1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

WiFi home setup question...

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by Blades of Vanatar, Aug 15, 2012.

  1. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    We bought a Kindle Fire. It needs Wifi. I don't have Wifi currently. But if I am going to setup Wifi, I will want to set it up for the Kindle, my PC and for my Blu-Ray player for my main TV in the home. I have a Blu-Ray player that will need a card in order to be hooked up to the Wifi, I guess it's "Ready" but not "Built-in". It's about 2 yrs old.

    My questions are...

    What type of Wireless Router do we need?

    How hard is it to setup?
     
  2. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2000
    Messages:
    10,407
    Media:
    40
    Likes Received:
    231
    Gender:
    Male
    802.11n is the latest standard and the newer routers are typically backwards compatible with the older 802.11b and g. What you want to do is determine which standard your devices are using and make sure you get a wireless router that supports them.

    Now: Is your PC a laptop or a desktop? If it's a desktop, I wouldn't connect it via wireless, just continue to use the wire you're using.

    Setup is easy. Pretty much the same as a wired router but a few more things to configure, and everything's pretty much explained and often automatic. Some devices come preconfigured with encryption keys so you don't even have to come up with your own if you use the ones that came with it.
     
  3. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    Thanks BTA.

    PC is a Desktop. Blu-Ray needs WiFi for auto-updates. Kindle Fire Must have WiFi access. But if I want to stream movies to my TV, do I need the PC hooked up to the Wireless Router to do so?
     
  4. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2000
    Messages:
    10,407
    Media:
    40
    Likes Received:
    231
    Gender:
    Male
    No, your wired and WiFi devices should all be on the same network; there's no need to split the two (though you could if you had some reason to do so).

    Though "hooked up to the wireless router" is somewhat ambiguous.

    If you mean hooked up by radio, then I don't see any reason to do so.

    If you mean hooked up to the wireless router via the wire you are currently using, then I'd say that's probably what you want to do and would be the easiest. AFAIK all wireless routers have some wired ports built in.

    If you already have a wired router and you don't want to just replace it with the wireless router, you can do that too, but it's a little more complicated to configure the two to be on a single network. You just plug a wire between the two.
     
  5. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    I currently have no router, just DSL hard-wired to the PC. I plan on stopping by Best Buy tonight, I will ask the "Geeks" some questions as well. I am sure it's simple after reading a bit more about it today, I am just trying to envision it.
     
  6. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2000
    Messages:
    10,407
    Media:
    40
    Likes Received:
    231
    Gender:
    Male
    Ah, yes. So. You will just get the wireless router, connect the WAN port of the wireless router to your DSL modem using the end of the cable currently plugged into your PC. Then plug another cable that came with the wireless router from one of the LAN ports of the wireless router to your PC's ethernet port.
     
  7. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    Seems simple enough. Hopefully the software install is as well, thanks again for the input BTA!
     
  8. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    9,765
    Media:
    15
    Likes Received:
    440
    Gender:
    Male
    Just make sure you password protect your system.
     
  9. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    I purchased the NetGear N600 last night at Best Buy. 75 Bucks. I will be setting up the network tonight.
     
  10. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    May 29, 2003
    Messages:
    13,346
    Likes Received:
    97
    It's super easy. Even I have managed to do it. Usually just plug everything in and it's working within minutes.

    ---------- Added 0 hours, 1 minutes and 29 seconds later... ----------

    It used to be harder in the old days but most of the vendors have figured out that the majority of their customers are not going to be techies these days, but average joes wanting to use their iPads at home, so they've made the setup process a lot more intuitive and plug n play than it used to be.
     
  11. Gaear

    Gaear ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2006
    Messages:
    1,877
    Media:
    13
    Likes Received:
    180
    In other words, prepare for it to fail, Blades. ;)
     
  12. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male

    Looks like they pretty much come with the PW already setup.

    ---------- Added 0 hours, 0 minutes and 56 seconds later... ----------

    Yep, nothing like word of encouragement to make a guy feel sure about himself...:p

    ---------- Added 17 hours, 13 minutes and 23 seconds later... ----------

    WiFi is activated. It was a very painless excercise. Downloaded about a dozen apps unto th eKindle Fire for the kids to mess with. Thanks to all! :)
     
  13. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 7, 2005
    Messages:
    3,015
    Media:
    47
    Likes Received:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    I'd like to mention something else, even if I'm a bit late.
    This goes hand-in-hand with the advice on password protection.
    Make sure the encryption is enabled, and that it is using WPA2 and not WEP. Just about everything in stores these days should use it, and it was probably turned on by default when you password protected it, but it never hurts to make sure.

    If you don't password protect it and encrypt it with WPA2, it is absurdly easy for somebody to camp outside your house in a car or van and snoop on everything you do over the wireless connection including stealing your passwords.
     
  14. Topken

    Topken Elven-dragon wizard

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2008
    Messages:
    442
    Likes Received:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    What Slick said and are routers still using a single default password nowadays? Turn of Wifi protected Setup as well as its no longer secure. If Routers are still using a default password you want to change it to something else.
     
  15. Gaear

    Gaear ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2006
    Messages:
    1,877
    Media:
    13
    Likes Received:
    180
    Or just stay wired.
     
  16. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2000
    Messages:
    10,407
    Media:
    40
    Likes Received:
    231
    Gender:
    Male
    Some of the consumer-oriented ones come with a card of numerical encryption keys that are unique.
     
  17. Topken

    Topken Elven-dragon wizard

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2008
    Messages:
    442
    Likes Received:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    BTA that is good to hear.
     
  18. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 7, 2005
    Messages:
    3,015
    Media:
    47
    Likes Received:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    Never use the default passwords outside of a test environment.
     
  19. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    Well, the whole reason I got a router in the first place was because of my wife's Kindle Fire purchase. You must have a router in order to download apps, there is no USB connection.
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2012
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.