wireless

[angiepen]

does anyone know how i can make my vaio lap top wireless.. and how much it will cost me:smileygrin: cheers

[TygerTyger]

Wireless cards can be bought very cheaply although that probably isn't wise. My rule is if you're on a budget always go for the second cheapest. Anyway you will have to let us know your laptop model number or else look up yourself whether or not it can accept a wireless card.

[Alex_A115Z]

You are also gonna need the wireless network to connect it to.

First off, if you want to do it at home, you need a broadband connection (£19.99/month ish), then a wireless modem/router thing (mine cost £250 i think) and then the wireless card in the vaio (model permitting) and you're good to go.

[AlanHudson]

£250 for a wireless ADSL modem/router is a little excessive. You only need to spend around £80-£90 for a decent Netgear machine.

[tellingd]

Aye, for £250 you could get a Sony wireless router - if they made one

[kee-lo_]

There are some nice Netgear ones for £66 now.

[TygerTyger]

I forgot to mention the hub :smileyblush: i need more sleep. Anyway, I highly recommend Belkin have a look here at the 7630 model at the bottom. Click on resellers on the right - if you buy from any of those shops you get a lifetime guarantee, and the tech support is a freephone number wherever you buy. The model I mentioned was at Expansys for £70 although I've seen it cheaper. Whichever model you buy make sure it says it's 801.11g or 54Mb. There are faster available now (US Robotics are up to 125Mb wirelessly, but their instructions are intensely awful) if you want to pay for it, but if you are only going to surf the net you won't notice the difference.
Also, you should at least half the quoted ranges if you want to use it at a distance. And yes you need a broadband connection, if you don't have one make sure it's available in your area.

[AlanHudson]

I hate it when people forget the hub:smileywink:

[vaiodon]

My tuppence worth is for a Netgear DG834GUK broadband router/firewall/wi-fi access point/4 port hub.

I've got one in the post from www.dabs.com/uk at the moment.

Dabs are doing a £94 package comprising the DG834GUK and a Netgear PCBus Wi-Fi card - both 54Mbps, 802.11g units. That's about £5 cheaper than Expansys for just the DG834GUK

Of course this info pre-supposes that you want broadband access and your Vaio doesn't have built in Wi-Fi.

Have fun.

[robpaxton]

Got to say I agree with your choice - the DG834G is an excellent all-in-one. I have had mine for a year now, permanently on and have only had to reboot the router about three times.