i know its a wireless home network tool but how does it work? could i connect my laptop to the internet using my desktop (ethernet connection) as a kind of wireless router? or would i need to connect the ethernet connection directly to the laptop?
Do you have a wireless router in the house? If not, then if you want to get the lappy talking to the desktop, then you need to use a cross-over LAN cable and plug each end into each machine’s LAN socket.
Unless of course the desktop has a wifi card in it then it should be able to talk to other wifi devices.
Same sort of prob…
I have one computer linked to the modem with an ethernet cable
I do not have wireless router
Can I connect another computer to the internet through the one that already has the ethernet to modem connected - perhaps by another ethernet cable
macplaxton:
Do you have a wireless router in the house? If not, then if you want to get the lappy talking to the desktop, then you need to use a cross-over LAN cable and plug each end into each machine’s LAN socket.Unless of course the desktop has a wifi card in it then it should be able to talk to other wifi devices.
understood. i thought WLAN was like bluetooth ie you switch them on and search for the other. obviously not. easy option is to plug the ethernet into the laptop
cheers 
Wi-fi can be from one device to another.
Or it can be via a router which is connected to the internet.
If you did a wireless network scan you’d see the difference.
ROG:
Same sort of prob…I have one computer linked to the modem with an ethernet cable
I do not have wireless routerCan I connect another computer to the internet through the one that already has the ethernet to modem connected - perhaps by another ethernet cable
If you need to use network cables, then a cheap network switch will do the job.
Something like this would work.
Modem in 1 port, PC in another, 2nd computer in another. Job done
Colingl:
ROG:
Same sort of prob…I have one computer linked to the modem with an ethernet cable
I do not have wireless routerCan I connect another computer to the internet through the one that already has the ethernet to modem connected - perhaps by another ethernet cable
If you need to use network cables, then a cheap network switch will do the job.
Something like this would work.Modem in 1 port, PC in another, 2nd computer in another. Job done
does the second computer directly attach to the first (the one connected to the modem) 
my main pc is hardwired via ethernet thru the wireless router so is in effect wired straight to the grid, the laptop then is configured to pick up this router wireless signal and will connect to the net and to the nain comp (and vice versa) and also going thru the main to the printer. its sounds complicated but with a bit of trial and error and guess work i got it set up so anyone else should be able to. dont forget to put a password for the wireless router.
hope that helps a little bit
So, can I, without a wireless router, go from Modem to computer 1 and then from computer 1 to computer 2 by ethernet cable making both computers internet connected
ROG:
So, can I, without a wireless router, go from Modem to computer 1 and then from computer 1 to computer 2 by ethernet cable making both computers internet connected
thats another way but its better to have the freedom of wirless for a laptop rather than a cable to where ever but they do both acheive the same result and if it works for you then thats the best result 
gezt:
ROG:
So, can I, without a wireless router, go from Modem to computer 1 and then from computer 1 to computer 2 by ethernet cable making both computers internet connectedthats another way but its better to have the freedom of wirless for a laptop rather than a cable to where ever but they do both acheive the same result and if it works for you then thats the best result
neither is a laptop
Is there usually an ethernet OUT port on a computer to run the ethernet cable to the other
ROG:
gezt:
ROG:
So, can I, without a wireless router, go from Modem to computer 1 and then from computer 1 to computer 2 by ethernet cable making both computers internet connectedthats another way but its better to have the freedom of wirless for a laptop rather than a cable to where ever but they do both acheive the same result and if it works for you then thats the best result
neither is a laptop
Is there usually an ethernet OUT port on a computer to run the ethernet cable to the other
not on mine ,dont know about others. my router is basic with the ethernet cable going into it from the modem and 4 ports to connect all computers to plus the wireless option. so desktop is conected to 1 port and i have the option of connecting the laptop either by cable or wireless.
Ok, you both just need a router with more than 1 ethernet port on the back.
The router is a box that sits on the phone line, and turns phone line signal into network signal. Some come with wireless, others don’t. To get each machine online you get some ethernet cable (or configure the wireless connection if the machine AND router have wireless), and plug one wire into the router for each machine, and the other end of each wire into the computer.
99.9% of computers have only 1 ethernet port, it’s not designed to be daisy-chained like that. Most routers also have a firewall, to make your machines more secure.
If you configure the machines plugged into the router, you can also share files between the machines that are connected to it.
So I need an ethernet router attached to the modem with 2 seperate ethernet leads - 1 to each computer
Can BOTH computers use the internet at the same time if the above is done or only one at a time
I’m not very savvy at this… 
ROG:
So I need an ethernet router attached to the modem with 2 seperate ethernet leads - 1 to each computer
Can BOTH computers use the internet at the same time if the above is done or only one at a timeI’m not very savvy at this…
both can use the internet at same time and you need 1 ethernet modem an 1 wireless router so in effect 1 cable/line comes to modem and 1 line from modem comes from that to wireless router then 1 cable goea to desktop comp and
either another cable to laptop or use wireless
hope that explains things
gezt:
ROG:
So I need an ethernet router attached to the modem with 2 seperate ethernet leads - 1 to each computer
Can BOTH computers use the internet at the same time if the above is done or only one at a timeI’m not very savvy at this…
both can use the internet at same time
Does it depend on the modem as I tried to use the ethernet and USb connections from the modem to 2 different computers and that did not work - Virgin said it was not designed to do so 
Or
Is using an ethernet router a different system of doing it
ROG:
gezt:
ROG:
So I need an ethernet router attached to the modem with 2 seperate ethernet leads - 1 to each computer
Can BOTH computers use the internet at the same time if the above is done or only one at a timeI’m not very savvy at this…
both can use the internet at same time
Does it depend on the modem as I tried to use the ethernet and USb connections from the modem to 2 different computers and that did not work - Virgin said it was not designed to do so
Or
I am using an ethernet router a different system of doing it
i have a virgin modem and a basic wireless router and everything works
i am not using anything with usb connection
I shall try the ethernet router then - thank you
Yes Rog those basic ADSL modems give you the option to EITHER use the ethernet or usb sockets on them, not both.
Chuck it in the bin - sorry, no can do anymore / WEEE directive put it on your local FreeCycle.
One wired (or wireless) ADSL router is what you want. Usually they have 4 ethernet ports on the back (and that includes the wireless ones - they have four wired ports on the back too and you can disable the wireless on them anyway). I’d be surprised if you couldn’t blag one for nowt. Ten-a-penny, so they are.
Tell you what Rog, come back after reading the networking section HERE
macplaxton:
Yes Rog those basic ADSL modems give you the option to EITHER use the ethernet or usb sockets on them, not both.Chuck it in the bin - sorry, no can do anymore / WEEE directive put it on your local FreeCycle.
One wired (or wireless) ADSL router is what you want. Usually they have 4 ethernet ports on the back (and that includes the wireless ones - they have four wired ports on the back too and you can disable the wireless on them anyway). I’d be surprised if you couldn’t blag one for nowt. Ten-a-penny, so they are.
Modem supplied by Virgin so cannot discard
I intend to use ethernet lead from Virgin modem to router and then do 2 ethernet cables from the router to 2 computer home stations