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wireless router connected to a wired cable internet modem

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I am not real computer savvy. I would like to hook up a wireless modem off of my wired cable modem. I can have wireless internet connection through my cable company for $20 a month more. I don’t use the laptop that often for internet use, but would like to occasionally and I can’t justify the cost of paying that much more a month. Is there a way to hook up a wireless router to the cable box so I can use my laptop while the desktop is in use? Using a splitter or hooking things up differently. I already have the wireless card in my laptop. Simple language please. Is there a way that this can be done, or do I need to pay the extra money a month to the cable company to have wireless access to my laptop? Thanks

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Clarifications

In reply to wireless router connected to a wired cable internet modem

Clarifications

The easiest way is to change the Modem

In reply to wireless router connected to a wired cable internet modem

To an ADSL Router with a WiFi capacity and use that once it’s setup correctly.

Similarly you can attach a WiFi Card to the Desktop system and install a WiFi repeater and then access the Internet from your NB via the WiFi Access Point them your Desktop computer.

Of you could attach a crossover CAT5 cable from the desktop to the NB and have both a small Network and Internet access.

Col

Can I change the modem?

In reply to The easiest way is to change the Modem

Can I change the modem? It’s the one that the cable company installed. That would be great if I could, but would they know? Remember I’m am not all that techo.
Would I be able to just buy a wireless router and hook it up. Please explain how to do one or the other or both. Please simplify it so I can understand. Thanks

Well you can do whatever you like

In reply to Can I change the modem?

And go whichever way that you like. Yes you can change the Modem but the ISP is not going to give you any Tech Support for unsupported Modems.

The same way you can just add a WiFi Access point to the Modem between the Modem and first Computer on Cat 5 Cable. It all depends on how much you want to spend and what you have available where you are.

Col

Hey Col, how about this?

In reply to The easiest way is to change the Modem

Is there a reason not to just leave the modem and stick on a router like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833127028

That is not to say he should buy this model or brand, just as an example. He has to buy something anyway, so why not keep the modem as is (it works and is supported by the ISP).

To do this, you simply plug the new router into the modem the way your current computer is plugged in. No special cables.

Then, you plug your computer into the router, do a little configuration (explained rather easily in the manual) and you are ready to use wireless.

Just remember to read the part of the manual that shows how to NOT BROADCAST the SSID!!!

(Edited to add: [b]Col[/b] is how we refer to HAL9000 here)

Hello is that you Dave?

In reply to Hey Col, how about this?

Yes that will work a treat and no problems my problem is living in AU I’m not sure who sells what in the US so I try to keep away from the retailers mainly because I don’t ever use them myself so I’m not sure of what the different places sell or in this case who they actually are and how reputable they are so I avoid using store names.

Now where is that [b]Airlock Control[/b] so that I can blow Dave out the nearest one as he’s getting way to close to finding out my real mission. :p

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer. Do.

In reply to Hello is that you Dave?

It’s OK, Hal. Don’t worry about the guy opening the panel behind the desk over there. He .. just .. wants .. to .. clean .. the … memory … boardssssssss.

Anyway, there are a couple of Internet based companies that have very good ratings. I, personally, shop quite a bit using Newegg and am quite satisfied. I do recommend shopping around but that one is a good basis for comparison.

a technical or an ethical question?

In reply to The easiest way is to change the Modem

I read this information eagerly, if without full understanding, because I need to add a work computer at home and want it to be online. However, there seems to be some suggestion that doing this is in some way dishonest. Am I misunderstanding? I do not want to defraud my cable provider, just to figure out how to hook up the bits and pieces the company sent home with me.

You are defiantly reading this wrong

In reply to a technical or an ethical question?

The only way that you can do anything possible close to dishonest is to provide an unsecured WiFi Access point and on sell your ISP services to anyone capable of using a WiFi device and is within range.

You are not required to use what the Company provides but if you stop using their equipment they no longer will be able to support you as they don’t support hardware that they don’t supply.

As far as ISP’s go provided that you are downloading or accessing locally there isn’t a problem and of course paying the bill for your usage.

Col

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