. This is a bad thing. Turn on WPA/WPA2 encryption. Don't bother with MAC filtering and hiding the SSID etc. If you get stuck there's loads of bored geeks on this site who'll help you out...

[turtleman]

... Avoid Linksys as I have to replace lots of them... .

Interesting you say this - I currently deploy 6 Linksys devices around the home - ADSL2 modem, wireless router, 1 USB nic and 3 PCI nics - and all have performed faultlessly for over 2 years (except adsl2 modem which has performed faultlessly for 9 months). A large number of friends and associates report the same.

Meh, maybe we just got lucky...