WiFi Noob needs Help.....!!!

Neo-N

Neo-N

Guide
Hi Members,

I have a query regarding WiFi networking. Hope our experts will be able to guide me.

Ok, now, I am fairly conversant with PC assembly & Troubleshooting. But, I have almost nil knowledge when it comes to wireless networking (Never used it!).

So, here is my query:

I have a PC that uses a Cable Broadband Internet connection (CAT5+RJ45 & Gigabit Ethernet).

I have a phone that supports WiFi. (Motorola Milestone)

Now, I was interested in connecting my phone to my PC via wifi so as to be able to use my PC Internet connection (Cable Broadband) on my Milestone.

I know it is possible but dunno know how to go about it..... :(

Can someone please provide me guidelines as to the following:

1)What new hardware would be required.

2)How do i go about doing this networking.

Note: I do not want my PC to connect wirelessly to the internet (cable broadband remains in the Ethernet port on my mobo); I just want my phone to be able to use the same cable broadband, sumthing like converting my PC to a WiFi Hub (Dunno)!!!

All advice is welcome. I am a novice in networking so I am not gonna find faults in your advice!!! Lolzzz :P

Thanx a lot in advance.
 
I tried a similar set up using Bluetooth. Internet into comp, which has a Bluetooth dongle, pair up both devices, and then share the connection. The last part [sharing connection] is easier said than done, Googling up specifics for your particular phone model would help you out there.
 
Just get a basic Wireless Router and you should be good to go.

The cable modem would be connected to the router's WAN port and the PC to any one of the LAN ports.

You will be able to access the internet wirelessly on your phone. :)
 
@ ajab.ghajab: Thanx for the advice. I already have a Bluetooth network but sharing internet over Bluetooth PAN is a pain in the neck!!!

Alright, I did some research & have reached this far:

I need a WiFi Router to which I'll connect my existing cable connection.

Thereafter, I'll use a RJ45 cable to connect one of the spare ethernet ports on the router to my existing ethernet port on my PC.

After this is done, I'll be able to access my internet on my phone via the eifi router (???? Not sure if this is all i need ????) :huh:

Please correct me if i am wrong. If i am right, please advice further as to which would be the required Router, the prices, the brands & so on.....

Thanx.

varkey said:
Just get a basic Wireless Router and you should be good to go.

The cable modem would be connected to the router's WAN port and the PC to any one of the LAN ports.

You will be able to access the internet wirelessly on your phone. :)
Click to expand...

Thanx a lot varkey..... :)

Can you provide some more info about the Wifi router (Brand/Price/Specs).....

Since I'm experimenting for the first time, I would prefer to go for the cheapest router...... I would upgrade once I am confident with this wifi networking.
 
Go for Belkin or Linksys routers. G based. I have Belkin Wifi router G based, and entirely satisfied by it. It would cost you around 1.7k.

And yes, after this you would be able to use wifi on your phone. Just make a secured network. Don't worry, the setup is very straightforward and anyone can do it.
 
The proper sequence of the connections would be Modem >> WAN port of the Router >> Your PC's ethernet port. Your phone would connect via wifi.
 
If all you need is two devices, you don't even need the router. You can set up an ad hoc network with a single wireless adapter on the PC (the software that comes with most devices allows you to set up such a network). If the PC is switched on and ICs is enabled, the phone can connect to the PC and use its internet connection.

If you need access for more devices or be able to access the internet without the PC, a router is the way to go. The setup is automated for the most part, but there are some security issues you need to deal with, none too complex.
 
@ saqib_khan: Thanx for the reply.....

@ Edrill: I got that..... Thanx.....

@ Cranky: Hmmm...... Now that's something new..... And I am liking it..... :)

Will search more about it..... If u can provide any more details, please do so.... Thanx.



OK guys, can anyone please elaborate more on the Ad Hoc method mentioned by cranky.....???

Thanx
 
nehaladsul said:

OK guys, can anyone please elaborate more on the Ad Hoc method mentioned by cranky.....???
Click to expand...

He is telling you to insert a wifi card in your desktop PC. It's a PCI based card, you can insert it in any free PCI slot. It will cost you 1000 Rs. But the minus point is that your PC must be on if you want to use wifi in your mobile.

Therefore I would recommend you to use a wifi router, its not too expensive, it will cost you around 1.7k. And if you want to use wifi in your mobile, then just switch ON the router. And you can access internet in your mobile.
 
