Thinking of buying a Laptop

[smurfchops]

I use AOL Broadband XL , which is connected to my telephone and upstairs in a bedroom. I am thinking of buying a laptop to use down stairs in a room with no telephone connection. Can I use a laptop on the same tariff as my AOL Broadband if it is a wireless connection and do I just put in the CD, would it work ?? I am not at all technical so please explain anything in laymens terms, many thanks all !

[vehelpfulguy]

To be able to use two PCs or laptops on the single telephone line you need to buy a ROUTER.

In your case a WIRELESS ROUTER.

On an ADSL line (which yours is) the router you buy will contain a modem, so you remove the modem from your connection and plug in the router.

Although it is called a wireless router you can also plug a PC or laptop in it via a wire, so it works as a WIRED router AND a WIRELESS ROUTER.

You need to make sure your laptop is wireless enabled (I think any laptop you buy nowadays is wireless enabled).

This article may help:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/netwo rking/setup/wireless.mspx

[smurfchops]

So do I switch on my PC, take out the modem, put in the router, and then can I use my laptop in another room ??

[vehelpfulguy]

Note that there is some setup with a wireless router and this CAN get a bit technical.

Some companies (like say BT) do provide a router and a very simple "set up" CD that does it all for you.

But if you buy a router from a shop like say PC World then you will have to set the router up yourself.

You could try contacting your ISP (AOL?) and see if they can provide a router and simple setup CD (at a cost of course).

If not you may have to configure the router yourself, which as I said, can get a bit technical.

[Ethel]

Your AOL modem may be wireless already.
What sort of modem is it?

[smurfchops]

Ethel I doubt it, its quite old now, a BT Voyager 100.

[Ethel]

Don't know if this is any use to you:

http://myaolbroadband.co.uk/broadband/broadban d-wirelessplus.adp

But try phoning AOL and ask for the free wireless broadband modem