How do I share broadband??
 

I've just got hold of a new Acer Travelmate 6000 laptop and want to share the internet connection which is currently running on my PC. What's the easiest/cheapest way to do this wirelessly?

I am not sure about the laptop specs (my wife got it through work) - I think it is bluetooth and Wifi compatible...

The main aim is to be able to surf the internet from the laptop downstairs, while the PC is upstairs.

Anyone have any ideas?

Recently got a wireless ADSL box which cost 100 quid, including a free wifi usb device. This means I can surf on my WIFI laptop and plugged wifi device into family PC. All happily surfing together and not wires all over the place.

I work from home so it is more convienent for me to use laptop sitting in bed all day ;)

Would thoroughly recommend the Netgear DG834G wireless router, this is an all in one box that does everything. If your laptop doesn't have wireless built in you can get the 834G with PCMCIA wireless card for around £99. :)
There might be slightly cheaper options but the Netgear is very very good.

I'd recommend Netgear too. Got the DG834G from www.bt.com shop, they were doing free next day delivery, 10% off your order if you filled in the survey and it came with free USB2 receiver all for £96.99. Take a look and see what offers are about, they are a piece of cake to set up and get going too.

Andy.

If I bought that Netgear router, would I need anything else to get it up and running? I am completely clueless with networking...

You need a network interface card in your desktop PC. Depends on how you want to use your laptop connected to it.

What do you mean? What options do I have? All I am really interested in doing is using the broadband connection wirelessly with the laptop. Not particularly bothered about being able to share files with the PC.
Can I plug the USB dongle (which seems to be free on the BT website) into the home PC, plug the router in and run the WiFi network setup on the laptop?

has your pc got an ethernet port?
If not then you'd need a network card to connect it to the router.

Good question - are they standard on new ish PCs these days?
What's the port look like?

Looks like a large phone socket

get over to www.dlink.co.uk

special offer of 108mbs access point & pcmia card £88..