wireless capabilities

Question

I have an Inspirion 1150 and i wanted to take advantage of its wireless network capabilites, but I dont know what equipment I need or what I need to do.  Can someone please help!   Thanks for any info

volcano11 · Answer

If you are planning to use it for wireless internet access or to wireless file and printer sharing between computers in your home or office, then you need a wireless router (for both sharing a broadband interenet connection and file and printer sharing) or a wireless access point (for just file and printer sharing). If you are going to connect to the internet at wireless hotspots (at some hotels and coffee houses), then you just need the wireless network adapter in your laptop.

Steve

reyanizzle · Answer

in order for my laptop to have wireless internet connnection i need a wireless router? and broadband internet connection?  is there any way to take advantage of wireless capabililties w/o having broadband?

volcano11 · Answer

If you have another computer that connects to the internet with dialup, you can share that internet connection with a wireless access point or wireless router running in access point mode.  Alternatively, there are wireless routers that have dialup modems in them, but there are difficult to find these days.   Steve

reyanizzle · Answer

so if i have my computer connected with dial-up, then i need to hook up a wireless access point, or a router in access point mode? and that should enable me to be wireless on my laptop?  are there any specifics i should look for in being compatible?

volcano11 · Answer

You will need an ethernet adapter in the computer that makes the dialup connection. You would then connect the ethernet prot on that computer to a wireless router or wireless access point. Note that although wireless routers provide more function than wireless access points, routers are considerably cheaper than are access points. Routers from Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, or D-Link should work just fine. Note that sharing an already slow dialup connection may not be a very satisfying expereince.

Steve

reyanizzle · Answer

ethernet?

volcano11 · Answer

Yes, you will have to connect the computer that makes the dialup connection to the router/access point through an ethernet adapter. This is a standard network adapter. If that computer does not have an ethernet network adapter, you will have to puchase and install one. A PCI 10/100 ethernet adapter costs about $10.

Steve

NemesisDB · Answer

unless I'm missing something, it's somewhat silly for you to buy a router or an access point to share a dialup connection.

you indicated that your laptop already has a wireless card? that's good. all you need to buy is a wireless card for the desktop (either an internal PCI card or an external USB one). the desktop will also need to be running win98 SE or a later operating system.

You can then use a windows utility called Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to share your dialup connection between the two wireless cards. A peer to peer network is perfect for this situation and I wouldn't bother with the router/access point.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

wireless capabilities

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