Help with a wireless network?

[LykosEcho]

Okay so we've always only ever had 1 computer. 1 internet connection, we have Century Link DSL. We've got a DSL modem on the main computer that works. No wireless anything, everything's wired.

So I got a computer running 7 for Christmas. And I need internet on it. So. We called Century Link and they said we'd need a wireless router? They sent us a Westell wireless router/modem...thing. I can get specifics if someone needs them. It's supposedly wireless (now, from what I understand of wireless, you set it up on one computer and another computer picks it up from a wireless card/internal wifi).

Okay. Fine.

Issue 1) I didn't think I'd need internal wifi...so I saved 40$ by not customizing internal wifi into my new Dell, and my old one is 10 years old and DEFINITELY doesn't have it. Things would be solved if I could connect Westell to Old Computer and then use wireless wifi on my NEW computer.

Issue 2) My stepfather is stupid and plugged Westell modem/router into New Computer...while Old Computer's DSL modem was still on. Our connection on Old Computer went haywire/glitchy and my AIM blinked on and off, so I figure the only way to make it work...is to somehow pick up wireless on Old Computer through the Westell router? (or, plug Westell into Old Computer and pick up wireless on New computer)

Or am I 100% off? Because I'm getting so ticked at technology and I'm kicking myself for not getting internal wifi on my new computer. A friend tells me I need a wireless card or else run another ethernet line from Old Comp to New Comp, which is impossible. What does that entail? How does it plug in?

I went to Walmart and found different routers that sold in two pieces: router, and then a plug-in-USB-thingy that went with that brand router?


Help? XD

 

[DocBrown]

Welcome LykosEcho

How many ethernet ports does the router have? Are both computers going to be in the same room? Sounds like your old Dell is not wireless, & you said you did not order any wireless option for the new computer. So we can take this a few steps at a time.

 

[LykosEcho]

The back of the router says:

Model: A90-750022-67
Rev: D
ADSL2 + Versalink

And it has a DSL port, then 4 ports (E1/Uplink, E2, E3 and E4/Data

edit: No, the Old Computer is in the kitchen, and the New computer is in my room, which is several rooms away.

And yes, I opted not to have internal wireless in my Dell because I was worried about price...so this is my fault lol!

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[DocBrown]

Is the Old Dell in kitchen near the router & modem? Is your new computer a Desktop or Laptop ?

 

[LykosEcho]

This is the router/modem thing we have:
Westell - VersaLink Gateway

At the moment, the old Dell is attached to a...Sprint 645 Series Modem running DSL. It's old. We plan on putting the Westell Gateway on the old Dell and getting rid of the Sprint 645.

Then we need a way for the new Dell in my room to get connection. The new Dell is a Studio XPS 8100 desktop running Win 7 Home Premium, if that helps?

 

[DocBrown]

Ok, with the New Dell Desktop you have 2 options for wireless. An internal PCI wireless card, or an external USB wireless adapter. Are you familiar with NewEgg, TigerDirect, Fry's Electonics ?? Or I beleive you said you saw something at WalMart.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=2688&srkey=wireless%20usb%20adapter

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=31&Tpk=wireless adapters&Order=PRICE

 

[LykosEcho]

Okay.

I live in a small town in Indiana, and the closest 'big' cities to us are Fort Wayne and Warsaw and they don't have much selection store-wise? I've never seen retailers for any of the places you spoke of.

Walmart has a few things: they had separate pieces; one a router, the other a USB wireless adapter for that router? I'm trying to recall a few brands, I remember Cisco and Belkin, and they seemed to have adapters in varying...connections? (I recall three different boxes from the same brand, three different prices, with a little marking on them saying good, better, best, or something, for connection? does that make sense?) Lynksys or something?

Which is better, an internal card or an external USB adapter, in your opinion?

 

[DocBrown]

I prefer a wired connection, but have tested them all When wireless did not work well at my house, I ran a 100ft ethernet cable (outside the house) from my router to the family room. That was about 5 years ago, still working! Internal wireless card would be a better part of the system, whereas a wireless USB adapter will use a USB port & be hanging somewhere outside you computer. Check the links I posted above for the mail-order places. I have bought tons of computers & parts from them.

 

[DocBrown]

Looks like that Westell router adapter should work fine with any internal or USB wireless.

 

[LykosEcho]

Yeah I've read that a wired connection will work faster/won't be patchy, but I don't know if it's possible to run one from one comp to the next. It'd be tricky, since they're on opposite ends of the house, with a garage/front door between them, but probably easier to run it outside than try and manage to run it inside, lol! I'd have to measure to see if it'd fit. I'll have to talk with my stepdad and see if it's possible to make it wired, if that works better than wireless?

What has the best connection, internal card or USB port?

I don't have a preference (my comp has 4 open USB ports in the front and something sticking out won't affect me) except that I know how to work a USB port and don't know where a card would go? If I went with an internal wireless card, what would be the best brand for my style of computer? I'm assuming it would fit somewhere on the back, or perhaps on the inside?

Also, is there a brand that works better than another (either internal or usb?)

Sorry for so many questions!

 

[DocBrown]

This one would probably get you connected the quickest & the cheapest.

Newegg.com - Rosewill RNX-EasyN1 IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wireless-N 4.0 Dongle (1T1R) Up to 150Mbps Data Rates WPA/WPA2 (AES, 64,128-WEP with shared-key authentication) WPS PIN, PBC (Hardware WPS Button) QoS-WMM

I have tested this one on Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, & Windows 7 with no problems If the New computer has a USB port on the back, I would use that port.

 

[LykosEcho]

Awesome.

I asked my stepdad how many feet it was between computers and he says it's about 50 feet with a couple of walls in between the signal. I don't know if that matters/will break up the wireless signal, but if so, will the Rosewill be able to handle that? I just am covering my bases, and with the price of that, I didn't know if more expensive was necessarily better or not?

I will talk to my parents and see about ordering that. I want to try and go wireless and see if that works, and if it doesn't, I'll see about running an outside ethernet cable.

If I get it and have issues with it, should I come back here for a follow-up?

Thanks! You've been a major help!

 

[DocBrown]

50ft for the Rosewell should be fine. My problem with wireless was metal framing in the walls of my house. Most houses have wood framing in the walls. Good luck & post us your updates Glad I could help.

 

[LykosEcho]

Okay, update-

Took me a little extra longer cuz we had to wait to buy the Rosewill adapter, but everything's set up.

Now: running the 7500 model of Westell router in the kitchen, I get none-to-one bars (flicking back and forth from no connection to limited) in my room.

I'd say it was the rosewill adapter, but my Kindle device only shows 1 bar as well, so I'm guessing that this router isn't powerful enough to reach my room. Which sucks.

SO.

Questions:

1) do routers come in different 'lengths' (ie; if this router doesn't reach my room, is there another router with a bigger wavelength that can? I couldn't stay connected long enough to even activate my McAfee security, yet my neighbors that live a couple houses down, I get two bars on their connection.

2) can a 'longer/bigger range' router be purchased to make the connection reach in my room?

If not, what are my options?

Now, if so, we've got a couple of giftcards to home depot that are just sitting around and are basically the only money we've got to spend at the moment.

Electrical - Home Automation & Security - Home Automation - Modems & Routers - Routers at The Home Depot

Would any of these work?

Again, thanks for your patience