Network HP 712a with wireless broadband

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mumrules

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Wannabe Geek

#29192 28-Dec-2008 14:43

Hi

I have an old Hp 712a pavillion pc that I want to use for my daughter. I have upgraded to a Dell PC and my husband has a laptop. Both of these have wireless capabilities.

Is the old HP PC capable of coping with a wireless broadband and what would be the best way to set up the network?

cyril7

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#186376 28-Dec-2008 16:13

Hi Vicky, it would help if you also said what DSL modem (assuming you are on DSL) you have and if it has wireless capability, otherwise you will need to get either a new modem with wireless or add an AP. Adding a PCI wireless adpator to the HP is the best way, although you can also get USB ones that save you getting inside the PC but from my experience are never as good as builtin or PCI adpators. Also if the PC is not far from the modem it may be just as easy to cable it.

Cyril

mumrules

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Wannabe Geek

#186388 28-Dec-2008 17:16

Hi Cyril

The current modem that I have is a ADSL Router, the one that Xtra gave customers 2 years ago. I doubt very much that is has wireless capabilities.
We had thought that we would need to get a new modem. What is an AP?
The old computer has only one wall to go through and both the others are in the same room.
How are the USB adapators not as good as the built in ones. And if we went for a PCI wireless adaptor we would have to get inside the case and fit it. Do they come with instructions as to where they need to go?
When you say cable it, what exactly do you mean?

Vicki

cyril7

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#186390 28-Dec-2008 17:25

Hi, normally the antenna on the modem gives away the wireless capablity, AP means acess point, which means it has a wireless basestation facility, wireless modems have an AP and act as the wireless hub.

USB wireless adaptors typically dont have the same range as PCI ones, however if you have only one wall to go through to an adjacent room (ie <15m) then probably no big difference. PCI ones will require you to open the box, instructions are provided, however if that all worries you then for a short hop a USB one should be fine.

By cable I mean you could just knock a hole in the wall between the rooms and run an ethernet cable from teh modem to the PC, most if not all wireless capable ADSL modem also have 4 ethernet ports for wired connections, these should be used if you can cable (especially the PCs in the same room) as cable is always faster, secure and lower latency. If knocking a hole in a wall to put a cable through worries you but is a solution you like then a data cabler, electrician with data experience should be able to do it with little pain and damage.

Cyril