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General discussion

help with buying a router...

by bigjoexx Mar 19, 2006 4:04AM PST

im looking into buying a router im currently usings mah neighbors wifi connection. I have a dell inspiron 8600.I verion dsl. What are the best routers out there? and do i need a network card for my notebook even though when im at my friends house i get excellent service for my computer

Discussion is locked

3 Posts

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Frankly? Cisco.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Mar 19, 2006 4:15AM PST

You asked for the best and not what I would use.

Bob

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My entire system. . .

by Coryphaeus Mar 19, 2006 8:56PM PST

is D-link. Cable modem, router, NICs in the desktops and a wireless PCMCIA NIC for my laptop. If you keep to the same vendor, when you connect everything, they self discover and configure.

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network card

by linkit Mar 20, 2006 3:46AM PST

In general, you need at least one network adapter to connect to a router.

You need a wired network adapter on some computer for the initial configuration of a wireless router and for firmware updates.

If you want to connect wirelessly, you need a wireless network adapter that is compatible with the wireless router's broadcast standard (wireless-g, wireless-b or wireless-a).

Essentially all newer notebooks have a wired network adapter and most have a built-in wireless network adapter. If your notebook doesn't have a wireless network adapter, you can purchase one (internal mini-PCI, PC Card/PCMCIA, USB).

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