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View Full Version : Router/Adapter questions

LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 08:16 AM
I just moved into my new house, and we got RoadRunner yesterday. I live with two other girls who have computers, but the Time Warner guy decided to put the RoadRunner on my computer because it was more convenient. Well of course the other two girls want it too because they are paying for it, so I told them we needed to buy a router and two adapters. But both the girls have older computers, and I didn't know if older computers had a place to put adapters. She only has 63 MB of Ram on her computer the cable guy said, and he didn't know if that was enough for her to get RoadRunner anyway. So I looked at her computer but I couldn't see a place to insert the adapter. Is there any other way to do it? And do any of y'all recommend a good, cheap, router or adapter for us? Thanks!
Mizzou B-ball fan
05-02-2006, 08:54 AM
Anyone else distracted by the 'I live with two other girls' comment?

Ah, must just be me.

Regarding the computers, if they only have 64 meg of ram, there's a better than 50/50 chance they don't have an ethernet port to accept high speed internet. That sounds like a pretty old computer to me.
the_meanstrosity
05-02-2006, 08:59 AM
You're looking for a Network Interface Card (or NIC for short). Normally you install these using a PCI slot although some of the modern (past 5 years) motherboards have an onboard Network Interface Card.

If I were you, I would go with a wireless router so you won't have to put Cat5 cable down all over the entire house. Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS are both quality routers. The reason I suggest Linksys is because there are a lot of 3rd party firmwares provided for these routers which improve the product.

This means that your roommates will most likely need to purchase wireless NIC cards for each of the computers. This should run less than $30 per adapter. You can go with pretty much any brand although I went with Linksys due to having a Linksys router. You don't have to go with the same brand as your router though.

Note that if the cable modem is in your room...I would just connect it via the wire rather than wireless since your speeds will almost always be better than the wireless.

Rather than a router, you could go for a switch which is a bit cheaper. That's another alternative.
Honolulu_Blue
05-02-2006, 09:01 AM
Anyone else distracted by the 'I live with two other girls' comment?

*Raises Hand.*
Draft Dodger
05-02-2006, 09:09 AM
*Raises Hand.*

yeah, me too.
Draft Dodger
05-02-2006, 09:11 AM
Rather than a router, you could go for a switch which is a bit cheaper. That's another alternative.

this is the only part I don't agree with. other than that, great advice
Bee
05-02-2006, 09:35 AM
No request for pics yet? You guys are slacking.
Draft Dodger
05-02-2006, 09:59 AM
No request for pics yet? You guys are slacking.

wouldn't have done any good.
LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 11:13 AM
I dont know what a switch is, and we have five dogs, so we didn't want to have cables running throughout the house cuz they will probably get chewed on. Is there a certain place to get the Linksy stuff Meanstrosity?


I am seeing a lot of router/adapters on Amazon. I have never bought electronics from them, is that a good idea? They are selling a Linksy adapter for 12.99
LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 11:15 AM
Also, this was the router I was looking at because I have a $50 Target card.
Will it get the job done???


Actiontec 802.11g 54Mbps Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100Mbps Switch - GT704WR

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-3/qid=1146586492/ref=sr_1_3/602-8057808-6022241?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0002F8QYK
Draft Dodger
05-02-2006, 11:27 AM
Also, this was the router I was looking at because I have a $50 Target card.
Will it get the job done???


Actiontec 802.11g 54Mbps Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100Mbps Switch - GT704WR

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-3/qid=1146586492/ref=sr_1_3/602-8057808-6022241?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0002F8QYK

that's too expensive.
Belkin's is $40.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_9/601-0220355-4138557?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00008ZPJU
Eaglesfan27
05-02-2006, 11:29 AM
Personally, I highly recommend Linksys. They are more expensive, but they also work more reliably, IMHO.
LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 11:41 AM
My roomate is kind of cheap, which is why I was looking on Amazon.

Her computer doesn't even have Windows XP, I think its Windows 98. Does that mean some of these routers/adapters won't work on her PC?
LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 11:42 AM
http://www.halfvalue.com/allitems/B00005AW1H.htm

http://www.halfvalue.com/allitems/B0002AFU4E.htm


Those are the two I was looking at.
chinaski
05-02-2006, 12:32 PM
http://www.halfvalue.com/allitems/B00005AW1H.htm

http://www.halfvalue.com/allitems/B0002AFU4E.htm


Those are the two I was looking at.

That bottom one is for a laptop. The linksys hub will be fine though.
LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 01:02 PM
How can I figure out if her computer will allow wireless networking? I would hate for her to buy the adapter and it not even work. I am going to Belkins $40 router from Target though, thanks Draft Dodger.

And I dont know how old the computer is, it has Intel, if that means anything.
chinaski
05-02-2006, 01:06 PM
How can I figure out if her computer will allow wireless networking? I would hate for her to buy the adapter and it not even work. I am going to Belkins $40 router from Target though, thanks Draft Dodger.

