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I have a desktop PC hooked up to a cable modem. I will be purchasing
two laptops shortly. Minimally, What will I need to be able to access
the internet in my home with the new laptops? Can the desktop still be
hard wired to the cable modem? Do I need to buy laptops with built in
wireless? What kind of specs should i be looking for? Any good
websites with this info? Thanks all.

jtees4 wrote:
> I have a desktop PC hooked up to a cable modem. I will be purchasing
> two laptops shortly. Minimally, What will I need to be able to access
> the internet in my home with the new laptops? Can the desktop still be
> hard wired to the cable modem? Do I need to buy laptops with built in
> wireless? What kind of specs should i be looking for? Any good
> websites with this info? Thanks all.

The easiest way is to use a router with wireless built in, such as the
Linksys WRT54G. The router has a 4 port switch in addition to the
wireless 802.11G. Then make sure the laptops have 802.11G built in.
The desktop then hooks up via it's Ethernet port to the router.

A few web sites;
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/index.html

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:43:01 -0500, Pen
<> wrote:

>jtees4 wrote:
>> I have a desktop PC hooked up to a cable modem. I will be purchasing
>> two laptops shortly. Minimally, What will I need to be able to access
>> the internet in my home with the new laptops? Can the desktop still be
>> hard wired to the cable modem? Do I need to buy laptops with built in
>> wireless? What kind of specs should i be looking for? Any good
>> websites with this info? Thanks all.
>
>The easiest way is to use a router with wireless built in, such as the
>Linksys WRT54G. The router has a 4 port switch in addition to the
>wireless 802.11G. Then make sure the laptops have 802.11G built in.
>The desktop then hooks up via it's Ethernet port to the router.
>
>A few web sites;
>http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/
>http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper
>http://www.tomsnetworking.com/index.html

Thank you. I kind of knew the basics, but wanted to be sure before I
bought anything. Thanks again.

after you buy it and before you hook it up, call your cable company to
give them the MAC address of the wireless router ( it's on a sticker on
the router). They will need to add that into their database as a "legit"
device to be allowed onto their network. Once they say ok, you can then
plug the cable from your cable modem into it and your pc's into the
router.

Be sure to use security on the new router too - there will be a chapter
in the manual.



"jtees4" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:43:01 -0500, Pen
> <> wrote:
>
>>jtees4 wrote:
>>> I have a desktop PC hooked up to a cable modem. I will be purchasing
>>> two laptops shortly. Minimally, What will I need to be able to
>>> access
>>> the internet in my home with the new laptops? Can the desktop still
>>> be
>>> hard wired to the cable modem? Do I need to buy laptops with built
>>> in
>>> wireless? What kind of specs should i be looking for? Any good
>>> websites with this info? Thanks all.
>>
>>The easiest way is to use a router with wireless built in, such as the
>>Linksys WRT54G. The router has a 4 port switch in addition to the
>>wireless 802.11G. Then make sure the laptops have 802.11G built in.
>>The desktop then hooks up via it's Ethernet port to the router.
>>
>>A few web sites;
>>http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/
>>http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper
>>http://www.tomsnetworking.com/index.html
>
> Thank you. I kind of knew the basics, but wanted to be sure before I
> bought anything. Thanks again.

On Wed, 1 Nov 2006 20:16:08 -0500, "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123>
wrote:

>after you buy it and before you hook it up, call your cable company to
>give them the MAC address of the wireless router ( it's on a sticker on
>the router). They will need to add that into their database as a "legit"
>device to be allowed onto their network. Once they say ok, you can then
>plug the cable from your cable modem into it and your pc's into the
>router.
>
>Be sure to use security on the new router too - there will be a chapter
>in the manual.
>
>
>
>"jtees4" <> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:43:01 -0500, Pen
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>>jtees4 wrote:
>>>> I have a desktop PC hooked up to a cable modem. I will be purchasing
>>>> two laptops shortly. Minimally, What will I need to be able to
>>>> access
>>>> the internet in my home with the new laptops? Can the desktop still
>>>> be
>>>> hard wired to the cable modem? Do I need to buy laptops with built
>>>> in
>>>> wireless? What kind of specs should i be looking for? Any good
>>>> websites with this info? Thanks all.
>>>
>>>The easiest way is to use a router with wireless built in, such as the
>>>Linksys WRT54G. The router has a 4 port switch in addition to the
>>>wireless 802.11G. Then make sure the laptops have 802.11G built in.
>>>The desktop then hooks up via it's Ethernet port to the router.
>>>
>>>A few web sites;
>>>http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/
>>>http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper
>>>http://www.tomsnetworking.com/index.html
>>
>> Thank you. I kind of knew the basics, but wanted to be sure before I
>> bought anything. Thanks again.
So it won't work unless I call them? Thanks, that is certainly good
to know!

