And, will that work with two computers? One (laptop) will use the wireless adapter that it comes with, another (deskytop) is already wireless-ready.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
*punches TMO in testicles Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
Well it's cheap, but the modem-routers supplied by ISPs are often not as good as branded models. I've just bought a *Netgear DG834G, which I've heard is okay but cost £20 more than the one you linked to. I'd like to be able to give you a review, but I haven't taken it out of the box yet.
*punches self in lung
ETA: Yes, any wireless modem router will provide an Internet to multiple computers, and even allow the computers to talk to each other (a bit like in that AI thread) thanks to something called "net working".
[ 23.05.2007, 06:08: Message edited by: MiscellaneousFiles ]
Posted by Tilde (Member # 1215) on :
WITCHCRAFT!!! Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Thanks Misc. Let me ask another question:
There are two reasons I want to buy something.
1. On the one hand, I want two (and eventually three) computers to be able to access the wondernet. At the moment it can only be one at a time.
2. There's only one telephone socket in our flat, in our lounge, which isn't where I want either computer to live. So I want them both to be able to access it wirelessly. No need for the PCs to be networked as a LAN with each other, though.
3. A friend has given me one of these (not the wireless one), which I have yet to try out.
So, er, I'm wondering what the best (essentially, cheapest, but also reliable, I suppose) solution is.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
*punches Zygote in the testicles Posted by Zygote (Member # 883) on :
*punches Jimmy's head off
ETA:
quote:Originally posted by mart: Shall we all stop this stupid punching thing now. It's a bit pants.
Ahem. Yes.
[ 23.05.2007, 06:33: Message edited by: Zygote ]
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
As I say, it's cheap, but I can't comment on its reliability. Probably best to read the reviews on eBuyer, unless anyone here has used one of these with Talk Talk.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Well the eBuyers give it good reveiews, generally. And TalkTalk provide our broadband. I think I might buy one.
Posted by sabian (Member # 6) on :
Get the Netgear one that Misc is talking about.
It is the one I use(d) as well and when you start having multiple machines connecting at the same time, you'll want a branded access point. I've found with cheap ones, the switching isn't very good and it doesn't provide you with many options in terms of ports and such.
The Netgear one costs a bit more, but it has an SPI firewall which will essentially keep bad guys off your computers without installing 3rd party firewalls on them and has brilliant NAT functions.
Don't be a cheap skate, buy a branded modem and save cash buying shit network cards (usb dongles).
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Okay. Except the reviews of the one Misc has bought say the USB adapter is crap.
Posted by Tilde (Member # 1215) on :
It's free though. It's a bonus.
[ 23.05.2007, 10:16: Message edited by: Tilde ]
Posted by sabian (Member # 6) on :
All the USB adaptors are crap.
They are really to be used as last resorts.
My girls' computer is one of those Optiplex jobbies and is too thin to take a card like this so I had to use an USB adaptor.
I got this for a tenner and this for around £15. The Belkin works as good as the off-brand one and they both are shit. My laptop in their room with its internal NIC card gets 50% signal, with the USB dongle on their computer, I get barely 11%. In the end, I used an USB extension lead, put the dongle on that, and then threaded the lead through the wall so it is in the hallway.
Long post made short, if you can get a traditional PCI card, do it. If you HAVE to use USB, there's nothing in it really.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Yeah it's for a laptop with no PCMCIA slot, laptop will be in another room to the phone socket (but physically only about 5 feet away), no possibility of putting a wire through the wall.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
I'm just going to have to fucking buy something and see if it works, aren't I.
Posted by Tilde (Member # 1215) on :
*Pats mart on the shoulder* there there mart, i'm sure it will all work out Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
*sniff thanks not *rests head on not's shoulder it's just... the world... it can be so... scary.. sometimes... too much to think about... so many choices... it hurts... *blows nose on not's shirt sleeve Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
I tried to fix my friend's wireless internet a while ago and succeeded in borking it all so thoroughly I even banjaxed up her internet connection. Wireless is a dark, dark art. I'm not sure how and why ours does, but it does.
