Wifi USB adaptor for my desktop PC

[DavidNW]

Hello, everyone.

I wish to network 2 computers - my desktop and my laptop, and of course, have internet access for both of them. I'm thinking of trying to do this via a broadband wireless router. Now, my brand new laptop is Wifi enabled, so that's no problem. However, my old desktop has not got a Wifi card ( as far as I know) - only an ethernet card, so I guess I will have to either install a Wifi card or try an adaptop such as this:

eBay.co.uk: WiFi USB Wireless LAN Adapter Wi fi Adaptor SUPER125mbp (item 190078575844 end time 11-Feb-07 13:30:00 GMT)

EDIT:

Any thoughts about security issues with wireless - others tapping into your bandwidth, etc?


Questions:

1. Do you think the USB wireless adaptor is a good option as opposed to installing an internal Wifi card?

2. Will I be able to access files on my desktop from my laptop and vice-versa and will I be able to use my printer, which is connected to my desktop when I want to print something out from my laptop.

Apologies if these questions seems dumb but I'm a complete novice as far as networking is concerned.

Many thanks,

David

 

[donkey42]

Any thoughts about security issues with wireless - others tapping into your bandwidth, etc?

i hear that can be a problem, but i don't know enough about wireless

1. Do you think the USB wireless adaptor is a good option as opposed to installing an internal Wifi card?

personally if i wanted to go wireless, i'd replace my router with a wireless one, like this

2. Will I be able to access files on my desktop from my laptop and vice-versa and will I be able to use my printer, which is connected to my desktop when I want to print something out from my laptop.

yes you can, but i don't know how

Apologies if these questions seems dumb but I'm a complete novice as far as networking is concerned.

me too, i think i only know a lot about very little

 

[DavidNW]

The USB adaptor (as I understand it) fits into a USB port and picks up a signal from your network card - thus, effectively 'converting' your network card to a WiFi card. You must have a wireless router - period; which will pick up the signal from the network card through the afore-mentioned USB wireless adaptor.

I think it should all pan out okay so I might give it a go - what fun computing can be! :)

 

[sabashuali]

IMHO, if you can, cable the connection. It is more secure.
But with the laptop, you want to be portable. So to make things as safe as possible, use WAP standard connection and use a strong encryption key. Try and use the highest encryption level. 128 or higher if it is at all possible.

As for interface - if you have the USB ports to spare, get one of them. It means that you can potentially use the adapter on any PC which has a spare USB port. It is easier to install and remove. However, the bus speed of your PCI slots is higher than your USB port (I am pretty sure). Apart from that I cannot see much difference between the two. Also using PCI slot means you do not need to worry about USB versions.... For example, I would get a USB one as I have more free USB ports (5) than PCI slots (1)...

Once you have established a connection between the two entities (something which is for me a bit of a holy grail...), printer sharing is as easy as sharing folders. Right click on the printer and choose 'Sharing'. When you are done and access the desktop from your laptop the printer will show as an available resource. I think you need to run - '\\network_name_of_your_desktop' from the 'Run' program in your 'Start' menu. A window should open with all shared resources.

Hope this helps....

 

[donkey42]

The USB adaptor (as I understand it) fits into a USB port

yeah

and picks up a signal from your network card - thus, effectively 'converting' your network card to a WiFi card.

no, you are dealing with 2 separate netwoks

• a wired network
• a wireless network

You must have a wireless router - period; which will pick up the signal from the network card through the afore-mentioned USB wireless adaptor.

no, a wireless USB adaptor is all that is required to provide a wireless network (i think)

i think just plugging the USB adaptor into a system that has a non wireless router attached, would then provide wireless broadband access to the laptop (not sure about this)

I think it should all pan out okay so I might give it a go - what fun computing can be! :)

yeah, it can be fun, and bloody annoying

 

[DavidNW]

IMHO, if you can, cable the connection. It is more secure.
But with the laptop, you want to be portable. So to make things as safe as possible, use WAP standard connection and use a strong encryption key. Try and use the highest encryption level. 128 or higher if it is at all possible.

As for interface - if you have the USB ports to spare, get one of them. It means that you can potentially use the adapter on any PC which has a spare USB port. It is easier to install and remove. However, the bus speed of your PCI slots is higher than your USB port (I am pretty sure). Apart from that I cannot see much difference between the two. Also using PCI slot means you do not need to worry about USB versions.... For example, I would get a USB one as I have more free USB ports (5) than PCI slots (1)...

Once you have established a connection between the two entities (something which is for me a bit of a holy grail...), printer sharing is as easy as sharing folders. Right click on the printer and choose 'Sharing'. When you are done and access the desktop from your laptop the printer will show as an available resource. I think you need to run - '\\network_name_of_your_desktop' from the 'Run' program in your 'Start' menu. A window should open with all shared resources.

Hope this helps....

Thanks, Saba.

Some good advice to be going on with.

 

[DavidNW]

yeah
no, you are dealing with 2 separate netwoks

• a wired network
• a wireless network

no, a wireless USB adaptor is all that is required to provide a wireless network (i think)

i think just plugging the USB adaptor into a system that has a non wireless router attached, would then provide wireless broadband access to the laptop (not sure about this)

yeah, it can be fun, and bloody annoying

Ahhhh, so are you saying that I don't actually need to buy a wireless router? I hope you're right as it would save me coughing up for a wireless router. However, I can't really see it working.

I just think that a wireless router would be needed in order to interface with the in-built wireless card in the laptop - and an internal wireless card (or adaptor) in the desktop.

 

[donkey42]

Ahhhh, so are you saying that I don't actually need to buy a wireless router?

if i'm right

However, I can't really see it working.

well try it and see

I just think that a wireless router would be needed in order to interface with the in-built wireless card in the laptop - and an internal wireless card (or adaptor) in the desktop.

all a wireless router is is a router with a built in wireless adaptor

Edit: i've never actually used wireless, this is just what i've picked up on HWF