Need some help setting up wireless network

Brother Freepers, after eight years online at home (joined this place about the same time), all on dial-up, we're finally getting into the 21st century and going broadband with cable Internet.

I got a great online deal which includes a discounted rate for six months, free (after rebates) modem and router and cash back.

The modem and router arrived in only two days, and Comcast is supposed to be out on Wednesday to set this up. I think I could actually set the modem up to the computer, etc., I just don't want to fool with splitting my cable line to get a dedicated line to the modem, so I'm letting them do it (also at a discounted rate).

After we get the Internet working as it's supposed to, I want to set up a wireless network so that other folks in the house can get online as well. Right now, that would only be my wife's laptop. It's a Dell with an internal WLAN card, she's never even been online with it and wants desperately to do so. At some point, once we get a place set up for it in the mell of a hess that is their room, the kids are also going to have their own computer. That may be a few months down the road, though.

Basically, what I'm wanting to do immediately is to give my wife wireless Internet capability in our house. At present, she's not planning to take it out to any hot spots, she'll just be using it in the house. And we want to keep our main desktop ... a new Dell; our old Dell desktop will be the one going to the kids ... wired if possible.

I've done my homework and looked at some online resources and looked at the instruction books, etc., and I'm still not confident in what all is required to do this.

So, I would like to ask some of my Freeper brethren who are more schooled in these things to give me the simplified, A through Z, "Run Spot Run" version of what I need to do here with all the equipment I've mentioned (cable modem, router, my wife's laptop, etc.) to accomplish this.

I would suggest you first have Comcast get your main computer (with a wired connection to the router) set up first. Then, you can go into the router configuration and establish whatever wireless settings you want. Make sure you change the default password and SSID, turn off SSID broadcast, etc. In addition, for wireless access I suggest you consider using MAC address filtering, so as to allow only specific wireless devices to connect. Encryption is also an option, but I don't know enough about that router or your wife's laptop to recommend a specific choice.

Good advice. I would suggest you should be perfectly capable of setting up your modem, with materials you can find at any Radio Shack or even Home Depot/Lowe's. Get two lengths of cable wire and a cable signal splitter. You won't be physically splitting the wire, just the signal. One will go to your TV, the other to your cable modem...from the cable modem, run an ethernet wire to the router and from the router another ethernet wire to your desktop computer. After that, it's just a matter of following the router's instructions for installation and operation. You can have your desktop and laptop online in less than 1 hour's time.

JRios1968 wrote:

>You can have your desktop and laptop online in less than 1 hour's time.<

'Taint necessarily so easy!

It took two or three hours to make my DSL modem interface correctly with my desktop.

Then when I got a wireless router a few weeks later, it took most of one evening to make it interface properly with the router and my laptop's wireless.

Part of the problem was that the folks at Linksys's call center in New Delhi weren't very good -- in spite of their being very polite.

Just hope that when you call tech support, you're connected to the Manila call center. The Filippinos are -- in my
experience -- much sharper than the Indians.

Now go for it! You'll love it!

Frankly, if you follow the instructions with the router, to the letter, you should be up and running in very short time.

My first router was a little challenging to set up, and the customer service I called when it fried was in New Delhi (I know because I asked the guy who I was talking to, where he was at.) He was very helpful, but couldn't get me back up to speed. Next day I bought a Belkin...it works like a charm, and I was back online in less than 1 hour from the moment I opened the box. Setting up my security took just a little longer.

"Part of the problem was that the folks at Linksys's call center in New Delhi weren't very good -- in spite of their being very polite."

I know exactly what you're talking about. I got to enjoy the thrill of Linksys's New Delhi connection just yesterday. After 45 minutes of "English as a Second Language" I finally gave up in sheer frustration. After 1 hour and two beers later I was ready to tackle the situation again. My second call resolved the problem in about 2 minutes (I got lucky).

My next project is to learn File Sharing between my main hard-wired system and the wireless laptop. (I think that may require a Prayer request.)

I performed this little task just the other day.

If your router is linksys as mine is, I think you'll find a file called NetAssistant on their site much more helpful than the enclosed software. At least I did.

Now, the single most important thing you can do is to not forget the dammed antennae.

I spent three hours trying to figure out why I couldn't get the signal strength I thought I should have.

Went to the box the wireless card came in and, DOH!

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