Re: One or two questions.

"donut" <me@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"pmj" <post@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"donut" <me@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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<snip>
When I signed up for TW (BlueYonder) the engineers came and put
in a cable from the footpath to the house and into the study,
they made the connection with USB and I have not tried to alter it.

I wonder why they used the USB Connection between the Cable Modem
& the PC?

Maybe it was an old PC that didn't have a NIC (Network Interface
Card) with a standard Ethernet (RJ45) Connection in it - almost
all recent PCs do have one though.

That is probably the answer - I switched to TW when I had the Viglen
PC which came with Win 98. When I wanted to install Win XP - I did
not have enough memory so I got this Dell with Win XP.

Yep, sounds like that may have been the reason (though they (or you)
*could* have fitted an Ethernet NIC - w98 works fine with them)

The PC that I had when I first got a Telewest/Blueyonder Cable Modem
Internet Connection (in about 2001?) had w98 (but no Ethernet NIC)
& they (TW/BY) supplied an (El Cheapo) Ethernet NIC for it. It worked
(& works) fine!
:-)

& you can get an Ethernet NIC for about a fiver these days,
if you have a PC without one.

But almost all PCs for several Years now have come with standard
Ethernet NICs in them.

<snipped>
What Make & Model of PC do you now have?

Dell Dimension 9150

Ah great - that's all you/we need to know...
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim9150/en/

Owners Manual
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim9150/en/om/WD722A03.pdf

Setup Diagram
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim9150/multlang/EMEA/W7890A00.pdf

Service Manual (Online HTML Web)
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim9150/en/sm/
Service Manual (Downloadable Zip File of HTML Pages & Pics)
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim9150/en/sm/sm_en.zip

& also, Dell supplies a whole load of Info on the PC itself (look in
the Start Menu & in the various Support Folders etc,)

Both the Owners manual & the Setup Diagram both show the Dell Dimension
9150 as having a standard Ethernet (RJ45) NIC (Network Interface Card)
They call it a "Network Connector" - that's the one to use.

If it came with WinXP, then it's almost certainly got a normal NIC
(Network Interface Card) with a standard Ethernet (RJ45) Connection
on it, either built-in to the MotherBoard or as an Add-in (PCI) Card

I have had a look at the back of the tower there are 5 USB ports and
alongside them there is a unused socket which looks exactly the same
as the ethernet socket on the Motorola modem,

Yep!
That's it!
:-)

... so I imagine all I need is a cable.(*** see below) unless there
is no card ??!!

LOL!!!
Well, that's an (outside) possibility!
:-(

*Some* firms may well supply a Hole (Socket), but then not have
it actually Connected to anything & have the actual Card inside as
an "Option", but the Dell Dimension 9150 *does* have the relevant Card
& Circuitry according to the Manual.

You can very easily tell for yourself, anyway, by looking in Device
Manager. (Post back if you can't remember how to (& can't remember
how to look up how to) get to Device Manager.

Scroll down to the Section labelled "Network Adapters" & Expand it up.

Have a look in there & see what stuff is listed.
You should be able to tell if any of them are an Ethernet Adapter.
If you can't (or aren't sure, Post back with what is in there.

& we can confirm that there is (& which one is) an Ethernet Adapter.

<snip>
I have looked at the leaflet (quick reference guide) left by the
installing engineer. It says Ethernet OR USB and shows an ethernet
cable position on the modem and on the back of the tower.

Yep.
& has your PC got an Ethernet (RJ45) Socket on it? [*1]
Just have a look - it will look the same as the one on the Cable
Modem

Yep - I have and answered this point above *** so yes I do think
I could connect a cable from the modem to the tower

Great!!!

You could try that, even before you get the Router.
All you need to do is to get an Ethernet Cable & UnPlug the USB Cable
from the Modem, then Plug the Ethernet Cable into the Modem & the PC
(you may need to ReBoot/Power Cycle the Cable Modem, to make it
recognise the different MAC (Media Access Control) Address of the NIC

But remeber, when you use a *Router*, teh cable Modem *doesn't* need
to be Plugged into the PC!!!...

The Cable Modem Plugs into the *Router* & then the Router is what
Plugs into the PC, so if you do try using an Ethernet Connection
before using a Router, (jsut so you know how & that it all works),
all you would then have to do, is to UnPlug the Cable that goes from
the Cable Modem to the PC & Plug that into the Router, than Plug
another Cable (which comes with the Router) from the Router to the PC
(& ReBoot/Power Cycle the Router, so that it then recognises the MAC
Address of the Router - each different Ethernet Device has a different
MAC Address, so everything knows where the "Packets" of Information
have to go.

It really is as easy as that!

