WiFi enabling my desktop PC

[paulw14]

Hi

I have recently moved to a new flat which is within a house containing nine separate flats.

Included in the rent is free WiFi in each flat.

I easily configured my Acer laptop (bought from Aria) to find the WiFi and connect using the password supplied by my landlord.

I now wish to set up my PC to connect to the WiFi and know I need either a PCI or USB adapter but was wondering if I needed anything else such as a router bearing in mind that my laptop is connecting perfectly well without one.



Furthermore my laptop is using Vista,which I hate,and my desktop is on XP, which I hate a little less(will get round to figuring out Linux one day !) and as far as I am aware I cannot network the two (ie cabling up my desktop to connect to the internet via my laptop).

Any suggestions on the best way to enable WiFi my desktop PC would be greatly appreciated,and good reviews on adapters would also be useful(bearing in mind I'm in a two bedroom flat all on one floor).


Regards,



Paul.

[jonwoad]

You just need a wlan card (pci/usb) and that will get you on the net just fine.

[paulw14]

Hey John

Thanks for the quick reply.

I'm guessing you're part of the Aria team,so any heads up on a decent wlan card?

I'm comfortable with fitting a PCI card ,which I assume will work better,but I await your recommendation and trust your judgement.

Many thanks


Paul.

[jonwoad]

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Peripherals/Network+Products/Wireless/Adapter+-+PCI%2FPCI-E+Cards/+Linksys+Wireless-G+PCI+Adapter?productId=9999

something like this should do you well :)

[wonderlust]

Ask your Landlord what make the Router is and but the same brand,

Tends to be more compatible that way.

[jonwoad]

shouldnt make too much difference tbh as they should all work on the same protocols, but you can never be sure :)

[paulw14]

Great work fellas,and thanks for the speed of your replies.

As to the router brand , I've a sneaking suspicion that it's Netgear as it came up when I first looked for available connections when I first moved in(last Friday).

It doesn't say Netgear now it just appears to be a mobile phone number 0797etc so now I'm torn between the Linksys or a Netgear (anyone got a coin?).


Thanks again fellas , your help has been invaluable.

Regards


Paul

[jonwoad]

If its a standard 54g router then any card should be fine, but if it's above that then same manufacturer would be better :)

[paulw14]

Thanks Jon (apologies for the incorrect spelling earlier!)

I've no idea what a 54g router is ,my pc knowledge is strictly wires (and
lots of them!)

But I'm gonna plump for the Netgear WG311T which is a little but more expensive than the Linksys but hopefully will be easier to configure and judging by the reviews looks pretty decent.


Thanks again.

Regards

Paul




p.s I've moved to Torquay from East Manchester(Gorton) where with the "aid" of a BT Home Hub I was getting barely 1mb , even though I was on the top plan.Apparently I I was to far from the East Manchester exchange(or something like that).
Down here in "remote" Devon i'm getting nearer 10mb.

In footballing terms it like Robinho versus Tim Sills(Torquays top scorer).


MCFC for ever


Paul

[jonwoad]

No probs on the typo :)

TBH that'll probably be fine anyway as your laptop is ok

[paulw14]

Just a quick update.

Bought and installed the Netgear WG311T and after a bit of tinkering I finally managed to connect my desktop to t'internet. The signal strength isn't great and can be intermittent but that might be more to do with my pc rather than the lan card.

But I'm gonna update the drivers and re-position my pc and generally do a bit more tinkering!!

Thanks to all those who replied and gave their invaluable advice.

[wonderlust]

Failing that buy a higher gain Aerial, they aren't expensive