Wireless

You can get a wireless Netgear or similar router for $29.95 on sale at one of your local electronic/depot stores almost every week.

They also come with a 4-port switch, so you can use wired and wireless at the same time. The router doesn't care if you're subscribed to cable or DSL.

Ah - just noticed you're in Italia. Not sure about local prices, but I would think the same solution should be available at a slightly higher cost. Do you have stores like CompUSA, Circuit City, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Best Buy etc ? If not, you might be able to still order online and pay more for shipping if the online store ships worldwide or you may have an Italian counterpart online.

You're looking for a Netgear or Linksys wireless router that also has a 4-port switch. That way you can connect your desktop via the switch (wired) and any laptops wireless. Your laptop should already be able to handle wireless interface it it's any good - if not, you may have to buy a wireless adapter for it so it can talk to the router - also look for Netgear or Linksys for the adapter.

Either way, all you then have to do is unplug the Ethernet cable from the cable modem and plug it into the router (you'll also need a second ethernet cable from the router to the modem). Hopefully you aren't using a USB connection to the modem - if so, I'd switch to Ethernet.

One thing you may want to look for in the wireless router is security. Support

Without wireless security your neighbors who have wireless enabled laptops may be able to both access your network connection and potentially get into your desktop and laptop.

If you plan to use your laptop wireless capability outside your home at a hot spot you should also look into a software firewall for your laptop - I personally prefer to use zonelabs zonealarm pro

Yes - I should have mentioned to get a G router (not B or super G or pre-N etc). G should be fine for years to come.

Ozzie, You need to think about wireless security, too. I suggest reading several of the articles on my computer tips web site, in particular, my article Wireless Security at

I am not sure about those stores you wrote about but I will go tomorrow and look for the "Netgear" or similar. So I did not understand, If I get a router that's all I need to have. I mean do my PC needs to have a bluetooth or...how pc comunicates with a router? So as I understood I will be able to plug it into my desktop pc and the laptop at the same time. One wired and the other one wireless (that's what I want).

Thank you for your help Ozzie

They got one of those in Italia ?

I didn't check the specs on all these, but make sure they have a switch so you can run wired as well as wireless.

Here's some Netgear routers:

54 Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router DG834G

Wireless Router w/Phone Adapter WGR826V

And some Linksys ones:

WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster WRT54GX Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX WRT54GX2 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX200

WRV54G Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router WTR54GS Wireless-G Travel Router with SpeedBooster

As a first I want to thank you all for this help. Now I need to find out what kind of wireless my pc has. It's a Toshiba A60 so the model is old not long and I just bought it, I think that support should be good. I don't have only bluetooth, but as I saw I can get an adapter and resolve that. About software firewall, I am using it for an ages. I've had Zone alarm, now I have Norton internet security (which I've got with the laptop already installed).

So conclusion is I'll get a wireless Netgear G or similar G router with a 4-port switch + crossover net cable for the connection between modem and router. And yes I live in the apartament where there are for sure neighbours using cable net too (wireless as well for sure) so I need to be secure of course.

Thank you Bill, Lionel and the others for the help.

I'd just go for the one above it it meets all your needs - it'll also be the cheapest - on sale around these parts for $30 usually. I have the wired version and it works fine.

You DON'T want to use a crossover cable to connect the modem and router. Use a straight-through patch cable instead.

Oh yes you're right, Thanks

That's not too bad for both - assuming it's a name brand and a G router.

Why so expensive?

Wow, this is really usefull. If you were close I would buy a drink for this kindly helping ;) When I find a one I'll post it here which model I found.

The best I've seen regularly is for $30 US for just the router. A package deal might get you both for not much more, but normally it would be another $30 for the card. That's without rebates and feel free to post any deals better than that.

I've seen similar deals for about $30 CDN IIRC (after rebate).

I agree, Bill. Rebates are a fool's game. It's the equivalent of loaning money to strangers interest-free with no guarantee that they are going to pay you back.

I'm not saying I don't use rebates. I keep track of what rebates are paid and which are not and I only have one unpaid rebate and it wasn't on electronis gear - it was a $2 rebate from Long's and I won't be bothering with any of theirs again.

You do have to understand that you're loaning them money and consider the time and effort to mail the stuff in when you evaluate the rebate and you're possibly paying sales tax on that free loan too. But I've eventually gotten all of my rebates (other than that one).