If any of what I have explained isn't clear (or you don't follow/
understand it), Post back with the particular bit you are stuck on.
& I (or anybody else) can clarify it for you.

The point is it really isn't anything very complicated & there's
no need to feel intimidated by it - it's all very straightforwards.

(Unlike USB stuff, which is all Complicated & Confuzzling, cos of
the Drivers & Software & stuff).

<snip>
... BUT I do not have an ethernet cable.
<snip>
... and what would I ask for? ...please.

A standard ("Straight through", as opposed to "Cross over" [*1])
Ethernet RJ45 Cable.
They are usually available in a choice of Lengths - normally
1 2 3 5 10 & even 25 Metres

If I only need a cable from the modem to the tower then 2 metres
would be adequate.

OK, but bear in mind you *might* at some point?) want to move stuff
around.

But *also* (& I don't think you twigged it yet) you *don't* actually
(when you're using a Router) Connect the Cable Modem to the PC!
You Connect the Cable Modem to the *Router* & then the Router Connects
to the PC

<snip>
Maplins is close to us here and I have had a look on their web site
and they have a Category 6 Networking Cable with RJ45 connectors.
(Black Patch 2m A81CF70 £6.49

Yep.
That will do fine.
(When they say "Patch Lead", that's the same as a "Straight Through"
as opposed to a "Cross over" Lead/Cable)

But you don't in fact need a "Cat(egory) 6" one.
a "Cat 5" one is fine.

"Cross over" Ethernet Cables are normally only used for Connecting
PC to another PC & so aren't as widely available.
The S"traight through" ones are what is needed for Connecting
a PC to a Router (& for Connecting the Router to the Cable Modem

The Router will come with (usually just one) Ethernet Cable,
(to Connect up the PC to it) so you only need to buy one to Connect
the Cable Modem to the Router (if the Cable Modem didn't come with
one, or if you've put it in a "safe place" <g>)

Now there I do think you have some psychic powers

LOL!
But no - it's just that I know what most things like that come with,
& I also know that most people (when they first get things like that)
just bung all the "gubbins" away somewhere (usually "somewhere safe",
just in case they ever need it) & then it's only years later when they
find that they *do* need it, that they then (often) can't remember where
that "safe place" is - or they (or someone else) has chucked it out...

... - there was a yellow cable about 1 metre long which the TW
engineer told me he didn't need but to keep in case I ever needed it.

LOL!
Yep!
That's the one!!!

That's what you need!
:-)

Of course Maurice at that time did short wave radio and had loads
of coax and plugs and wires etc. ad infinitum so I put that yellow
cable into one of his boxes and then he sold it all up

Doh!!!
See what I mean?

But Ethernet (RJ45) Connectors & Cables etc, *aren't* the same as
Coax Plugs etc, though many people do just sort of "lump all that
type of stuff together"

... and so I *did* put it in a safe place :-)) but it has gone!!

Yep, but since it was *he* who actually chucked it away (& not you),
you can prolly get *him* to pay the fiver or so for the replacement?
:-)

You will also need another Ethernet Cable, if you decide you want
to Connect the Laptop using a Cable, but if you use WiFi, then you
won't need another one

No I want to use the laptop with WiFi. so that is only one cable
I will need?

Yep...
& no...
:-)

You will need 2 altogether...
One between the Cable Modem & the Router
& one between the Router & one of the PCs

& the Router will come with (at least) one Ethernet Cable,
so yes, you only need to buy (or scrounge) one, to make the total
of 2

<snip>
Ah, OK - so it's a Dell.
What Model is it?

Dimension 9150

Just so we can check that it *does* have a normal Ethernet NIC
(Network Interface Card) in it.
The Manual for the PC will also confirm that.

The manual is on line and I have had a look to try and confirm
that the socket on the tower is an ethernet one but it calls that
particular socket a "network adapter".

Yep, that's the one.

Glad you sussed it out OK.

... The sign beside the socket is

____o____
o o

sorry that's as near as I can explain it.

Yep! - That's the one!
:-)

That's the satndard "representation" or "Symbol" for a Network Adapter
Socket - it's s'posed to represent a PC (or Router) being Connected
to some other PCs - those "o" things you put there are actually square
& are a symbolic representations of a PC (or a Screen).

So...
You've pretty much sussed out all you need to know!
:-)

All that remains is to have a look in Device Manager, to see (just out
of interest<g>) what Make/Model/Type of Ethernet network Adapter
(Interface) it is & to check that it's all Installed as it should be.

(Don't worry if it doesn't have, cos you can very easily & cheaply
get one)

... site suggest contact with the ISP to find which router they
recommend.

