Netgear.

[carlton23]

Could you please explain to a `dummy` what a Netgear component does, as I have now gone over to `Sky` with my PC, but don`t comprehend all the gobbledegook. Do I need it for anything specal? TIA

[ChuckFickens]

A netgear what?

Netgear are a manufacturer of networking components and make a wide range of equipment so asking what is a netgear is like asking what is a black and decker....

I'd guess that it is/was your old virgin router you are talking about, in which case it's not a lot of use to you now as it will either be a cable router (you'll now be on ADSL).... or if you were on ADSL before then the router will be locked onto virgins service so would be useless on a sky connection (without some work installing new software on the router)

[VHG]

Well Netgear make lots of things, but I assume in this case it is a ROUTER.

To use a computer over the phone line for broadband you need a MODEM. But this is only suitable for a single user.

If you want more than one user to use your broadband you need a ROUTER (which also contains a modem).

Also note a MODEM is only any good if you want to plug a wire from your computer into it to get the internet.

But if you want to go wireless from say you laptop to the intertnet then you need WI-FI, and for this you need a router.

So your router gives you two things:

1) The abiity to have more than one user using the internet at a time.
2) The ability to use wi fi.

In the past companies sent out a modem, but nowadays they send out a router as it includes a modem, but has extra features.

I asume Sky would have sent out a set-up CD as well, and this usually makes setting up a router easy. Give it a go.

[AlBags]

It's just a brand of Router .... which is usually a network wireless modem (a general replacement for the older usb modem)
These wireless network modems (there are many brands) now connect to the network port (LAN socket) rather than a USB port. They allow wireless devices .. like laptops .. to connect into the home network and to the main PC.

[carlton23]

OK, many thanks folks, it`s a lot clearer in english.

[carlton23]

The item I ean is a 54 MBPS wireless USB 2.0 adapter, and I don`t know if it will be of any use to use with an desktop PC. Any further info would be appreciated.

[scowie]

So, it's a wifi dongle then - you would use that to wirelessly connect a pc to a wifi router.

If your pc is a laptop, it most likely has wifi built-in, so you wouldn't need the dongle. Desktop pcs generally dont, so would need that dongle to connect wirelessly.