File sharing between win7 64 bit desktop & vista 32bit laptop

One of my sons was here today and said with my router which is a D-Link WBR-1310

Hardware Version: B1 Firmware Version: 2.00, making a bridge won't work with this brand router. He said using a range extender might work, but the cheapest way is buying a different router suggesting this one :
Amazon.com: Cisco Linksys Refurbished E1000 Wireless-N Router: Computers & Accessories

and using the firmwear at this link:
Installation - DD-WRT Wiki

What is anyone's opinion? Will buying a different router and using what he suggested work? He said it's this way or using the range extender which would cost more.

I am not fully understanding what you are saying in your last post about not changing settings in the router I have now? I had no intention of doing that.

Do you also mean if I get a different router like the one my son suggested I would still have to build a bridge? won't just installing the firmware work alone?

PinkRose said:

I am not fully understanding what you are saying in your last post about not changing settings in the router I have now? I had no intention of doing that.

Sorry, I thought your son was looking at the possibility of using bridge mode for your existing router.

PinkRose said:

Do you also mean if I get a different router like the one my son suggested I would still have to build a bridge? won't just installing the firmware work alone?

What you need for that free Wifi is a way to "bridge" its signal into your current router. Either way can work. Buy that router, install DD-WRT on it, and then configure it to work as a bridge. Or buy that other device I mentioned and configure it (might be easier to config as it already is a bridge).

Thanks I need to think further as to which way I want to go, my present router is almost 4 yrs old, not sure how long routers last but what my son said is I will not be able to use firmware on it at all, it's not supported.

Well, at least you have some time to think about it, as you have internet service already, although paid by the month.

The reason I suggested the http://www.netgear.com/home/products...WN2000RPT.aspx is because I thought that would be the easiest for you to set up, maybe with a little help from members of this forum.

As far as your 4 year old router is concerned, I wouldn't worry too much about its age (although you might check the D-Link website to see how much longer they're going to support it). One of my routers is twice as old as that. And still has updates available from dd-wrt.

PinkRose said:

...my present router is almost 4 yrs old, not sure how long routers last but what my son said is I will not be able to use firmware on it at all, it's not supported.

It's not too unusual that DD-WRT doesn't support it. There are hundreds of brands/models out there, and each one might need its own version of firmware.

If you have someone available near you, who is comfortable with this kind of stuff, it might be worthwhile buying that refurbished router you referred to earlier. Just be sure that the dd-wrt firmware can be configured for the proper mode (bridged: you want it to communicate with that free Wifi service).

Sounds like your son may be pretty good at this sort of stuff. Would he be avaialble to install dd-wrt on the router you're thinking of buying?

He live about 2 hrs away but yes he could when he has the time to drive up here again.

Getting very late here, going to bed. good nite