How do I become Wireless ?

A wireless access point lets computers access a wireless network.
Multiple computers can share a single access point.
Each computer has to have a wireless card in order to connect to the access point.

LinkSys, NetGear, DLINK and others all make access points.

If you wanted to network two computers wirelessly, you could use an access point and two wireless network cards.

But you want to connect to broadband wirelessly. So you need to connect your ADSL modem to a wireless acccess point and then add a wireless card to your PC.


You can't connect the Zyxel modem directly to an access point, so you need a new access point with a built-in modem.

Alternatively you could buy a new access point AND a new compatible ADSL modem. I don't think this will save you any money, and you'll end up with two small boxes, two power supplies etc., when presumably you want to regain space in the room you are moving the PC from.


For large downloads - wireless won't be any slower than using broadband directly.
For small downloads or gaming you may notice a slight delay (I don't.).
In any case, the Creative modem shouldn't be faster than the Zyxel.


(For the pedants, yes I have simplified somewhat. Note IrishGunner wants
to move his PC, so he can't access the Zyxel wirelessly by routing through his
PC using Internet Connection Sharing or similar.).

MugsGame said:

ClubMan - Unlike the Creative you have the Zyxel only has a USB connection.

Click to expand...

OK - again I stand corrected. I didn't know that the ZyXEL device had no ethernet port.

Have just purchased the Archos PMA430 wifi enabled (802.11b) device. Purely out of curiousity I would like to network my broadband pc located upstairs so I could test the Archos downstairs. The PC is "wifi enabled" so I am assuming all I have to purchase is a router - a bit confused about this - does the router plug into the wifi pci card? Anyway, what is the cheapest router I could purchase bearing in mind that I am happy to be limited to 802.11b. Is this one ok (or is it even a router?! sorry I'm clueless about this!)

No offence but have you read the rest of this thread as it should explain what you need in this situation?

I'm sorry, all the different options (or maybe they are only 2 different options but sound like many to me!!) are confusing me.

My NTL broadband modem has a USB and an Ethernet socket and I currently use the Ethernet socket i.e from modem to network card on pc. (I think!)
But the PC also said "wifi enabled" - does this mean it can connect to OTHER wireless networks - as I am not interested in that.

If as I read earlier I can just buy a router and connect it to my broadband modem's ethernet port then where would my original cable go!

All I want to do is surf the net on my PDA downstairs while the broadband pc upstairs is on (or just the modem is on?)

I really don't have a clue do I!! Sorry!

But the PC also said "wifi enabled" - does this mean it can connect to OTHER wireless networks - as I am not interested in that.

Click to expand...

Is this a desktop PC or a laptop? It is slightly unusual for a desktop PC to be WiFi 802.11 wireless ethernet enabled by default. However if it is then chances are there should be a little antenna sticking out of one of the expansion cards at the back. Even if it's not it shouldn't matter because wireless routers will usually have ethernet ports built in.

I'm sure that this has been covered already but what you need is an 802.11/WiFi router which sits between your broadband modem/router and your PC and any other wired or wireless networked devices.

If as I read earlier I can just buy a router and connect it to my broadband modem's ethernet port then where would my original cable go!

Click to expand...

What original cable? The cable goes into the broadband modem/router and then the ethernet cable connects from this to the PC right now. With wireless networking you add a wireless router which then sits between the two (i.e. cable to broadband router, ethernet cable from broadband router to wireless router, ethernet cable from wireless router to wired devices and wireless devices connect to the wireless router over the air).

If any or all of this is gobbledygook to you then you need to either read up a bit more on it or else get some advice from somebody with the necessary technical expertise.

All I want to do is surf the net on my PDA downstairs while the broadband pc upstairs is on (or just the modem is on?)

Click to expand...

With the setup described above the PC does not need to be on in order to wilress devices to connect to the wireless router and once the cable modem is on and connected you can surf the net wirelessly.