Ann, You need to connect a computer to the router to set up any wireless security. If you make a mistake over wireless (likely) you'll be locked out. Then you'll have to connect directly anyway.
What kind of computer is it? PC laptops and most desktops of all flavors will require some kind of card. iMacs and eMacs will require Apple Airport cards as there is no provision for the PCI cards that PCs and PowerMacs use. Most PC laptops and Powerbooks can use PC card adapters. iBooks will require an Airport card. Almost any Mac from the last few years will take an airport card (regular or "extreme"), so that is an (albeit more expensive) option. The other way is the USB dongle solution, but that is too slow on USB 1 and not very Mac-friendly in any case (at least the ones I've seen). At least a couple manufacturers offer packages with both a router and a card (whether PCI or PC-card) that make the purchase pretty simple. You just have to know what kind of card your computer needs. <Soapbox> You REALLY want security on your wireless networks, if only to preserve your bandwidth for yourself and not supply the whole apartment block with free internet. It fits into the business model of motels, but not [usually] the average private citizen. Then there is the thing about others getting into your computer through your network. It's like hanging an ethernet cable out the door and letting any ole' passerby a chance to see your network. You can set up the wireless side of the router with the router in the same room as the computer without connecting it to the cable modem. You can make sure it works right, but you just won't able able to get onto the internet. Then plug it into the cable modem in the other room and call Insight if the router doesn't see the internet. Not a job for the uninitiated, though, especially with the instructions coming in Wind-ese. If you're happy with others getting into your connection, using your bandwidth and being able to see your computers from the wrong side of your router, just plug it all in and you're good to go. OTOH if you want a little security, there are any number of people who will come out and set it up for you for a fee. Usually takes less than an hour. </Soapbox> j. On Jun 30, 2006, at 5:15 PM, Ann Richmond <richmond at qx.net> wrote: > Today it is an question about wireless DSL. > A friend has just moved into an apartment and had his insight cable/ > DSL > hooked up. In his previous house the TV was in the same room as the > computer so they used a splitter on the coax(?) and everything was > fine. > In the new apartment, the TV and the incoming insight cable is in one > room while the computer is in another. The land lord didn't want a > hole > poked in the wall to run the line to the computer. He told them to > get a > wireless router and card for the computer and it would work. > > Here is my question: > > Can he just put the Linksys wireless router beside the cable modem and > have it send signal to the computer via the wireless card? Or does the > router require a daddy computer in order to work? > > The documentation seems to require a computer with the installed > software from the cd hooked to the router via usb or ethernet > before you > can go any farther. -- Jonathan Fletcher jfletch at newmediaconstco.com Project Foreman NewMedia Construction Co. | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be June 27 at Pitt Academy, 6010 Preston Highway. | The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>
