What does my friend need?

[ConLog]

I have a friend at work who is getting cable broadband internet (2 Meg)installed in his home.

He wants a hard wired internet connection to his desktop PC.

He also has a laptop. His laptop has wireless built in (802.11b). He wants to connect his laptop wirelessly to the cable connection so he can use it anywhere in his house.

He wants to be able to access the internet on his laptop even if his PC is switched off.

What EXACTLY does he need to do this. Is it complicated?

Could some kind PCMecher please link me to the exact devices he needs?

TIA.

[glc]

He needs a cable modem with an Ethernet output and a wireless router. The other option is a combo cable modem/wireless router. If all the ISP offers him is a USB cable modem, he's out of luck.

[ConLog]

Originally Posted by glc He needs a cable modem with an Ethernet output and a wireless router. The other option is a combo cable modem/wireless router. If all the ISP offers him is a USB cable modem, he's out of luck.

From memory of when I worked for Telewest Broadband, all modems supplied to customers had USB AND Ethernet ports on them.

So basically all he needs is a wireless router? Does the wireless router have an ethernet port for hard wiring to the desktop PC?

[colecifer]

Originally Posted by ConLog From memory of when I worked for Telewest Broadband, all modems supplied to customers had USB AND Ethernet ports on them. So basically all he needs is a wireless router? Does the wireless router have an ethernet port for hard wiring to the desktop PC?

Yes, a wireless router will typically have 4 ethernet ports on it for hardwired connections. Just make sure you buy a wireless router and not a wireless accesspoint because the accesspoint will just be wirless with not ethernet points. I haven't seen an accesspoint for sale in a while though so they might have faded away.

[ConLog]

Originally Posted by colecifer Yes, a wireless router will typically have 4 ethernet ports on it for hardwired connections. Just make sure you buy a wireless router and not a wireless accesspoint because the accesspoint will just be wirless with not ethernet points. I haven't seen an accesspoint for sale in a while though so they might have faded away.

No they are certainly still for sale. I was looking at one in a catalogue the other day and was thinking 'what the hecks an access point?'. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[glc]

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=62827