Luckily, I owe the friend whose internet I broek about a hundred quid so she can't stop speaking to me yet. Ha!
Posted by Tilde (Member # 1215) on :
You're a great friend Louche, I'd hate to have you as an enemy.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Mart what model is your laptop? most made within the last 5 years or so will have a slot for an onboard wifi adapter even if it's not installed. It's not usually that hard to get hold of one, from most of the main manufacturers. Would mean you would have an internal antenna too, rather than a big rubber stick poking out of the side of your laptop.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
It's an Airis (Spanish), bought November 2004. What does an onboard wifi adapter look like? There aren't any 'slots' in my laptop for things to just slide in; you'd have to open it up and start fiddling with the innards.
Here is a picture of it
[ 23.05.2007, 11:36: Message edited by: mart ]
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
You'll notice I've turned it round and put the screen down a bit so you can't see what I'm looking at.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Hmm, might be a bit harder than if it were a Dell or something then.
Basicallly under the back plate on your laptop (or possibly under the keyboard) there should be a port on the motherboard for the adapter to plug into (possibly the antenna also). I woudln't recommend pulling your laptop to pieces to find it if you don't know what you're doing but for someone reasonably proficient with a screwdriver it shouldn't present any significant problems. Again, providing they know what they're looking for.
I've done this on loads of Hi-Grade and Viglen laptops and it takes less than 5 minutes to install.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
But I'd need to buy the right adapter from Airis, is that right?
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
yeah basically. it's like a little printed circuit board with a couple of wires attached. That's assuming your laptop has a slot for it on the motherboard. It's hard to tell without knowing the model and stuff. it will tell you the model on the underside of the laptop somewhere, then you can find out if that model was available with a wireless card, and if it is then you'll know it has that capability.
Wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't something else rebranded anyway, most of the smaller brand name ones are. Which means it's not going to be specifically an Airis wireless card, it could be a belkin, lynksys, whatever.
Posted by sabian (Member # 6) on :
I find it highly unlikely that a 2 year old laptop doesn't have an internal wireless card.
Here's one I prepared earlier:
Yours is probably different but just removing the retaining screws should 'revel' the wifi card.
Alternately, and if you are using XP... Go into your Control Panel, System, Device Manager.
If it is installed, you'll see "Network adaptors" click on that and check to see if there is something that says 'wifi' or the like as installed. If there is a yellow warning sign, chances are the card is there, but didn't install properly.
According to the interweb, the Airis laptops come with the Intel Wireless 2200BG (software). Try to install that driver and hope for the best. Worse case scenario, it won't work. Best case, you're sorted.
[ 23.05.2007, 12:51: Message edited by: sabian ]
Posted by sabian (Member # 6) on :
I even took the time to make that an animated gif and some how bollocks it up saving and it isn't animated now!
Bloody laptop!
edit: never mind, it worked, I'm stupid.
[ 23.05.2007, 13:02: Message edited by: sabian ]
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
If you see those two cables which in Sab's picture are plugged into the wifi card, hanging loose, then you'll know you don't have a card installed.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles: I've just bought a *Netgear DG834G
Well, you'll all be enthralled to know that I've followed everyone's advice and have ordered one of these.
Hopefully it will be "good".
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
I also ordered one of *these, for which I have similar hopes.
I do so hate spending money on these things, though.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by mart: Well, you'll all be enthralled to know that I've followed everyone's advice and have ordered one of these.
Hopefully it will be "good".
I've taken mine out of the box now, and used it to replace my old router. So far it's been "good", but I haven't tested the wireless features yet. Your monitor looks "nice".
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
"Yes"
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
One of my colleagues is obsessed with using "quotation marks". He litters every e-mail with them:
quote:Misc
Could you put the new adverts "live" on the "site" please? How are you "getting on" with the catalogue?
