wireless network - pls help an idiot

[jezrider]

Hi all,

Let me start by saying i am useless with p.c's - so keep it simple pls !

I have a p.c at home and a laptop, and i have a wireless network which i got from tescos for about £2.35. A friend the other day said that he had heard that these networks were useless and that would explain my slow internet speed. However, he could not recommend a good one to get.

I want to spend about £100 max, whats hot and whats not please?

Thanks

[Smiler.]

Do you want to connect to the internet via the wireless? If so' you'll need a wireless modem/router. The benefit of this is that the PC doesn't need to be on for the laptop to connect to the net.

I think the last one I bought for Broadband was around £50 (10 months ago). Note that there is a difference between broadband & cable internet & the routers are totally different.

Good luck.

[mcarrick69]

2 questions:
Do either PC have a wireless apapter already? (Laptops sometimes have them built in)
What kind of Broadband do you have? is it through a BT phone line or is it cable?

You need 3 things here:
A wireless adapter for each PC.
A Wireless router. Depending upon cable (DSL) or a BT line (ADSL) you will need the correct type of router.

Below is an ADSL router from PC world for £50 and includes a USB wireless adapter.

www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0644462043.1179829168@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhaddkmlefhmlcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=042878&category_oid=-28359

PC World also have an equivalent DSL router for £45 with a USB wireless adapter.

[mcflurry]

I would go for the Netgear cable or ADSL solution, depending on your current broadbean provider.

They "just work"

[jezrider]

thanks for the responses guys.
I am using tesco broadband so i guess it is ADSL, at present i have the modem and the wireless thingy that plugs in a usb port. Its all working ok, but signal strength is erratic and connection can be painfully slow. When i mentioned it was a tescos job to a friend he then told me the bad reports he had heard.

Is the pc world 50 quid jobbie just a similar thing to what i already have, as in no better performance ??

[mcarrick69]

jezrider said:

Hi all,
and i have a wireless network which i got from tescos for about £2.35.

I think this is confusing...

Do you really mean £2.35? What did you get for that?

Do you already have an ADSL router plugged into the phone line and the wireless adapter plugged into a PC?

[BliarOut]

£2.35? That's an ADSL line filter

[jezrider]

Sorry guys, £2.35 was meant to be sarcastic. As in i got the cheapest modem possible, a white and blue stripe value jobbie !!