Should I buy this wireless router? I'm confused! Help!?

Question

**I have a Dell desktop, several years old, and have DSL through Embarq. I also have an HP Laptop, only a couple years old.

**I saw an advertisement from a local person about a new Netgear Wireless-G Router..The lady had gotten two shipped to her by mistake and paid $60 each but didn't get the second one shipped back to Dell in time, so she is selling it for $40.

Is this a good buy and a good product? How do i know that my house computer can support wireless? I don't have Vista on either computers...i have XP, will this change anything?

Will installing the router take up a huge amount of space on my desktop computer?

And last but not least, when i get this...do i just insert the CD and a set-up wizard walks me through everything or am i partially on my own?

**I'm picking this up tomorrow and need answers quickly so i can call her back and cancel the meeting in the morning if i decide not to get it.

Please explain answers well...I dont know anything about wireless. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you get a router, you just move the big yellow cord from the modem (internet box)  that is now connected into your computer and plug it into the routers WAN/Internet port. The router will then be connect to the modem.  You take one of the routers LAN (local area ports) and run a cable to the back of your computer where the "yellow" cord is plugged now.  (That's called ethernet cable and you will need 1 new one to go from the router to your computer.) You can then use the wireless laptop to wirelessly connect to the router as well.  

This way you can have both. Wired and wireless.. all wireless does is eliminate the need for a "big yellow cable" to connect to your laptop.  You can even then setup both machines to share files between them as they will be connected to a "Local" network!

(Hope my email did help!)

Answer 2

I own NetGear and have like it most out of the 4 previous routers I have owned, mine is a RangeMax. Anyway, if you want your desktop to work with it you will most likely need a Wireless NIC or Network Interface Card. These can be picked up from a local department store for around $20-50 depending. USB ones tend to be fairly more expensive versus the PCI, the difference being that you have to crack open your case that's about it. You then just follow the installation CD to install the wireless NIC drivers on your computer. Also when you receive your router attach to it with a wire first, go through the instructions on how to set up and secure it (Very important for security reasons as well as no point in letting others steal your bandwidth.) Its fairly easy but just by buying the router you don't go wireless, your computers need the Wireless NIC to "speak" with the router. Usually laptops comes with these anymore I doubt the Desktop did though. Also no, it doesn't take up much "space" on your desktop just be sure to follow directions.

~Yiffy

Answer 3

It will not take any space and you dont need to install software either. You just use the guidelines. It is good router but you have to have wireless card in your laptop if you need to use wirelessly, if you dont have just buy usb wireless card.

If you having diffulties installing just return to here we will guide you through