Computer help - Router/wireless internet

[starrylizard]

Hello wise and fabulous friends list!! (Why yes I do want something. How did you guess?)

So here we have cable internet. I think we get broadband speed (10.0Mbps?).
Anyhow, the main compy and the internet connection are in one room.
My compy is about 20 meters away, in another room, upstairs and through about 3 walls. *cough*
I want to share the connection.

I'm looking to buy a router and I'll need something to make my computer pick up the wireless signal when I do.

So, I need suggestions/information on what I might need in both a router and to pick up the signal. Are there better brands? Is there anything I should look out for (or avoid) to get a good speed? etc.

Any help will be rewarded with virtual cookies and my gratitude!

Lizzie

Comments

[mistojen.livejournal.com]

TrueMobile is SUCKASS and the warranty on it is only, like, a year, so stay away from that. Other than that, I dunno. I just know that's what I have and it's crapped out, so now I've had to hardwire my laptop which SUCKS.

[lark_ascends]

We have a wireless router that came with the net, but, my sister had to buy something for her computer so it would pick it up. I can ask later.

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty much completely IT stupid I'm afraid - although I learn fast =) - but when i wanted to know the same thing here's what my flist said:

http://the-muppet.livejournal.com/189246.html#cutid3

I basically went for the one they said, which was the one recommended on the accessories page by my internet provider, and it works brilliantly =)

Good luck =)

[chaps1870.livejournal.com]

I have a linksys and it works pretty well. I don't know about your distance though. The nice thing is that it is wireless or nonwireless so I can always connect the cable if the signal is weak.

[dazzlebug.livejournal.com]

Most normal routers - called a G router - have a Wireless Network Speed of 54Mbps (this means the rate at which file transfer will happen between computers linked to the router). These G routers often have a range of about 30 meters, which is roughly 100 feet. The signal will, obviously, become weaker the further away you get from it.

Then you have G+ routers, which have double the Wireless Network Speed (108Mbps) and double the range. These are also more reliable, as the signal reaches further, but it definitely would be wise to set up an enhanced security code if you were looking to get a G+ - during the setup for whichever router you buy, it will prompt you to set up a security code, and what you do is type in a password (let's say you make it "australia"), and the router will translate that into a security code, which will be a mixture of letters or numbers. You can choose a 64-bit encryption (which will be capital letters and numbers), a 128-bit encryption (upper and lower case and numbers), or a 256-bit encryption (upper and lower case, and little and large numbers - though this would probably be unnecessary, unless some darn good hackers live near you).

As for brands, I'm not sure which ones retail out there in Australia, but I have a Netgear G router and it works perfectly - save for a little two-second outage every now and then, but you'll most likely get that with any router. I've also heard very good things about Thomson Speedtouch routers, too. Like has been said in the comments before me, you'd need a wireless USB adapter, which you can pick up from any high-street PC store.

Hope this has helped!
♥