Now that I have my new laptop, I'm interested in this.
So, how does it work and who's the best company to go with? Right now I have Telewest Blueyonder Broadband.

I don't think it matters who you are with PJ, I am with Virgin, stayed with them, just bought the wireless router (D Link) and off I went!

I just bought a wireless router - and connected it. It doesn't matter who your provider is.

Definitely Peej, just get your main computer hooked up with a wireless router, connect and there you go. We love it, I use my laptop all over my house. :D

if you get a wireless broadband thing make sure you get a secure link or otherwise other people can find the signal and use it.

So I just buy one of these wireless router things, plug it into the lap top and that's it?? I don't have to phone Telewest or anything?

So I just buy one of these wireless router things, plug it into the lap top and that's it?? I don't have to phone Telewest or anything?

Not quite - it needs to be plugged into your modem - and you will have to install software and you're laptop needs to be wi-fi ready.

This (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A971309) might help a bit.

It's not difficult - honest!

Your wireless router gets plugged into your phone line. The router then sends radio signals out. Your laptop needs a card to connect to the signal the router is sending out. Some laptops come with the wireless connection card nowadays. If your's didn't come with one you can buy both a router and card together or buy them seperately.
Once you've got your wireless connection card and associated software installed on your laptop, it should automatically detect the signal. If not just go to your Control Panel and Network Connections.
As littlemissbig says you should ensure you check the security settings and password control things, otherwise someone can connect to your network, hack your laptop/use your internet connection for free.

My laptop does have a wireless card installed in it already.

Also, if I connect the wreless router to my modem, can I still go on the internet on my main PC as wel as the laptop then?

And is there any specific type of router I should go for?

My laptop does have a wireless card installed in it already.

Also, if I connect the wreless router to my modem, can I still go on the internet on my main PC as wel as the laptop then?

And is there any specific type of router I should go for?

Your wireless router is your modem.

Your wireless router is your modem.
But Rob just said that the wireless router needs to be connected to the modem...?

Even more confused about it all now :wacko:

Ok, just had a read of the link Rob posted and I think I'm getting my head around it...

So back to these wireless router things - is there a specific type I should go for?

My laptop does have a wireless card installed in it already.

Also, if I connect the wreless router to my modem, can I still go on the internet on my main PC as wel as the laptop then?

And is there any specific type of router I should go for?

PJ we went wireless a year ago and I had the same kind of questions as you, if this helps:

- just to confirm what Groucho said, the router is in fact a router/modem, you throw out your old broadband modem and replace it with the router/modem.

- you know the white filter things you had to connect to each phone socket when you got your old broadband modem, well you might have to replace them, you should get some included with your new router

- if you want to connect your pc as well, you can either do that wireless, in which case you buy a wireless card for the pc open the pc to install it, or do as we did, put the router near the pc and connect the pc to it with a cable*

- * re the choice of wireless routers, some are wireless only, others (like ours) are both wireless and cable, meaning you can connect multiple pcs/laptops to it as wireless connections, plus up to four devices plugged in by cable. I think you should get one with both. Best ask in the shop, tell them what you want to use it for and they'll tell you which ones will do the job. COnfirm the router will work with Telwest Broadband, it probably will, it's just that when we bought ours the salesman said we'd better check it would work with our broadband service provider. BT routers are good (well I say that because we have one and it hasn't let us down) and their help service is good too.

- assuming you get one withe the cable option, you'll find the connection to the router is an 'ethernet' connection. Basically to you and me that means it's a different type of socket, and if your pc also has an ethernet socket you're fine, just plug it in with an ethernet cable, if it doesn't (like ours) you need a usb-ethernet adaptor that lets you connect the router to a usb port on the pc

- as far as connection to the internet goes, what happens is that it's the router/modem that connects to the internet, then any computers you are using connect through it. You can have them all connected to the internet at the same time.

- the router has a fair bit of intelligence, menu options to let you see what it is doing, or to let you change things, you don't normally need to do this though, unless you are setting the kit up or have a problem. To access the menus you actually type in a special address in the address bar of your browser, and instead of connecting you to an internet address it takes you into the router

-once you have it working, and assuming you have a laptop and a pc connected to the router, you can do some other useful things, you can create your own network via windows that lets the laptop and pc share files and devices. So you can use the laptop to look and and create or amend files, documents etc that are actuall held on the pc, And if your printer is connected to the pc you can use it to print stuff from the laptop.

Thanks for that SF. Thats covered just about all the queries I have about it. Hopefully by this time tomorrow I'll be browsing the net wirelessly!

And thanks to everyone else for your help as well.

dear god how confusing!!

Managed to finally set this up. Got a NetGear router with a USB adaptor for my laptop and so far it's been great. The signal strength is very good throughout the whole house. No more surfing the net in the cold dining room. Woo hoo! :yahoo:

Thanks to everyone for their help, btw.

Now, don't forget to wipe your bum before you log off :unsure:

Now, don't forget to wipe your bum before you log off :unsure:
What!? How did you know? Are you spying on me again!?

You need to secure your wireless connection - the whole world is watching :w00t:

You need to secure your wireless connection - the whole world is watching :w00t:
It is secure thank you very much. I was thinking more along the lines of you peering through my bathroom window...:wink_kiss

Now, don't forget to wipe your bum before you log off :unsure:

PJ don't listen to her - she's got it all wrong.

Wipe ya bum AFTER you've logged off..........:wallbash: