Router problem with laptop

We have a cable modem with NTL broadband. We got a laptop yesterday with wireless option and a router.

We were going to hook up the router to the modem to split the connection to the laptop and the computer. However, because our modem uses a USB connection the router is not compatible with it. The router guide says it will only work with ethernet connections. Our modem does have an ethernet connection but our PC does not.

Is the problem solved with buying a network card for the computer with an ethernet connection and, if so, how do we find out which card is compatible or do we need a different router?

Hi Suellen - You could buy an ethernet card for your desktop PC. Assuming this is in the same room as your router, this would have a wired connection to the router.

The alternative (which would avoid having to open up the desktop) would be to get a USB wireless adaptor for the desktop like [broken link removed]. For simplicity's sake, I'd get the same brand as the router if I were in your shoes.

Isn't the problem that the cable modem is a USB one and designed for a single PC connected to the cable broadband? If this is the case then you may need something like a cable modem with a built-in ethernet and/or wireless hub so that the wireless laptop and the desktop (with an wired ethernet or wireless card) can connect to the router which will arbitrate the cable broadband connection. In some cases broadband poviders supply the cheapest modem/connector which only works with a single PC and if you need to create a home LAN and share internet connectivity you may need to provide additional equipment yourself.

Perhaps if you post specific make and model details of the cable modem and wireless router/hub it might be easier to make sense of your setup and make suggestions.

Are you sure the NTL modem doesn't have both ethernet and USB? I've just been connected and my modem has both. Maybe if you ring NTL and ask them nicely they'll supply you with a replacement.

sueellen - can you clarify whether your NTL modem has only USB (possible, but unlikely) or both USB and ethernet ? - you say " . . . because our modem uses a USB connection the router is not compatible with it . . . Our modem does have an ethernet connection but our PC does not"

If you want to share the connection you pretty much must use ethernet. It is possible to do it using the USB connection on the modem, but only by buying a USB->ethernet adapter so it is the same as just using the ethernet connection.

USB isn't designed for connecting multiple computers - it can be adapted to do it, but it is cleaner to use plain old straight forward ethernet connections for that.

Bottom line - your desktop is going to need an ethernet connection of some form - as above the easiest is probably to wire the modem to the wireless/wired router, buy a USB->wired ethernet or USB->wireless ethernet adapter for the PC and away you go.

z

Sueellen wrote:

Our modem does have an ethernet connection but our PC does not.

Click to expand...

If the above is correct, then rainyday's post covers all your options. Any ethernet card should work with the router. Wireless is also an option.

I think this part of your post may have confused people:

However, because our modem uses a USB connection the router is not compatible with it.

Click to expand...

Re: Router problem with laptop.

Hi All,

Thanks for all the helpful replies. It would appear that MugsGame is right, that section of the post was incorrect (son, not Sueellen got dictation incorrect ).

PC

The situation as it stands at the moment is that the PC needs an ethernet connection because it can't connect to the router and this can be solved by a network card.

Router

We still have the problem with this as it appears to work fine because laptop picks it up when we connect it (we ran the software installation program which runs OK up until the point when it has to configure the router - at this stage it does not detect the internet connection)?

When we connect the router to the laptop the laptop picks up on a LAN connection which is correct. However when we run the software which configures the router it loses the connection when the router resets and does not pick up a new one.

Re: Router problem with laptop.

you didnt say if the router is a wireless one or not.
if its not, it is of no benefit to you so bring it back to the shop.

if it is wireless, the ntl modem connects to the wireless router via an ethernet patch lead. your pc then connects wirelessly to the router.

for home use, dont bother setting up wep security. it will suffice for to restrict router access to the mac address of your laptop and other computers. thet will stop you giving free net access to your street.
if you post details of the equipment you are using, ill give you the steps and settings you need to set it up.

Re: Router problem with laptop.

you didnt say if the router is a wireless one or not.

Good point - I just assumed that the router was wireless seeing that it was bought with the wireless laptop.

for home use, dont bother setting up wep security. it will suffice for to restrict router access to the mac address of your laptop and other computers. thet will stop you giving free net access to your street.

I personally would be inclined to enable WEP (or even WPA/PSK) or the like just to be sure. Oh - and change the default SSID and administrative password and switch off SSID broadcasting. It will still be sent in certain circumstances but all of these individual measures serve to tighten up security.