Router Question

[lilmads]

I'm trying to install a Netgeat router on my desktop... My problem is that the router uses a network cable... but I only have one on my desktop and that is used for my wireless internet connection... any idea of what I can do to install this router?

[CubanMustGo]

Could you go into a little more detail? Are you saying you have no hard-wired internet connection at all? If so, just stick your router between your wireless box and your desktop; you'll need another LAN cable. You'll have to configure the router to allow the desktop to talk to the wireless receiver.

[lilmads]

Thanks for replying Cuban.

I'm gonna try to explain this...
The Internet connection that I have uses the network card on my PC... There's this big piece that is connected to the network card... so that slot is used up already... Now I wanna install the router... and that requires the network card connection too... So basically I have the router, a LAN cable, and my Internet LAN cable which all need to be connected... The router has a slot for the Internet as well as other LANs.

Any ideas?

[Marklar MM]

Well if I am interpreting correctly, just hook the lan cable that is for the main internet to the router, then hook another cable from a router slot to the computer.

[leemajors]

Well if I am interpreting correctly, just hook the lan cable that is for the main internet to the router, then hook another cable from a router slot to the computer.

sounds correct to me. you want the router between your connecttion and the computer. internet cable into internet port on router, then from your router to your computer. you'll need to reset your modem and also your computer for it to work, though. turn the computer off, unplug the modem for at least 30 seconds, then turn the modem on, let it power up, then start your computer.

[Jimcs50]

Geek Squad

[ducks]

geek squad will over charge you

I would do it for $35-$70
but you have to fly me there

[Old School Chic]

geek squad will over charge you

I would do it for $35-$70
but you have to fly me there

[ShoogarBear]

I am having a little trouble understanding your original post.

I take it that your current configuration is this:

ISP--->wireless access point ~~~~~~~>wireless card on your desktop

I don't think you want to install the router on your desktop if it is connected wirelessly to the internet. You want to install the router at the point of your internet connection to the outside.

Is the Netgear router a wireless router? It will also have ethernet ports for hard connections and you want something like this:

                  |-------->optional hardwire Ethernet connections
                  |
ISP --->Netgear router~~~~>wireless card on desktop

In the above, you can discard you current wireless access point. Optionally, you can also hardwire your desktop to the router and use the wireless card on something else.

If the Netgear is NOT a wireless router, then you will need to keep your current wireless access point:

                  |-------->optional hardwire Ethernet connections
                  |
ISP --->Netgear router-->wireless access point ~~~~>wireless card on desktop

[CubanMustGo]

Seriously, it's hard to visualize the config, as Shoog demonstrates above.

[Slomo]

I am having a little trouble understanding your original post.

I take it that your current configuration is this:

ISP--->wireless access point ~~~~~~~>wireless card on your desktop

I don't think you want to install the router on your desktop if it is connected wirelessly to the internet. You want to install the router at the point of your internet connection to the outside.

Is the Netgear router a wireless router? It will also have ethernet ports for hard connections and you want something like this:

                  |-------->optional hardwire Ethernet connections
                     |
   ISP --->Netgear router~~~~>wireless card on desktop

In the above, you can discard you current wireless access point. Optionally, you can also hardwire your desktop to the router and use the wireless card on something else.

If the Netgear is NOT a wireless router, then you will need to keep your current wireless access point:

                  |-------->optional hardwire Ethernet connections
                     |
   ISP --->Netgear router-->wireless access point ~~~~>wireless card on desktop

ASCII Graphics! Good times

Why don't you start by telling us the model of the router. Then please clarify what do you want to achieve with the router.

[ShoogarBear]

ASCII Graphics! Good times

Sometimes I miss Usenet.

[leemajors]

Sometimes I miss Usenet.

still use usenet every day. it's the only place to get binaries.

[lilmads]

I think I get what you are saying Shoogar but I need to clarify what I wrote in my first post. I call it wireless (as everyone else does down here) but its not actually wireless. Its a hard Ethernet connection from a modem-like piece to my desktop. What happens is that when I start up, a LAN connection is already on and then I use WinPoet to connect.

