But I don't know the answer .....

You lot will, however ...

I have a desktop PC, about 5 years old now, still does all I require of it.

I also have a Laptop with wireless network card.

The desktop is connected to the Internet via the telephone line and an ASDL Modem .... the connection is 2.2Mbps and is actually running at about 1.9Mbps, that's fine by me.

What do I need to do to allow the Desktop to work as it does now, but to let the Laptop 'see' the desktop internet connection and log onto it?

I think I need a router?

I am with BT Internet - do you think they would send me a free wireless router if I hint I may be going elsewhere? I have been with them for 4 years now on Broadband paying £15:99 a month.

What are my options?

What hardware do I require?

Unrelated, but I'll throw it in, how do you get the Laptop battery to last a reasonable time?

 

Pop over to mine and pick up a free BT home hub - mind you they are sh*t... but it is free (I have a spare)

 

Thanks for the offer - Derbyshire is hardly pop-over distance though

Assuminging I have a Home Hub, is this the same as a Wireless Router?, is it simply 'Plug and Play'?

ie. straightforward to set up, would I keep my same connection details? Same log on? Same password?

 

The home hub IS a wireless router and clearly colour coded with what you need to do - the sign on details are stored within the router (Home Hub)

 

Netgear Wireless ADSL (as your on BT, DSL if your on cable) Router from Ebay Pete

They are factory refurb but come with 30 day warranty

I have one, and so have several friends, all work a treat and dead easy to set up, cost about 30 quid

 

Was eBay last night and saw a lot of wireless routers for sale in the wired routers section. Picked on up for £12, brand new in box.

The problem with knowing what to buy is that the terms so often used are not really correct. This can make things harder than necessary. What you need is a single box of tricks, often referred to as a router. In fact what you are getting is a home gateway, which contains a hub, wireless hub, modem and router all in one package. Its perfectly possible to just buy a router that does not have any of the other components you need

Just make sure that you don't buy a cable one as they use a different modem to ADSL. In addition, make sure that the wireless side of the router uses WPA encryption. This is not optional, you need WPA as the older standard is effectively broken and not secure.

 

I'll take the Laptop battery question !

and you might not believe me

I tried this and it worked.. might be me being lucky but ...

I wrapped the battery in two food bags and then very tightly in cling film. I then put it in the freezer for 48 hours.

I then let it warm to room temp whilst STILL covered.. open it when its cold and its goosed !!

I then charged it for a good few hours and it works much better !!

I went from 20 minutes full life to 3 hours !!

Something to do with breaking down things when frozen !

Some people say its a load of crap ! but it worked for me

 

Thats a really good tip, but why is it in this thread?

I may have to try that with my wireless mouse battery, as its playing up. It does not hold its charge for long, and its a custom logitech battery in their MX1000

 

Internet connection sharing and a cheap USB wireless network adapter Pierre. The desktop will allow itself to be used to connect through and you can set up a simple adhoc network using the USB feature.

Simon

 

It can be done, but the last time I tried this the desktop that was doing the sharing slowed down a lot. In addition the router has a nice NAT firewall as a minimum.

Not sure if your experience recently has been better than mine.

 

Also it means you have to have both pc's on at the same time too, and yes a wireless DSL router has (or most do) a built in firewall, let that do all the work and not the ****e windows firewall

Even using a 3rd party firewall will slow your machine down more than it needs to, and bear in mind this is a 5 year old PC

 

It may not be secure, but if your equipment your talking to, dosen't handshake on WPA then you have a problem,
Also there is a speed and data loss on WPA, as everything has to go through a encryption / un-encryption algorithms at each end

You say wep its not secure, but to the average bod in the street, trrying to connect freebie to your neighbours setup, wep certianly prevented me from getting in

To be fair if someone is that desperate to park outside my house to get my 1mb access to the web....

or is it they can get access to the pc?

Mart

 

I dont really worry about encryption, as I know you cannot get wireless past the drive of my house, so unless someone is stood in my front garden with a laptop then I am pretty secure

 

Its the PC they want.. so they can find the files that have recorded your bank detail.. that they put there last time they accessed it

 

Do you lot bank via wireless?

 

I use online banking if thats what you mean

 

I use my laptop which is wireless connected to my cable connection.. so I guess I do yeah

 

I bank via my desktop - I don't think I would be happy doing the same on a wireless connection. Call me old fashioned, but I know it can be intercepted.

 

Pete the Wireless connection is to your router not to the Internet

Your wireless Laptop would connect to the internet the same as your desktop PC

In my house I really couldnt care less as I know no one can get my wireless signal because of the room it is in, and my house being a fair old size and lots of solid walls, the signal doesnt stretch to outside

 

Sonic, yes - I appreciate that.

But, it's the transmitted signal I am worried about being picked up .... not after it has arrived at the Router. You are ok at the end of your 2 mile driveway ...... but poor me will be transmitting all over the shop!

 

LOL Pete, I wish I did have a two mile driveway

You could line your outer walls with foil, as that will stop the signal getting through (seems to be common on new builds, especially corporate etc) which causes us a nightmare when doing managed wireless installs, as coverage doesnt usually leave the room, and is pretty poor