And I dont know how old the computer is, it has Intel, if that means anything.

A house with 3 ladies in it cant wrangle up a geek guy somewhere in the area? youre really going to need some hands on help with this.
LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 01:15 PM
Well my boyfriend (GE) is over two hours away, or he would help. My other two roomates have boyfriend's who know nothing about computers at all., except that they are fun to play games on.
chinaski
05-02-2006, 01:35 PM
Well my boyfriend (GE) is over two hours away, or he would help. My other two roomates have boyfriend's who know nothing about computers at all., except that they are fun to play games on.

Youre going to need too buy 2 PCI wireless cards, which will entail opening up the PC cases and installing them. We should be able to walk you thru it, but id hate for something to happen. The one girls PC with the tiny bit of ram sounds like it could be really old, theres no telling whats in store for you until you open that case up.
LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 01:50 PM
And any PCI Wireless cards should work with that Belkins router im going to buy from Target?
LoneStarGirl
05-02-2006, 01:51 PM
And with her old ass computer?
chinaski
05-02-2006, 02:00 PM
And any PCI Wireless cards should work with that Belkins router im going to buy from Target?

Yes, any should work. The brand wont matter, its all about the Wireless-B compatibility part.

Its really hard to say with that other girls crappy PC. Hopefully is not soo old that its all ISA slots with no PCI. More than likely its going to be ok, can you open it up before you go to confirm it has a free PCI slot, or even one at all?
DanGarion
05-02-2006, 02:29 PM
No you don't need to buy PCI wireless cards. Get USB wireless cards. It will be much easier because you will not be opening up the computers, which could start a whole series of issues.

If one computer only has 63 megs of Ram, I personally feel it's useless to even connect it up.

She needs a new computer, I'm suprised it's still running (must be Win98 or WinMe).

Road Runner also has their own wireless service they offer, at either 5 or 10 bucks a month (I can't remember I work in the commercial/business side, not the residential side). You pay to have it installed on each computer (possibly, unless they are doing special free installs) but they will offer all the support and will get it working, as long as the computers meet the minimum requirements (IE the 63 meg Ram computer WILL NOT). But for those that are not computer techies it's a good way to go...
chinaski
05-02-2006, 03:04 PM
ah yea, forgot about USB wireless adapters. :o
this chick really needs a new computer, probably doesnt even have USB.
Desnudo
05-02-2006, 03:13 PM
Yes, any should work. The brand wont matter, its all about the Wireless-B compatibility part.

Its really hard to say with that other girls crappy PC. Hopefully is not soo old that its all ISA slots with no PCI. More than likely its going to be ok, can you open it up before you go to confirm it has a free PCI slot, or even one at all?

Do Windows versions prior to XP support wireless?
DanGarion
05-02-2006, 03:18 PM
Do Windows versions prior to XP support wireless?
Shoot... I can't even remember if it does! :)
chinaski
05-02-2006, 03:20 PM
Do Windows versions prior to XP support wireless?

yes, as long as the card has drivers for that older OS. The OS doesnt know its wireless really, theres nothing specific in Win98/ME that 'enables' wireless ability. Thats all taken care of on the card itself. I would be a little skeptical of USB/Win98 anything though.

I havent encountered many PCI wireless cards that didnt work all the way back to Win98.
chinaski
05-02-2006, 03:21 PM
Heres one that supports it all
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1272636&CatId=368

all the ones ive looked up so far are 98 compatible.
Grammaticus
05-02-2006, 03:54 PM
My lynksys router had directions for setting up on windows 98, so I would assume it works. I would also assume the PC with 64meg ram could work with high speed, but you may have stability problems. For just surfing the net, it will probably get you by, but no guarantees. That is the risk you take when you try to set it up. Is it a P3 or P4, etc? Anyway, you can get a decent bottom end system for $200 to $300 bucks to upgrade. And I definitely recommend going with the USB wireless adapter over cracking open the case and installing a PCI card.

Just go to the local hobby shop and approach one of the geeks reading comics or looking at the D&D stuff. Ask him if he would help you hook up a wireless router and two PCs. Tell him your girlfriends will be over having a swim suit party (doesn't matter how stupid that sounds, he doesn't know there is no such thing). So, it may be crowded, but you will have lots of mountain dew and cheetos. He will be over at whatever time you say.

If the router does not work on her PC, just take it back to Target.
the_meanstrosity
05-02-2006, 10:21 PM
You can get the Linksys WRT54G router for about $50 and sometimes even less if you search for mail in rebates. Office Max, Best Buy and Circuit City will carry this particular Linksys router although Best Buy will probably be more expensive.

As others have mentioned, I would be concerned with your roommate's older pc. You'll definitely want to make certain her operating system can handle wireless. You could always just go the wired route, but make sure she has a network interface card.