Router Question

Hey guys, I have a pc down in the kitchen with the DSL on it, and I have another computer upstairs with no internet. I was wondering if I get a router all I have to do is plug it into my dsl modem down here and into the computer, than I can use a USB adapter (instead of a pci card) upstairs on my other computer for wireless internet right? I don't need another modem or anything?

You need a wireless router that can handle DSL and a wireless card in the box upstairs. :)

Ok thanks, I ordered a Netgear router (for this pc, cable/dsl) and a Netgear wireless adaptor (usb instead of a card, I'm lazy but its the same thing) for the upstairs one. Hopefully it will all work.

Make sure the router is a wireless router. Its useless having a wireless nic when it can't receive any information traffic.

Also when comes to wireless consider security (though it might seem impossible but hey why take the chance). Make sure the router is a wireless router with an input for your DSL modem. Normally the router (wireless) only accepts RJ-45 connections, so if your DSL modem is a USB type, your best chances are:
- remove the order of the router and get two wireless network cards so you can setup a peer-to-peer network (that means the pc with the modem connected to must be on for the upstairs pc to run)
- get a DSL modem which is RJ-45 interface
- bring the modem upstairs and hook it up to that pc if you want to use the net upstairs.

Does anyone run a browser with PPPoE protocol? I have SBC yahoo dsl and I use the SBC browser so I just want to make sure with the router it will still let me use that and not force me to use the horrible internet explorer. Since I have to log in with my username and password to access the net and normally the router just automatically accesses it I was wondering if this would be a problem, SBC tech support has decided to ignore me for the last few days. Thanks if anyone knows.. :uhoh:

AFAIK there shouldn't be any problem with net access or browser preference. If your modem still functions same as before (and it should) then there's nothing to worry about, as all the router is doing is redirecting traffic from the modem to the various nodes connected to the network.

But then again, its just an assumption, as I don't use/know the services offered by that company or that of available in the US. Best of luck.

Thanks alot Oz, Zeus, I finally was able to get the tech support guy on the phone and he told me while they can't provide technical support for routers he can tell me that they do support the use of routers. He said the browser will be fine, and he gave me some of the configuration information to help me out such as domain name, host name, etc.

can anyone here tell me what is a MAC address?
people tell me it's to make sure people don't hack into your wireless connection...or something.,.

It's the address of the connected device like the Router.

It's the address of the connected device like the Router.

Basically that's it, anything that is a network device more or less have a MAC address.

Basically you tell your point of connection (such as router/access point/etc) to allow only certain MAC address to connect to it, and everything else to deny connection to it.

MAC addresses are also unique throughout each devices, so there can't be any duplicated MAC address unless someone modified it. Its a security measure that works well but ppl can still access it if they change their MAC address which will allow the connection if it is recognized as a valid MAC address.

Another method of security can be used is to force your network to use IPv6 standard instead of the current IPv4, its quite secure and since not many people use IPv6 it won't even recognise it as a network, but there may be connection problems if the translation is not done right when connecting to a IPv4 network.