Routers - Dumb question about using with my laptop

[D22]

Just bought a netgear router...was never able to set it up successfully. If you only have one computer, and it is a laptop, do you need to have another computer to hook the router to or can it broadcast the signal by itself? I definitely do not want to have a 2nd computer if I do not have to.

 

[oynaz]

I am not really sure what your question is, but you definitely do not need 2 computers to use a router.

 

[sjandrewbsme]

For the typical home user, a router acts as an intermediary to your cable modem or DSL modem.

Effectively, you connect to the router and the router in turn connects to the modem. The advantage of this is that the router will allow many downstream clients whereas a modem will only (typically) allow one. Also, the router will filter some unsolicited incoming traffic (deny it) whereas a modem sends it right along.

You definitely do not need >1 client to "use" a router. Any home user should have one imho (unless they have NAT build into their modem by default).

 

[wanderer27]

You only need to connect to it directly when you initially set it up (or power loss) to set the Channel and encryption (optional but recommended), and possiblely a few other options.

Once that's done, you should be able to connect Wirelessly.

Don't forget to set your Laptop's Wireless Channel and encryption key to the same as the Routers.

 

[D22]

Alright, I got it set-up and had my laptop connected wireless to the network, but I couldn't get it to connect to the internet...it said I had a perfect signal and was connected after I entered my PW etc, but could not connect with either firefox or IE7...what could I be doing wrong?

 

[Ausm]

Are you trying to setup a wireless connection? If so I would practice the basics on a wired network first


Ausm

 

[corkyg]

First, try the laptop connected directly to the modem you are using, cable, DSL, or whatever. Then, if that works, add the router and go from there. Don't try to deal with two variables at once.

 

[phantom404]

I would turn both your modem and router off. Connect the router to the modem. Turn the Modem and router on. Let all the lights do what they need to do then try and connect.

when i have my laptop plugged in my modem then decide to take it off and plug a router to it i have to restart the modem...and the other way around.

Also make sure your wireless card is set to obtain IP and DNS automatically. Just until you can get it to work then you can mess with settings

 

[D22]

Here is the thing, I don't have a DSL modem...Bellsouth had to do some sort of weird direct connection. I literally just have an ethernet cable running into my room with no modem...

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: D22
Here is the thing, I don't have a DSL modem...Bellsouth had to do some sort of weird direct connection. I literally just have an ethernet cable running into my room with no modem...

OK, so can you connect that cable to the router's internet port and then connect your laptop to the router via a patch cable? It's definitely better to try to get the wired connection working first and go from there.