Totally clueless tech guy needs help.

[chasineyes]

I'll try to keep my first question simple. Right now we have Qwest internet for our home desktop computer. We want to buy a laptop for christmas for the wife and kids. My question is...Do we need to change internet provider or just get a "wireless router"? And if we get a wireless router will we still be able to use the desktop computer to access the internet?

Thanks!!!

[Jim Almquist]

Do you happen to know if your current modem is capable of wireless service ? Might just be a matter of turning it on if it is not broadcasting right now. If it is not then you can go out and buy a wireless router. It will not change your setup all that much except now your wired computer will connect to the back of the router as well as your DSL modem. The router will come with a CD and a picture diagram of the setup and the needed cables. Pretty easy to setup and get going. Might take around 15-30 minutes depending on how much you read into everything. I have the Linksys WRT54GL and so far it has workout pretty good.

[pureinsanity]

Tell us what make and model your qwest modem is. We will tell you if you need to buy a wireless router or not. Odds are you probably have a modem/router combo right now and wont need to purchase a wireless router.

[BobT]

Setting up a WLAN in my home was a new experience for me just about month ago. Before I did it, I researched networking quite a bit so I had a little better understanding about what was needed. Now that I've got ours set up and functioning it seemed so simple I was almost embarrassed about it.

I used a Linksys WRT120N router. It is hard wired between my desktop and my DSL modem. Our printer is Wi-Fi capable so I installed the drivers from the printer's CD and connected it to the system. Then I connected our Wii console so we can use it for instant movie viewing from Netflix. I also had my PC home from work so I established a wireless connection with that. I also connected a Dell Netbook (Christmas gift for our high school daughter) and then set up folder sharing to allow her to access the CD Rom/DVD on our desktop since the netbook doesn't have one.

I found it was actually relatively simple to do all this and I've only touched the tip of the iceberg in possibilities I'm sure.

[pureinsanity]

Its really really simple. Almost plug and play. The only tricky part is setting up a secure wireless network. Depending the router or modem and what its capable there are several options. Its just a matter of what type of security you want/need.

[upnorth]

Myself I would prefer to have the wireless by me rather than them. Not to say they won't do it right, but they might not.