Thanx for the prompt reply.
You're welcome!
The Apple cd does indeed play on my Windows 7 computer. Thus I should have no trouble with setup. However, having limited expertise in computer technology, I never take anything for granted. The frequent use of terminology, which I must look up somewhere else, is frustrating and always slows me down. However, I will attempt it.
That's understandable. There's a lot there to have to grasp to get your feet on the ground.
My concern is the difficulty mentioned some time ago: inability to connect to Internet, ISP tells me it is the router's fault, power off the router, power on again. This problem with download of large files probably still exists.
ISP is liable to place blame elsewhere first. First off, they can see the status of your modem. But I'm also sure they would like to start collecting an extra $3/month by supplying a router too.
I was told that power down of the router affects only settings of peripheral components, not those of the router itself. Thus power off/on of the router did not affect Wifi function.
Wrong!
If your modem is connected to the router's WAN/Internet port (as it should be connected), and then power down the router, you lose all service from your ISP. Doesn't matter whether your PC is wired or wireless. If your PC is able to get on the internet at that point, it means it has wirelessly connected to someone else's network/ISP (like a neighbor's). Not a good thing.
Powering down the router also prevents your machines/devices/PC's from communicating with each other, as the router is the link between them all that allows intermachine communication.
Finally, I am considering wifi rental scheme as a way to restore service to my house. Thus I could find out if my new Asus netbook which does not now connect can be set so as to work. I must be assured of a functioning wifi to do this.
Start with using your Asus netbook to properly configure the AE using the software on the CD. The Asus must be connected to the AE via ethernet to do this. Then:
I am hoping I only have to adjust some settings; I have already set it to 'search for available networks'.
Now you can set up the wireless connection, but the only "available network" you want to automatically connect to is yours. You might want to use the wireless connection software built into Windows. Disable any Asus software that is trying to handle network connections. Windows handles it better than most any of the hardware manufacturer's software. Not only that but it's easier to get help since more often than not you'll tend to get help from someone connecting via Windows.
To make sure you are wirelessly connected to your own network, you'll have to use your PC to find the wireless network provided by the AE router. Make sure no wireless networks are set up to connect automatically, and disconnect from any wireless network that it may have already connected to. Search the list of available wireless networks and find the name you gave to the AE when you set it up (SSID is usually the term that is used to represent a network name). When you find it, connect to it, entering the same wireless password you used when setting up the AE. When connected, right click on the SSID name, select properties, and set it up to connect automatically.
If you left the ethernet cable connected, the computer will actually have two network connections to the AE. You could see this if you went to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Network and Sharing Center, then clicking on "See full map" in the upper right corner.
Disconnect the ethernet and you'll still have the wireless connection. Should be able to surf the net. Now power down the router. See if you can surf the net. If you can, that means you're connected to someone else's network -- start over. If you can't, you're good to go. Power the router back up. See that the PC wirelessly connects to your router.
Next: what is the bandwidth capability of the AE router? If I only download these files when the computer is 'resting', ie powered on but not in use (such as overnight), can the AE handle these downloads?
Shouldn't have to worry about this, wired or wireless. You would have to time it to notice the difference. Any time day or night. If you pay your ISP for 3 mb/s service, you'll get it.
My brother believes that router detects something 'suspicious' about these files and thus retards downloads. Any truth to this?
Not likely. Standard consumer based routers typically don't inspect the data as closely as more expensive routers. If you clicked on a link to download a file, the router recognizes that you just asked for it and therefore will let it through. That's one way cheap home routers protect you. It blocks anything you didn't ask for. You have to click first, before it'll let it through.
Once setup is completed, router is compatible with PC.
