Computer help needed !

[Trueoo7]

I think I work on my Cobra too much because when it comes to computers I'm not at all fluent so I'm looking for some help. I need to set up my house for wireless internet. I would like to run one.... maybe two desktop computers and a laptop aside from the main desktop computer that now has a cable modem (Broadband) hooked up to it. The house is three floors, main computer is on the middle floor. There will be one upstairs and one downstairs that I would like to run wireless as well as a laptop floating around from time to time.

What do I need to get? If you have names and model numbers that would be great as I've tried to read through some different ones but don't know what to look for or, whats needed. I know I need a wireless router but whats needed on the other end for the computers to pick it up. They are about five years old and are running Windows XP. One has two USB ports and the other doesn't, although I've seen adapters that plug in to the other type of plugs that turn them into USB ports. Cost is also a consideration so if you have a ballpark figure that would help as well.

Technology changes sooo quickly that its hard to keep up.
Thanks

PS I have a 2.4 GHZ cordless phone, I've heard they can interfere with routers.

[Wes Tausend]

...


It's been a few years since we installed a home network, but that is usually typical ...install and forget these trouble-free devices. You'll be buying much newer equipment than we have.

I like to use Office Depot ( http://www.officedepot.com/ ) or Staples ( http://www.staples.com/ ) as local suppliers since they have even been cheaper than many websites in the past. Their stores often carry much of what is shown and described on the website.

Newegg ( http://www.newegg.com/ ) is a reliable and economical web order site and has a comprehensive customer review database and a good information knowledge base to boot,
( http://www.newegg.com/Info/KnowledgeBase.aspx )

leading to off-site help such as
( http://www.pctechguide.com/63Networking.htm ).

Besides the router you will need a Wireless-G USB Network Adapter for each computer. Some laptop adapters are very small and plug into the side or are built in by factory. Make sure they are compatable frequencies such as G that is now most common. Most routers will handle several computers but there is a limit so make sure you're covered. One computer next to the modem which will plug directly into the router (LAN) can probably be plugged in turn directly to the router, also via LAN cable. You can run other LAN cables if it is easy to find a physical path since most routers also handle several non-wireless LAN connections. LAN connection jacks are very common even on older computers and look like oversized telephone jacks. Most routers will reach throughout your home without a booster and possibly to the neighbors if you don't specify security during set-up.

Good luck.


...

[Ron61]

Wes pretty well covered it. I am running two desktops and my laptop through the one modem. If you have newer computers you may have the wireless card built in. I use the Ethernet cable on my desktops as they are older and set right nest to the Linksys Router which has 4 inputs. The laptop has a built in wireless card and I can use it anywhere in the house. I don't even load any of the network software that came with the router and modem. You will need the wireless adapter only if your computers don't have it built in. I also like the wireless mice.

Ron

[wtm442]

Check out the Linksys web site for some good info. They make good products.

Watch out on the security side of wireless (firewall). I can jump on the Internet using one of my neighbor's wireless setups! If I was smart enough, I probably could hack into his/her computer.

[Ron61]

Warren,

Only if it was turned on.

Ron

[wtm442]

Ron
It's on all the time! I only use it with my laptop. I do not have wireless capability with home desktop computer.

My comment was that security is needed with wireless. There are hackers that drive around in cars finding wireless setups. They can hack right into any of your computers that are turned on, right from their car! I'm going thru a wireless setup right now with my laptop while I'm on vacation, but you need to enter a password to set up the wireless connection to a new computer.

Happens all the time. Some hackers consider it a badge of achievement.

[Excaliber]

Buddy of mine stopped by the other day, showing off his new Iphone. He took a picture and then promptly emailed it to me. Curious, I asked HOW he was accessing the net/e-mail at my house? Said he can access almost anywhere through someones wireless internet connection. No doubt one of my nieghbors has wireless and it's not protected, so the phone just 'hooks up' and piggybacks on their system. At his HOME he stopped his internet service, he just piggybacks off the neighbors wireless for his HOME computer! A little slower than being connected directly, but it's free.

Somebody saw on their computer that his IP was piggybacking on them, they blocked his IP. He 'reset' his IP and was back in buisness.

[427 S/O]

Ron, please explain why, (sometimes) when I click to bring up a picture, not necessarily here, a blank box appears with a small 'x' in the upper left hand corner?.

Thanks in advance

[Ron61]

Perry,

Are you clicking on a link or an actual picture and trying to expand it? I haven't had that problem here but most of the time such as in e-mails and some sites, that means the picture was created by a program that your computer won't read and has an extension that isn't recognized. If you get another one, copy and paste it here so we can look at it. I get several forwarded e-mails that have the box and red x and most of them have the extension ltr or something like that. If you have it happen here, be sure to post where you were at when you tried to open the picture.

Ron

[427 S/O]

OK, thanks.........