It's not really anything much to do with the ISP!
:-)

The choice of what sort to use is really up to you!
& not the ISP.
It really depends on what you're going to use it with (you've
already said a Desktop PC & a Laptop) & how you want to use it
(& you've already said that you were thinking of using WiFi,
I think)

That's right - a laptop using WiFi

& a Desktop using Ethernet

No probs.

So any of the WiFi Routers you can buy (from about 25 or 30 Quid
upwards) will do fine.

So, what you need is a standard Router (*not* an ADSL Modem Router)
with WiFi (also known as a "WAP" - Wireless Access Point)
They are clearly labelled.

It's a "DSL/Cable WiFi Router" that you want.
& *not* an "ADSL Modem Router"

Any of the standard makes (Belkin, Netgear, D-Link, Linksys, 3Com,
Buffalo etc,) will work fine.

Don't get bogged down with fancy stuff (unless you want to spend
time & effort learning all about the fascinating different things
you can get!)

No don't want to be bogged down! Have had a look on Maplin site
and they have :-

Linksys DSL Cable Router BEF SR41 £39.99

Cable/DSL 4 port A54BR £39.99

Yep!
That will do.
But...

and a Broadband x DSL/Cable Router S Com 4 port Router £29.99

& that one.
But...

Those aren't *WiFi* ones!!!

They (only) use Ethernet cables to connect to all the PCs (both Laptop
& Desktop).

If you want to have either of the PCs (such as the Laptop?) Connected
up using WiFi, then those aren't really what you want/need.
You need to look for an (x)DSL (WiFi (Wireless) Router.

Maplin do sell WiFi ones as well.

Some people will say that a "known" make, such as Linksys is better
than a "White Box" one such as an "S Com" one, though if that's a
SiteCom (or Safecom) one both of those are actually OK.

& I was in PC World earlier today & I noticed they are doing Belkin
ones, Model F5D7230uk4 ("Wireless G Router"), for £29.99

Yes, I know they often do all look "pretty much of a muchness" -
especially if you haven't ever bought stuff like thast before, or ever
needed to know anything about them, but the Model Number (as well as
the description) *does* say all that is needed to Identify them & suss
out if they are the right thing.

If you really want to have things like "Extra range", then you can
get them, but you don't really need anything that offers you "Extra
Speed", cos even a standard WiFi (802.11g) Connection is actually
still faster than the Internet Connection & anyway, you only get
the extra Speed if the WiFi Adapter you are using is the same type
(which it won't be, if it's built-in to a Laptop)

Will it be built in to the laptop?????

Yes.
Almost definitely.

& if (by some weird set of circumstances) you end up buying one that
*doesn't* actually have WiFi built-in, then you can get a WiFi Card
(or a USB WiFi Dongle) for less than 20 Quid.

You'd actually have to look quite hard, or buy from a real Shyster
to get a Laptop these days without WiFi built-in!

<snip>
At this point in time I am looking at Toshiba.

Do you mean for the Laptop?

That should be fine!
:-)

Toshiba make some good Laptops.

One of my children (well they are all over 20 now!) actually has
a Toshiba & it works fine with the WiFi & also with an Ethernet
Connection.

Is their Toshiba a Qosmio?

No, unfortunately she bought it a couple of years ago, before these
brilliant new "Qosmio" ones were available.

If you go for one of the "Qosmio" ones, they have a *really* good
Screen - 1920 x 1200 Pixels, 17 inch!
:-)
But they are expensive - over 1500 Quid.

No not a Qosmio - a Satellite P100-434 and it is not just the colour
which decided me <g>

LOL!
I will see if I can have a look at that Model.

They also do plenty of less expensive ones.

Look for the number of *Pixels* on the Screen (the Resolution)
& not just the "Size" of it.

Thanks pmj - no doubt I shall have to come back for more advice
before I am finished :-))

Yep!
Go & have a look in your nearest Electrical/Computer place
(Maplins/PC World etc, & see what they have in the way of WiFi
Routers
& how much they are.

Yep - will do - see my note above about Maplins.

& see my Comment in Reply to it!
:-)

& Post back with any suggestions they come up with (if you ask them)
& plenty of people in here will be able to comment on the
suggestions.

HTH

This is getting really long although I have tried to snip it a little.

Yep, I noticed that.

Well, in the next Post Reply (if there is one?<g>)
It might be an idea to just snip the lot?

Or just Reply separately, replying to one bit in each Reply & Snipping
out the rest, but if you can follow it that's fine - I've managed to
follow your replies fine, thankyou.

If you keep it in this same Thread though, (rather than Creating a new
Thread) then it is a lot easier (for everyone) to follow it & also,
it means that anybody who is specifically interested in any of the
stuff you have been asking about can easily find it.

--
pmj


.

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