Thanks, Larry
There seems to be no pattern to his usage of said punctuation. I wonder if he writes the e-mail normally and then thinks "I wonder how many quotation marks I could get away with adding to this..." and gets busy with the Shift+2.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Unrelated: on my PC here at work, if I'm in Word and select a line to make it bold, it's started making the entire doc bold, which is very annoying. I can undo it by pressing Ctrl Z, which just leaves the selected line in bold, but still, it's annoying and a mystery to me.
Anyone know of how to make it stop doing this?
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
check for loose wires.
Posted by SilverGinger5 (Member # 49) on :
That's a bit patronising Jimmy Big Nuts, surely that's the first thing someone would do before seeking help on an internet forum?
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Is everybody checking the wires in their computers?
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
no, I'm here. Hello there mart. How are you?
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Porno, mate. Porno.
You? Gone back for platefuls of pork dumplings recently?
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
Porno? Juiced. I've been buying those pork buns from the chinese supermarket and steaming them myself at home. Ate a lot. I'm over the hill with them. I had fucking hotdogs last night. Those buns are shit. But I'm alright. Not exactly Porno. More Erotic Drama.
[ 30.05.2007, 07:36: Message edited by: Jimmy Big Nuts ]
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
This could be a new measurement scale. In ascending order of alrightness:
Porno Erotic drama RomCom Chick flick Weepie Disaster movie
Posted by Physic (Member # 195) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: Porno? Juiced. I've been buying those pork buns from the chinese supermarket and steaming them myself at home.
You should try the red bean paste ones too, mmm I fancy dim sum now..
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
Disaster movie should be above RomCom, surely?
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Maybe, I don't know. In fact I'm not sure your opinions can be trusted, with your zany £750 expanding shoe ideas.
Posted by Tilde (Member # 1215) on :
mart - where is that thread where people recommended a wireless router to you - the netgear one?
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Do you mean this one?
Posted by Tilde (Member # 1215) on :
LOL
Posted by Tilde (Member # 1215) on :
*punches self in short-term memory* Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
I really hope that was a joke, Tilde. Jesus Christ.
I bought that NetGear wireless router a couple of months ago and it was total shit. I would up using the free one that came with Orange Broadband because, shit as it was, it wasn't as shit as that NetGear one.
Posted by Tilde (Member # 1215) on :
Well lots of people disagree with you Nathan including Sabian and a lot of people on Amazon. Mart, hows your one working out? Have you plugged it in yet?
[ 30.05.2007, 08:13: Message edited by: Tilde ]
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
I've been using netgear for a year or so now, no problems at all.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
one time my internet went down, but that turned out to be somebody slicing throught the physical cable on the front of the house. And about a month ago I couldn't get a connection but that was to do with turning off my machine in the middle of a firewall update.
Last week Louise had problems with a juicer, but that's not really related to the netgear router.
[ 30.05.2007, 08:29: Message edited by: Jimmy Big Nuts ]
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tilde: Mart, hows your one working out? Have you plugged it in yet?
Not yet - I only ordered it last night. Though I suppose, if it's wireless, it should be working by now anyway. I mean, I've paid for it. Will check tonight when I get home.
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
I got one of those BT ones advertised by the young man on the telly. It looks quite nice, but not sure if it's any good. And it would mean replacing the one that's there already, which can only mean doom and wailing for a technospaz like me.
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
The BT HomeHubs are not very good Herbs. They are what I would call "fucking shit"
Posted by SilverGinger5 (Member # 49) on :
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: The BT HomeHubs are not very good Herbs. They are what I would call "fucking shit"
Unfortunately that advertising slogan was edged out by a vote of 7 to 5 and that's how we ended up with "It's good to talk"
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
Shame. [twat]It matches my mac.[/twat]
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Comin'atcha like Maggie Thatcher on me netgear wireless device thingie. Works like a dream. Thanks for the advice.
Posted by sabian (Member # 6) on :
It still surprises me at how many of you still doubt me.