There are two of ways of looking at this the simplest way or cheaper way.

The simpler way is to set up a wifi router - run the installation disk set a wireless key for the router.

+'ve easy to setup, can add more devices, possibly more range, no need to have PC on
-'ve routers do cost a lot more then a pci wireless card.

The cheaper route is to get a pci card install it and create the adhoc network.
+ve cheaper ofc.
-ve wireless pci cards are trouble some. Installation problems with lot of these cards.

u can alternatively try a usb wireless card instead of the pci card but i am not tried this method.
I use my 5800xm with my wireless G router from linksys and it works just great i also have a Desktop and a laptop in this network so the router was well worth the price for me.
 
kolguy said:
There are two of ways of looking at this the simplest way or cheaper way.

The simpler way is to set up a wifi router - run the installation disk set a wireless key for the router.

+'ve easy to setup, can add more devices, possibly more range, no need to have PC on
-'ve routers do cost a lot more then a pci wireless card.

The cheaper route is to get a pci card install it and create the adhoc network.
+ve cheaper ofc.
-ve wireless pci cards are trouble some. Installation problems with lot of these cards.

u can alternatively try a usb wireless card instead of the pci card but i am not tried this method.
I use my 5800xm with my wireless G router from linksys and it works just great i also have a Desktop and a laptop in this network so the router was well worth the price for me.
Click to expand...

Wow.....
Excellent information Kolguy...... Thanx a lot..... I think I am almost certain of what I want now..... :hap2:
Also Thanx to techno_funky & saqib_khan for their replies..... They mean a lot to me..... :clap:
 
Ad Hoc networks work fine with a USB adapter - it's identical to a PCI card for all intents and purposes. There are a few gotchas with using removable devices - but I've never really had an issue that wasn't worked out eventually. And installing a PCI card is no issue. Never has been, not for anyone with half a brain.

Most ISPs require a login application of some kind - sometimes the web scripts aren't compatible with mobile devices so you will need to turn on your PC anyway :) so there goes that advantage of a router.

Most times I end up using only two devices, my PC and my phone, and a single adapter would have sufficed. What the router mostly ends up doing is cleaning the wire mess around the home, and dropping the signal once in a while so one can curse it and expand their vocabulary.

An ad hoc network is more than sufficient for your current situation, and still leaves enough elbow room to upgrade - it does not exclude the possibility of adding a (much better) router later if the network grows. The prices of adapters remain similar as they were a year back, routers have become cheaper and the speeds have gone up, a direction they will continue to take.
 
cranky said:
Ad Hoc networks work fine with a USB adapter - it's identical to a PCI card for all intents and purposes. There are a few gotchas with using removable devices - but I've never really had an issue that wasn't worked out eventually. And installing a PCI card is no issue. Never has been, not for anyone with half a brain.

Most ISPs require a login application of some kind - sometimes the web scripts aren't compatible with mobile devices so you will need to turn on your PC anyway :) so there goes that advantage of a router.

Most times I end up using only two devices, my PC and my phone, and a single adapter would have sufficed. What the router mostly ends up doing is cleaning the wire mess around the home, and dropping the signal once in a while so one can curse it and expand their vocabulary.

An ad hoc network is more than sufficient for your current situation, and still leaves enough elbow room to upgrade - it does not exclude the possibility of adding a (much better) router later if the network grows. The prices of adapters remain similar as they were a year back, routers have become cheaper and the speeds have gone up, a direction they will continue to take.
Click to expand...

Hmm..... U are absolutely right about that Login Application point..... I had missed that one completely..... I too require to login with an appilcation before I can use the net..... :hap2:

So, I guess, having the PC on while using wifi net on my phone is the only option I hve. So, an ad hoc network seems good enough.... :clap:

Now, can sumone please suggest me the cheapest available USB Wireless G adapter? I might even consider used ones if some TE member is selling one. Remember, this is my experimental network & i really don't intend to spend a bomb till i get well conversant with wifi networking.....

Thanx cranky......
 
I don't know where you are, but a couple of used USB adapters are being sold by Bikeinstein on the TE markets, there may be others there as well. They will cost you less than a new one, and should be a decent way to start off.
 
I think you misunderstood something. By this "login application of some kind", you mean the Dialer which we have to create to connect to internet and insert our username and password there. So thats not a problem, during the setup wizard of router, you can insert that username and password, and you have to do this only once, so don't worry that you will have to do that everytime. Its a one time process. Setup the router once and forget it.

