Computer Numpty Question!

[mystic]

Here goes ....

I've an Apple Mac which I'm more than happy with ... does everything I need and then some.

Recently acquired a PC laptop for my better half. I'm wanting to allow her access to the net on her laptop. Heard people talking about "wireless routers"! ..... allowing one computer connected to the net to share that connection with another in the same house. (Went into PC World today....... totally perplexed by it all!)

If its possible, what do I need to be getting, and when I've got it, what do I do with it?

advice/info/suggestions?

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

Amazingly I Have a Mac and have just bought SWINBO an HP Laptop. There are two essential things you need to check. Firstly does the laptop have a built in wireless capability and secondly does you're broadband router have wireless capability. If this the case for both items and you are running XP on the laptop then you are no more than a few clicks away
Both my Mac and 'our' laptop share one internet connection quite happily!

 

[ianf]

How are you connected to the net. Ethernet cable from your mac to broadband or cable modem? The mac can share it's connection fairly easily, or you might just need an additional device to turn your broadband wireless. Let us know what your broadband/cable device is here and I'll have a think.

 

[mystic]

Thanks for that both of you.

The Mac (G4 Power Mac) is hooked up to the net via cable modem (supplied by broadband provider). Runs on OS10.4.
The laptop is fairly old, IBM Thinkpad running XP. (part of the reason for getting it is to manage my Garmin GPS mapping software, but that's another matter .

I'd be very surprised if it had built in wireless capability, and not having the manual I wouldn't know where to look!
Any bright ideas?

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

Ok here's what you need to do. You'll have to buy a wireless router plus a wireless dongle for the laptop. PC world will be able to sort you out with both of these. It's a fairly simple installation.................a matter of following the instructions. Job Done.
The whole Mac + Windoze compatability isn't an issue. It's soley an internet connection.

 

[ianf]

Yep, but the only tricky bit is that the cable modem will likely only have 1 ethernet port that you are already using. So make sure you get a wireless router specifically designed for cable, that also has a couple of ethernet ports on the home side.

 

[mystic]

Thanks guys ..... now off to PC World armed with your comments.
I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[mystic]

Well that was interesting. The PCW salesman said no problem .... he could supply the necessary gear.

But could give me no guarantee that the 'broadband' signal could be picked up by the laptop in another part of the house! Reason the house has 300 yr old thick brick walls!!!!

Back to the drawing board .....

 

[ianf]

Well, unless it's buckingham castle....

Honestly in a modest sized property that's got say 5 rooms on each floor, you'd very likely still get half a decent signal all over it. The USB thingies are a bit weedy, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't usable.

Buy it from Argos, and take it back in 10 days if it doesn't do the job.

 

[mystic]

Well, unless it's buckingham castle....

Honestly in a modest sized property that's got say 5 rooms on each floor, you'd very likely still get half a decent signal all over it. The USB thingies are a bit weedy, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't usable.

Buy it from Argos, and take it back in 10 days if it doesn't do the job.

I'm thinking the guy's scepticism was to do with the signal's capacity to penetrate through the solid brick walls? Does the signal travel in straight lines? Just didn't want to shell out a lot of cash to find it didn't do the job!

Interesting.... is that Argus' official policy on returns, even if the item has been unpacked? If so, definitely worth a try.

 

[bowser]

wireless and thick walls

There are a number of ways round this problem if it really becomes one but possible the easiest is to use a system that plugs into your house electrical system. They just look like a 3 pin plug socket but have ethernet connectors so you can use the electrical wiring in the house as network cables, you can then just stick a litttle wirless tranmitter receiver on end in which ever room you want to use the laptop in, or just plug the laptop into the plug with a network cable and use it wired.

 

[bowser]

forgot to mention, you can get the kits at maplins, even Aldi had a system on sale earlier in the year.