Sharing a Wireless Broadband connection

[jimmyca69]

I am thinking of purchasing a Acer laptop with built in wireless (Acer 2001wlci)

Now im getting confused with what hardware i need to share my existing Broadband connection from my desktop pc so that i can access the web from the laptop.

My current theory is to get a wireless router, plug that into my adsl line and then have to have a wireless usb connector for my desktop and use the wireless card in the laptop to connect to the router.

But i dont really want to buy a wireless usb adapter for my pc, just to share my existing connection to the laptop using a wireless router. Could i not connect the router to the pc and share it that way?

See im a little confused!

Give me a pc to build and im fine but networking opens a new can of worms that i cant seem to get my head around.

My setup is that i have a Athlon XP2100, 1GB RAM etc a spare NIC, and currently have a ADSL usb modem connected up for me Broadband.

Any ideas?

[jimmyca69]

Update:

Have figured out that what is probably best is to get a Netgear Wireless router, connect that to adsl and also my desktop pc and then connect to the router through my laptop.

Anyone used this setup before? and if so how easy is it to setup? whats the connection like on the laptop?

[Rick]

Or you can go this route

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=544

This router or one like it allows Both wired and wireless

Plug your desktop into it using the ethernet cable and the laptop can use the wireless

[jimmyca69]

which option would give the best connection speeds?

or would there be little difference?

[PrntRhd]

Wired is faster, 100MB/sec,
Wireless 801.b is about 11MB/sec
Wireless 801.g is about 54MB/sec

All faster than your ADSL.

[classicsoftware]

Do you need the mobility. That is the key question. If you don't nee dthe mobility, get an electrician to run the wire and you can hook the laptop up through a wired connection.

Wired is faster and more secure?? You decide.

[bassman]

as stated by PrntRhd, all are faster then DSL so if the main purpose of the network is to share internet, then I would suggest going least expensive.
My setup:
Linksys 802.11B WAP (wireless access point) connected to DSL modem.
Linksys 802.11B PCMCIA card in laptop.
Linksys 802.11B wireless card in desktop.
Generic LAN card in desktop connected to WAP by patch cord.
This has been a great setup for me since I didn't have to run any wire to two comps and the third is about 5 feet away from WAP. I like to take the laptop outside and sit on the lawn in the summer time to work ;)
I have yet to put the time into setting up a functioning network to access other comps on this system but don't really have a need to yet.
If your DSL modem is close to your desktop, get the wireless router of choice that allows for wired connection as well. Connect it to a NIC on desktop and use wireless in laptop.

Good luck :cool:

[jimmyca69]

thanx for the info bassman very helpful

The laptop i have set my sights on has the built-in 802.11g now for no extra cost over the 802.11b so i think ill go for that.

I have an adsl usb modem and so cant connect that to a router, so i am looking at the netgear DG834G which is a combined router and adsl modem. I can then connect that to my desktop through the NIC and then connect the laptop wirelessly to the router that shares the connection.

It took me a while to get my head around all of this but i think im getting there!