Setting up airport help

[looneysbin]

Hi guys

Just wondering if someone could provide some advice for me. I'm going to try to set up a wireless network in my house (where everyone is a technophobe, so be easy with me).

Ok. So we have a iMac, a macbook and a old Dell Windows XP laptop (like, 2003 old). So I doubt the laptop has any wireless um... hardware in it. My mum wants to use the iMac as the main computer and the Dell as the secondary one. I don't live at home but when i do visit id like to go on the internet/network while in the house with my macbook.

So what do I need to do?

I gather I need something for the laptop, a card or something... but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have one of those card slots. Is there some other way to give it wireless? Like a USB add on? Will it work with airport?

Is an apple airport express sufficient? I already have one of those. So like, could i use say 2 of them to share the broadband through the house? Or should I buy a different brand of router thingy?

Also, since the iMac doesnt have a modem (right??) I will need to buy one? So I would connect the modem to the phone line and an airport express? or just to the phone line and then another airport express somewhere else in the house? Or can you use airport extreme to connect - like a modem?

Thanks for any help you guys can provide. This website is way better than the apple discussions one. You guys are great!

 

[maestrokev]

First thing is to check the Dell laptop to make sure it doesn't have a wireless card built-in, go to Windows device manager to verify.

A wireless network card can be added via the PCMCIA (PC Card) slot on the laptop OR using a USB connected wireless network card. Linksys, Dlink, Netgear, Belkin all carry both types of wireless cards. You can get 802.11 b/g or N standard wireless card depending on which wireless router you use.

I have an Apple Airport Extreme that supports 802.11 b/g/N access.

You set up a wireless network with an access password and you can use when you go home.

How do you connect to the internet, are you using high-speed cable modem or DSL or dial-up modem?

 

[looneysbin]

Hi maestrokev, thanks for your reply!

Um, we have adsl broadband at home. At the moment, we use a usb modem (its a really old one that isnt on the manufacturers website anymore!lol) and a really really old PC. The PC is getting the chop though and we are happy to buy a new modem to go with the mac or wireless router thingy, whatever we need.