Slomo, this is the router that I have: http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGR614.php

Basically I just want the router connected to this Internet connection so that I can use the Internet from my laptop simultaneously.

I tried what Marklar said and followed the directions that came with the router. I did get somewhere but as soon as I put in my login information for the Internet it tells me that my Internet connection is not responding. And WinPoet does not connect then because the LAN connection that initially starts up when my computer goes on is not working either.

I'm gonna give it a go one more time... Otherwise wait for someone to help me out... Thanks for all the help

[ShoogarBear]

Okay, I think I got it. Your use of "wireless" for your original connection threw us all off. You don't actually have wireless now, you want to install the router so that you will get wireless.

What you want to do is what's in my second box, except where I wrote "optional hardward Ethernet connection" is going to be the actual ethernet to your desktop and where I wrote "wireless card on desktop" is actually going to be the wireless card on your laptop.

What you will need to do is configure your Netgear wireless router for your Internet Service Provider. How this happens depends on your provider, but they should have a standard FAQ or instructions on how to do this. The major thing will be whether you have a fixed (static) IP address or a dynamic IP address.

It is usually highly recommended that you protect your wireless access with some sort of security protocol (which is an option that comes with the router) although you can use it without one.

Unfortunately, though I can do it, I'm not the best person to explain the details of how to do it. Hopefully between the router and your ISP there are some understandable instructions.

[2Blonde]

I bought a Dlink this time around and I love that thing it was so easy to set up and it came with a program called network magic that is awesome. It's probably the most user friendly program I've ever seen for networking multiple computers wirelessly or hardwired. Even for dummies like me.

[lilmads]

Okay, I think I got it. Your use of "wireless" for your original connection threw us all off. You don't actually have wireless now, you want to install the router so that you will get wireless.

What you want to do is what's in my second box, except where I wrote "optional hardward Ethernet connection" is going to be the actual ethernet to your desktop and where I wrote "wireless card on desktop" is actually going to be the wireless card on your laptop.

What you will need to do is configure your Netgear wireless router for your Internet Service Provider. How this happens depends on your provider, but they should have a standard FAQ or instructions on how to do this. The major thing will be whether you have a fixed (static) IP address or a dynamic IP address.

It is usually highly recommended that you protect your wireless access with some sort of security protocol (which is an option that comes with the router) although you can use it without one.

Unfortunately, though I can do it, I'm not the best person to explain the details of how to do it. Hopefully between the router and your ISP there are some understandable instructions.

\\

Thanks Shoogar. I'm going to ask a friend of mine who has the same ISP as me to see if he has a router. If not, then I will go ahead and contact my ISP.

[Nbadan]

Unfortunately, though I can do it, I'm not the best person to explain the details of how to do it. Hopefully between the router and your ISP there are some understandable instructions.

Don't count on it. Fortunately, most software for NIC boxes come with easy step-by-step directions on how to require a login into the network and encrypt the signal in-between devices. When you get to that part, just follow the directions that came with your nic-box on setup.

If she has broadband, I'm fairly certain that the nic card is being used by a cable modem since DSL would use a telephone line. So the simple solution would be to put the wireless nic-box between the cable modem and the computer. Turn off the cable modem for a few seconds and let the ISP's reset. You might also have to reset the nic-box.

[Solid D]

Don't count on it. Fortunately, most software for NIC boxes come with easy step-by-step directions on how to require a login into the network and encrypt the signal in-between devices. When you get to that part, just follow the directions that came with your nic-box on setup.

If she has broadband, I'm fairly certain that the nic card is being used by a cable modem since DSL would use a telephone line. So the simple solution would be to put the wireless nic-box between the cable modem and the computer. Turn off the cable modem for a few seconds and let the ISP's reset. You might also have to reset the nic-box.

Why introduce another term into the mix like "NIC box"? It may be confusing. K.I.S.S.