Sharing Broadband

[MrTBC]

Hi there.
Not an IT newbie, but definitely a bit of a wireless newbie...:->
I've got an XP SP2 desktop with a 512 Broadband connection. I've got a Sony Vaio laptop on ME (though this could be upgraded to XP). What do I need to buy and do to share the Broadband connection with the laptop please?

Thanks very much guys.

 

[dput]

You will need a Wireless Access Point (I would suggest a Router/Switch/Access Point). Netgear, Linksys, D-Link among others make appropriate equipment. I would get one that supports 802.11g.

You may have to buy a wireless access card for your laptop. They make them in a PCMCIA style and USB.

I would probably suggest the upgrade to Windows XP since it is easier to get wireless working with.

Dan

 

[MrTBC]

Thanks Dan.
Yes, I will need a wireless access card for the laptop and can upgrade it to XP.
Can anyone recommend any cheap(ish) WAP and card sets please?

 

[RCorrigan]

Have a look on Ebay .......... I picked up a recon 108Mb Access Point for pennies compared to the shops !!!!

But as mentioned; NetGear, LinkSys, D-Link .... all are good .... I have a NetGear Access Point, 1 laptop has no-name USB wireless, 1 laptop has MS PCMCIA card and 1 laptop has built in ..... all running XP, all a piece of cake to get set up !!!!!

<Do I need A Signature or will an X do?>

 

[jward52]

I recently bought my daughter a Netgear Wireless G router with WPA and a NAT/SPI firewall, but the older Netgear dual A/B card wouldn't work with it. I looked long and hard trying to find a pcmcia card that would do both WEP and WPA, preferring the WPA encryption. I finally settled on a good deal of a card made by ZyXEL. I was surprised how slow the card makers are at implementing WPA. It was easy to install the router software and get her laptop connected.