I've never seen an internet setup like this before...

[JJ72]

Hey,

I've been helping a friend out with going wireless in her house but we're having some trouble. She has a weird setup that I haven't seen before. She's with Virgin and has an old USB modem connection but there's a white aerial connected to the back of it which I presume is giving it a signal because it doesn't seem to be connected to the phoneline. She bought a mini wireless router device (no filters) and dongle which was apparently to connect to the modem but we hit a speedbump and one of the cable's didn't fit the back of her PC.

I'm no genius with going from modem to wireless router. The last time I had to do that was probably when I was fifteen and I hate setting up the internet as it is. I just thought some of you geniuses might have a better idea than me but don't worry if I've got you confused.

[w31n3r]

my best guess is that your friend is missing an ethernet port, since most ISPs only provide a USB cable for their modem if thats the case, and this is what the new router needs to connect to the PC.

if thats the case, all you have to do is buy a PCI network card (they're pretty cheap), and plonk it into an empty PCI slot on her motherboard. remember to check first if you have any empty PCI slots on the motherboard. if you're not sure, google "RJ45 port" to see what it looks like to confirm it's not on her PC.

[HelenaP]

Job offer is still open...http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l153/shell63/coffe.gif

[JJ72]

She does have an RJ socket but the RJ cable that came with the 'mini router' was too big to fit into this socket. I had to connect the current modem and the wireless router to each other too. I would've then used a wireless adapter (dongle) to receive the wireless signal from the wireless router when all up and running, since I really didn't want to open the PC up and put a network card in.

But as far as I know, if she has a USB connection, shouldn't that be enough? Most wireless routers have the option of both ethernet and USB, so initially I could connect her by USB.

I'm still clueless as to what the big aerial is doing in the back of the current modem...

Thanks for the reply :icon_thum

[drtoker]

Erm, how bout a picture? I have no idea what your describing here (on the back of the modem), and I walk people through internet setups all day...

[carpefile]

She does have an RJ socket but the RJ cable that came with the 'mini router' was too big to fit into this socket. I had to connect the current modem and the wireless router to each other too. I would've then used a wireless adapter (dongle) to receive the wireless signal from the wireless router when all up and running, since I really didn't want to open the PC up and put a network card in.

But as far as I know, if she has a USB connection, shouldn't that be enough? Most wireless routers have the option of both ethernet and USB, so initially I could connect her by USB.

I'm still clueless as to what the big aerial is doing in the back of the current modem...

Thanks for the reply :icon_thum

I'm guessing, since I can't actually see your setup, that the small RJ socket is a phone jack for a dialup modem, not a network card.

Ethernet is faster than USB2 by a factor of about 15. You really really want to avoid using usb for your network connection if you can help it at all.

The aeriel on the modem would be most likely used for communicating with your network rather than your internet connection, unless shes in a WI-FI environment like a university, a rather modern corporation, or a Starbuck's.

[JJ72]

Ah, you're right about the RJ socket being the phone jack. As far as I'm aware there is no network card. Does that mean there's no way of connecting the thing wirelessly?

I apologise for my limited knowledge here. It's much of a learning process for me when it comes to setting up the internet.

So I ought to leave the aerial out of the equation?

Unfortunetly I can't post a photo of the set up. The person lives quite far from me and I'm trying to help her via the internet until I can get out to her again.

Considering she has no network card and is connected presently by USB (no ethernet port which I know is faster but I don't think speed's too much of an issue for her as the PC is used for e-mail and student work) what do you think I could advise she buy to get herself set up wirelessly?

Sorry this is so vague that it's difficult to picture. But thanks for your help anyway and I'll try obtain a photo from her if she can e-mail one to me.

[w31n3r]

you ignored my reply completely :(

keep it simple.

your friend does not have an ethernet port. what she has is a RJ 11 port, used by phone lines and old dial up modems, this is why her ISP gave her a USB cable in the first place...believe me when i say ISP engineers are extremely competent and don't do things without good reason. don't confuse yourself, but if you must, read this (http://www.arcelect.com/RJ_Jack_Glossary.htm)


buy a network card, install it and it's drivers, and connect it to the wireless router, connect the router to her modem, and enjoy happy days.

if you want to connect the PC wirelessly to the router, which is why i assume she got a wireless router in the first place, get a usb Wifi card that plugs right into a USB port instead of the normal network card. i think this is the best option in your case.

when you're done with that, you'll probably want to know how to set up your network properly, so read this (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesssetup.mspx), this (http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/winxpnetworking/ht/wpainwindowsxp.htm) and this (http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelesssecurity/tp/wifisecurity.htm). since you're a new user to all this, i suggest you wear a cap while setting it up to avoid painful premature hair loss, and work in an environment where sudden outbursts laced with expletives is perfectly acceptable.

post back if you need more help, mention the name and model of the router, OS, and Wifi card. but if you read all the documentation properly, you'll have it setup in 15 min tops.


Job offer is still open...http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l153/shell63/coffe.gif

i was signing up to your site once then something came up before i could finish. i was curious to see that hidden adult section you were talking about sometime back :D if you really need a perv, count me in!

[notacrime]

JJ72 - can you get your friend to note down the make/model of the 'modem' thing?

It does sound like a confusing set up!

When you say that your friend is with virgin does that mean they are in the UK and with Virgin Media?