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Wireless internet question

post #1 of 19
6/10/04 at 12:13am
Thread Starter 
yea, yea...say all u want, im new with computers. Well, first off, the cable company just came in and installed this woreless connection thing to my desktop in the basement so that i could get internet upstairs on my laptop too. My laptop is the one directly connected to the internet, but my desktop computer downstairs has an antenna on the back...anyway, im getting a sentia, and i kno it has the wireless, but im also using the direct. My question is, finally, what do i ahve to add to my currnt laptop in order for it to also have wireless internet (wi-fi). A type II pc card? i have a slot 4 taht. And if so, can someone reccomend me a brand?
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post #2 of 19
6/10/04 at 1:33am
Netgear, Linksys, and 3com all make good pcmcia wireless cards. Do you have a wireless router or some other form of connection sharing?
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post #3 of 19
6/10/04 at 2:03am
Let's get a few details first before trying to figure out what you need.

What kind of Cable connection do you have?
(Satellite, 1 way, 2 way)

Trace the connection into the computer and describe the devices that you find along the way.
Example: My connection is DSL
> DSL through Phone Jack
> DSL Modem/bridge (phone wire)
> WAN port on Router (RJ45 cable)
> 4 ports on router
- Port 1 plugged to computer 1 Web Server, Mail Server (RJ45 cable)
- Port 2 main computer (RJ45 cable)
- port 3 test computer (RJ45 cable)
- port 4 open (n/a)
- wireless Sentia, and 3 neighbors (the air)

There is a reason why I listed mine as an example. With that description, you know exactly what is there. I am a bit confused on what the cable company installed to share your internet connection between the desktop and laptop. There is mention of an antenna on the desktop downstairs which adds to the confusion even more. At this point my guess is that a wireless adapter was added to the desktop downstairs (antenna mentioned), then ICS was installed. But this guess does not make any sense since most people, and specially an ISP like your cable company would not touch ICS because it can be a big hassle to troubleshoot.
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post #4 of 19
6/10/04 at 4:33am
Also, you state your notebook is directly connected to the internet, how so? Do you have an ethernet cable connecting from your internet modem to your notebook? Or is the internet modem connected to the desktop and your notebook is communicating with the internet wirelessly or via a cable?

I don't understand what the antenna "thingy" on your desktop is. Or if and how your desktop is connected to the internet.

Please elaborate on my and Booga's questions.
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post #5 of 19
6/10/04 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
ok, i have a D-Link® 802.11G Wireless Base Station, and the computer downstairs has a 802.11G Wireless PCI Adapter (theres an antenna at the end....yea, sry 4 the confusion). Ok, now, my laptop is directy conected by an ethernet wire. Also, i have comcast, which is not DSL, but it is, well, im not really sure. It is broadband, if that helps.
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post #6 of 19
6/10/04 at 5:37pm
if its comcast then you have a cable running to a cable modem then your ethernet from the cable modem to your network card on your laptop.
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post #7 of 19
6/10/04 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
ok, it goes to a cable modem, then from that to the d-link, then there is a cable comin from the d-link to my laptop.
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post #8 of 19
6/10/04 at 6:14pm
to answer ur original question, all you have to do is add wifi to your old laptop via a pcmcia card, usb dongle, or a minipci card.
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post #9 of 19
6/10/04 at 7:37pm
PCMCIA would probably be the best option. Most laptops that were bought without the wireless built in option will not have the antenna wire to plug to the mini PCI.

Since you do have 802.11g, i suggest getting a "G" PCMCIA card so you can take advantage of the speed that "G" provides.
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post #10 of 19
6/10/04 at 8:14pm
unless your desktop is on B, then you might consider a B"B" card cuz mixed mode operation is slower than straight G, but thats ur call
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post #11 of 19
6/10/04 at 8:42pm
Thread Starter 
Alright guys, and is the installation of the pcmcia card hard? Can i do it myself? Or, could it possibly be that there was a reason there there is this button on the side of my laptop that slides out this little card....
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post #12 of 19
6/10/04 at 9:10pm
Can you make toast?

Same principle: Insert rectangle thing into rectangular hole.

Then some software install probably
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post #13 of 19
6/10/04 at 9:17pm
Thread Starter 
alright......and its one sandard size? (probobly) can someone reccomend me a specific card and/or brand that they know is good from personal use?
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post #14 of 19
6/10/04 at 9:22pm
Thread Starter 
o yea, 1 mor thing.....do i need another adapter or part i need to connect to my d-link so that the pcmcia card can read it?
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post #15 of 19
6/10/04 at 10:13pm
I call troll.

-Danko
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post #16 of 19
6/10/04 at 10:33pm
All you will need is a wireless PCMCIA card. No other adapters are needed to be able to wirelessly connect to the base station.

I have this card for other laptops that I may need to work on without a wireless card.
SMC2835w 802.11g card
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post #17 of 19
6/11/04 at 12:04am
Thread Starter 
alright, i got it, thx guys
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post #18 of 19
6/11/04 at 12:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdanko
I call troll.

-Danko

Wait a second, where is the bridge?
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post #19 of 19
6/11/04 at 1:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sneezinglion
Wait a second, where is the bridge?

Passed the bridge a long time ago, bro!

You didn't see it? You should keep your eyes open.!
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