"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:. ..
> after you buy it and before you hook it up, call your cable company to
> give them the MAC address of the wireless router ( it's on a sticker on
> the router). They will need to add that into their database as a "legit"
> device to be allowed onto their network. Once they say ok, you can then
> plug the cable from your cable modem into it and your pc's into the
> router.
>
> Be sure to use security on the new router too - there will be a chapter in
> the manual.

What???
When I bought mine I plugged it in, turned it on and set up the password
to lock it down. The Cable Co has never said a word.
--
Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer.
Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does
not go nearly as well with pizza.
--Dave Barry

"jtees4" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Wed, 1 Nov 2006 20:16:08 -0500, "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123>
> wrote:
>
>>after you buy it and before you hook it up, call your cable company to
>>give them the MAC address of the wireless router ( it's on a sticker on
>>the router). They will need to add that into their database as a "legit"
>>device to be allowed onto their network. Once they say ok, you can then
>>plug the cable from your cable modem into it and your pc's into the
>>router.
>>
>>Be sure to use security on the new router too - there will be a chapter
>>in the manual.
>>
>>
>>
>>"jtees4" <> wrote in message
>>news:. ..
>>> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:43:01 -0500, Pen
>>> <> wrote:
>>>
>>>>jtees4 wrote:
>>>>> I have a desktop PC hooked up to a cable modem. I will be purchasing
>>>>> two laptops shortly. Minimally, What will I need to be able to
>>>>> access
>>>>> the internet in my home with the new laptops? Can the desktop still
>>>>> be
>>>>> hard wired to the cable modem? Do I need to buy laptops with built
>>>>> in
>>>>> wireless? What kind of specs should i be looking for? Any good
>>>>> websites with this info? Thanks all.
>>>>
>>>>The easiest way is to use a router with wireless built in, such as the
>>>>Linksys WRT54G. The router has a 4 port switch in addition to the
>>>>wireless 802.11G. Then make sure the laptops have 802.11G built in.
>>>>The desktop then hooks up via it's Ethernet port to the router.
>>>>
>>>>A few web sites;
>>>>http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/
>>>>http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper
>>>>http://www.tomsnetworking.com/index.html
>>>
>>> Thank you. I kind of knew the basics, but wanted to be sure before I
>>> bought anything. Thanks again.
> So it won't work unless I call them? Thanks, that is certainly good
> to know!

The routers have a MAC cloning feature that allows you to take the MAC of a
computer's NIC and enter it into the router. The router will use the cloned
MAC, of a computer's NIC that can access the ISP's network, and present
the MAC as if it were the computer's NIC that was accessing the network,
which will allow the router to access ISP's network without calling the ISP.

Of course, the computer would be connected to the router wire or wirelessly
and the ISP wouldn't know the difference as to the router or the computer's
NIC that was presenting the MAC.

http://netsecurity.about.com/cs/wire...aa112203_2.htm

Duane

"Alex Clayton" <> wrote in message
news: ...
> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
> news:. ..
>> after you buy it and before you hook it up, call your cable company

<snipped>

> What???
> When I bought mine I plugged it in, turned it on and set up the
> password to lock it down. The Cable Co has never said a word.

For mine I had to call - otherwise they don't recognize the address and
think I'm an intruder.I gave them my cable modem /router MAC address.
When my router died I had to call in again to update the info. ( It was
then AT&T for my ISP)

If he doesn't NEED to call - fine - but his ISP with let him know. Just
didn't want him trying and having it NOT work.

On Thu, 2 Nov 2006 07:27:40 -0500, "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123>
wrote:

>
>"Alex Clayton" <> wrote in message
>news: m...
>> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
>> news:. ..
>>> after you buy it and before you hook it up, call your cable company
>
><snipped>
>
>> What???
>> When I bought mine I plugged it in, turned it on and set up the
>> password to lock it down. The Cable Co has never said a word.
>
>For mine I had to call - otherwise they don't recognize the address and
>think I'm an intruder.I gave them my cable modem /router MAC address.
>When my router died I had to call in again to update the info. ( It was
>then AT&T for my ISP)
>
>If he doesn't NEED to call - fine - but his ISP with let him know. Just
>didn't want him trying and having it NOT work.
>
>
>
At least I will know what the problem is and how to fix it if it
becomes necessary. Thanks all for the good info.

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:56:43 -0500, jtees4 <> wrote:

>I have a desktop PC hooked up to a cable modem. I will be purchasing
>two laptops shortly. Minimally, What will I need to be able to access
>the internet in my home with the new laptops? Can the desktop still be
>hard wired to the cable modem? Do I need to buy laptops with built in
>wireless? What kind of specs should i be looking for? Any good
>websites with this info? Thanks all.


Thanks all for your replies. I bought the router and had no problems
getting the laptop to work...no calls needed to the cable company
either.