I'm thinking of going wireless, but want to keep two pc's wired.

[louv68]

I'm thinking of going wireless, but would like to keep two computers in my office wired.

Can I also have wireless capability for a future laptop? What exactly will I need to do this?

I saw this wireless router in Radioshack's ad this Sunday.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2799811&cp Model: DIR-615 $59 Sundays ad also shows you get an instant $10 Gift Card

Thank you for your help.

[Krispy Kritter]

LinkSys, and I'm sure others as well, have models that include the router, 4-8 RJ-45 switch ports, and wireless, if you are looking for an "all in one" approach.

If not, you could get a wireless router that has at least a single RJ-45 LAN port, and then connect a switch for use with more than one pc.

[ranchhand]

By "office" do you mean in your home? Or a commercial application in multiple-unit building?? How many computers do you have that you want w/less? The router that you linked to is excellent-long as you have 802.11G or higher you are fine.

[ozymango]

Yeah, this router (the D-Link) has both wireless capability and 4 ethernet ports, switched, so it'll cover you for both wired and wireless service, so this will do ya.

All you'll need is a couple of network cables (cat 5) for your PCs, you'll plug each PC into one of the 4 ethernet ports. Your router then connects (cat 5 cable) to your cable or DSL modem, and configuration is pretty simple from there, you router will come with a CD and you just go through the install steps and you should be up and running in a few minutes.

Configuring the wireless part is not exactly hard but it can be a bit confusing, just because of the security features you'll need to configure, there are a couple of flavors of security and they have unfriendly names like WEP and WPA, but just go slow and you'll do fine.

[louv68]

Thank you all for the info. Much appreciated.

ozymango I've been advised to either go with Belkin or Linksys. Is D-Link any good?

[ozymango]

My sister bought a D-Link router, just because it was on sale and she was overwhelmed by all the choices, and I set it up for her and it's been working solid as a rock. Piece of cake to configure. So I certainly have no problems recommending it.

[j1d10t]

I had a Linksys wired router, switched to a D-Link wireless, and I think the D-Link was easier to set-up than the Linksys. My D-Link router came with a set-up wizard that just asked a few questions (like was I adding a router to an already set-up network, was I replacing a router, etc.), then it was up and running. Logged in to the admin settings for the router and set up the security options. Took all of about 5 minutes to set up - I think it took me longer to unplug/plug in than it took for me to get it up and running.

[ozymango]

Took all of about 5 minutes to set up - I think it took me longer to unplug/plug in than it took for me to get it up and running.

There ya go!

And I was disgusted myself at how easy that router was to set up and configure -- my home router is a Buffalo something that I got because it got great reviews, and it's a great router in terms of signal strength and stability -- but it takes bloody forever to configure, the auto-sensing capabilities don't seem to like my Comcast cable modem at all. I moved it from one room to another (for better wireless power) and it took about twenty minutes for that darn box to communicate with the modem and work properly. And resetting it manually takes about two minutes to re-boot it, so changing settings is something I don't do lightly 'cause it takes so friggin' long!

So while I do like my router over all, if I had to do it again I'd buy a D-Link!

[j1d10t]

my home router is a Buffalo something that I got because it got great reviews, and it's a great router in terms of signal strength and stability -- but it takes bloody forever to configure, the auto-sensing capabilities don't seem to like my Comcast cable modem at all. And resetting it manually takes about two minutes to re-boot it, so changing settings is something I don't do lightly 'cause it takes so friggin' long!

But sometimes all the settings, and doing things yourself is half the fun and then sometimes it's a major pain in the....