And I still don't understand that if you want to ON the PC and then surf the internet on mobile, then whats the point in doing so. If you are switching ON the PC, then surf on the PC only, why use mobile then. Therefore I am telling you to purchase a wifi router only, so that you don't have to ON the PC everytime. Just ON the router if you want to surf on mobile. Simple. I would still recommend you router only. Your choice.
 
saqib_khan said:
I think you misunderstood something. By this "login application of some kind", you mean the Dialer which we have to create to connect to internet and insert our username and password there. So thats not a problem, during the setup wizard of router, you can insert that username and password, and you have to do this only once, so don't worry that you will have to do that everytime. Its a one time process. Setup the router once and forget it.

And I still don't understand that if you want to ON the PC and then surf the internet on mobile, then whats the point in doing so. If you are switching ON the PC, then surf on the PC only, why use mobile then. Therefore I am telling you to purchase a wifi router only, so that you don't have to ON the PC everytime. Just ON the router if you want to surf on mobile. Simple. I would still recommend you router only. Your choice.
Click to expand...

Hahahaha!!! I was wondering why no one had asked this to me yet!!!

Well dear, the thing is Android Market & Google Sync on my Motorola Milestone.

Actually, my service provider (Loop Mobile) does not provide GPRS Support for android phones yet. So, I cannot access the Android Market or Google Sync through my phone..... :(

Hence, all these efforts so that I may share my pc internet on my phone.

It's not that I cannot install apps on my phone without Android Market (I can install apk files via Android SDK) but the ability to Google Sync that is more important to me.....

Anyway, thanks for your advice, I owe u..... :clap:

cranky said:
I don't know where you are, but a couple of used USB adapters are being sold by Bikeinstein on the TE markets, there may be others there as well. They will cost you less than a new one, and should be a decent way to start off.
Click to expand...

Hey cranky..... Thanx..... You've helped a lot on this one.....

Ok, I have already seen Bike's thread for the Linksys stuff..... and I am from Mumbai too.

Well, I find them to be slightly expensive for used ones (No offence Bike!!).

Like, he has offered the Linksys Adapter for Rs.721/- & the Netgear Adapter for Rs.655/- Local pickup.

I am getting the Belkin Adapter (G) on ebay for Rs.795/- shipped with bill & lifetime warranty.

I'll see if he drops the price a bit in the near future or else I'll buy the Belkin one from ebay.... :hap2:

Thanx a lot..... again.
 
cranky said:
. And installing a PCI card is no issue. Never has been, not for anyone with half a brain.

.
Click to expand...

Its not the physical installtion that is the problem but the driver installation ... i struggled with a belking wireless card for nearly 2 months with me and there lvl 4 tech support in australia trying to get it working on my machine which went from windows xp to vista to windows 7 and the card refused to work ... changed it 4 times after there tech support asked me to and still had the issue ... i finaly gave up and moved my router near the desktop. .... hence the suggestion for USB adapter seems like it works much better ..though i have never tried it ... The other reason was with experience ...worked in Dell for some time and the failure rate for these pci cards in desktops were very high ...
 
I had a Linksys PCI card (actually, two of them) that installed flawlessly, and ran 24x7 without hiccups. Belkin was actually known for poor driver support which is why I have consciously avoided that brand.

When I upgraded to N wireless I got myself a N wireless USB dongle from Belkin. I am happy to report that their reputation of a shoddy driver team is well-deserved in every single way. It doesn't work longer than a few hours at a stretch, needs to be removed and reinserted every few days to be able to be recognised, and is probably the most flawed piece of software ever. I finally switch to the Ralink generic drivers off the Windows update site and it kind of works - still not without occasionally causing bluescreens.

It's not about the kind of hardware. It's about the crappy drivers in the first place.
 
Ok guys,

I have PMed Bikeinstein for the Netgear WiFi USB dongle. Expecting his reply soon.

Hope he agrees to my offer! :ohyeah:

Will keep you'll posted about the progress.....

Thanx for all the help & do continue providing your valuable advice..... :clap:

@ cranky & @ kolguy:

I agree with each of you; you both are correct at your places. I just don't want the 'discussion' to turn into an 'argument'........ :P

So, chill guys..... Peace......

Thanx to both of you........ :hap2:
 
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