Problem communicating with wireless router

[lesj1968]

Hi

What would I need to allow my pc (which is a workstation, not laptop) to communicate with a wireless router so I can set up a home network? I believe my computer has a standard 10/100 lan card so I don't think it has wireless capability. Do I need to replace this with a wireless (WIFI) network card of some kind, plus what else will I need? I have the router and it's IP but cannot currently log on to it's website as my pc can't connect (due to the communication issues listed above). I assume once I do connect to the router's home page I have to set it to find my pc using DHCP. Do I need to change the internet connection LAN properties on my pc in anyway? I have XP Home.

What is the likely cost for a wifi network card (I live in the UK)?

Many thanks for any help with this.

Les

 

[tbiller]

Hi Les,

Most routers are supplied with a short length of ethernet cable to allow you to connect it "wired" (as they mostly also are a 4-port "switch" as well) so you can then access the management interface to enable the wireless elements.

Any decent computer shop will sell you a WI-FI pci card (less than 20 quid) or a USB one (perhaps a bit more, not sure)if you have a spare external USB socket.

That choice depends on how comfortable you are in disassembling your PC to fit the internal PCI card and load the software drivers.

I set up a Linksys wireless router up for my daughter last weekend and it all worked out of the box. I had to add the ASDL settings and the ISP username and password to the router config and set up security, but the whole job took about 5 minutes.

 

[Markdjones82]

Les,
As biller stated above, you should be able to connect to your router with a regular ethernet cable through one of the ports in the back until you get a wireless card. This is of course if your computer is close enough to the router.

The only thing you would need to connect to the router wirelessly is a USB or PCI wireless card. I recommend getting a linksys PCI card. They are very easy to install. Just open the case and pop it into one of the slots. Once you have it in, install the software for it following the instructions after you boot it up. As soon as this is done your PC should see the wireless network and connect automatically since it will start off being unsecured and it is set with DHCP turned on. You can then go in and do some configuration.