Computer Novice

Question

I need really, really basic instructions on setting up a wireless network at home.   We purchased one of the more inexpensive Dells as our second computer and a router.  We currently have our Internet service with our cable company.  I thought we would be all set, but now reading thru the info it looks like we need a network card.   Once we buy a network card, is there anything else we will need?   If anyone has any helpful info, that would be appreciated (in laymen's terms).     Thanks, CDG1228

Midnightbandit9 · Answer

You are going to have to run your internet ethernet cable into your router.  This will enable your router to broadcast your internet connection wirelessly.  You will need a network card for each of the computers that you plan to hook up to your network.  I am assuming you want a wireless network, so you will have to buy two wireless network cards.  This will enable your computer to receive the internet connection that your router is broadcasting.  Put the network cards in your computer, configure them and your on your network.  Im not sure how well I explained this becuase it is almost midnight and Im not thinking clearly.  If you need more help just ask.

volcano11 · Answer

CDG1228,

Before you start taking the rather confusing advice of Midnightbandit9, please tell us more about your computers, your router, and your cable modem. First, your cable modem must be capable of making a connection to the router through an ethernet connection. If you modem can only connect through USB, then your best option is to replace the cable modem with one that can make an ethernet connection. Second, although you can connect all computers to the router through wireless, it is alway advisable to connect at least one computer to the router by a wired ethernet connection. That is necessary to configure the wireless network and to troubleshoot the wireless part of the network in case something goes wrong. Third, nearly every Dell computer sold these days already has a built in ethernet network adapter. If you tell us which model Dell computer you recently bought, we can tell you whether or not it has an ethernet adapter. Most computers sold these days do not have wireless network cards, so any computer that you want to connect through the router by wireless will require a wireless network adapter. Again, if you tell us the make and model of the computer that you want to connect to the router (and internet) through wireless, then we can make a recommendation on which wireless network adapter to buy.

Steve

cldg1228 · Answer

Steve,

We just received the Dell on Friday. It's a Dimension 3000, 512MB, Cel D, 320 (2.40GHZ), 256K

The router is connected to our main computer and cable modem. Do we still need a network card for the main computer (it's an HP)? If so, do the cards need to be the same brand as the computer?

Also.........I was reading some of the old posts and I see "NIC" several times. In the specs for our Dim3000 there is something called "Integrated, Intel Pro 100M PCI NIC Card". Please explain what this is.

As you can see, I'm really, really, really, new at this.

Thanks for all of you help!

Message Edited by CDG1228 on 06-21-2005 08:43 AM

volcano11 · Answer

NIC = Network Interface Card. A NIC is usually considered the same thing as an ethernet network adapter. The Dimension 3000's integrated Intel Pro 100M is indeed an ethernet network adapter. If you want to connect this to your network, you can either connect it with an ethernet network cable to one of the LAN ports on the router or you can puchased a PCI wireless network adapter, install it in a PCI slot on the 3000, or purchase a USB wireless network adapter and then be able to connect to the router through a wireless connection. If your existing HP computer is already connecting to the modem through the router, then you won't have to do change anything there.

Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Computer Novice

Was this post helpful?