[sistergoldenhair]

The place I'm moving to has a wireless connection.<br><br>
I have an ancient desktop PC (runs Windows XP) with some USB ports.<br><br>
What do I buy?<br><br>
(Other than a new laptop which is not currently feasible.)

 

[runningINnyc]

Wireless card for an ethernet port on your PC

 

[sistergoldenhair]

Is that something I can plug in?

 

[intensebeet]

You can get wireless dongles that plug right into your USB ports. They're pretty cheap and work alright.

 

[runningINnyc]

Oh crap, I was thinking of the cards for a laptop. Let me regroup here for a sec...

 

[sistergoldenhair]

That's what I want!<br><br>
Office Max and Wal-Mart are the only stores here where I can shop for such things. Or is there a good online place to look?

 

[OakDawg]

This, or one of its brethren, is what you're looking for. Wal-mart has these too.<br><br><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&tag=kickrunners-20&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLinksys-WUSB54G-Wireless-G-USB-Adapter%2Fdp%2FB00009X6PH" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WUSB54.../dp/B00009X6PH</a>

 

[runningINnyc]

Sorry to mislead SGH, I'm stuck on stooopid today. Ugh.

 

[sistergoldenhair]

It is very pretty ... but certified for Windows Vista. I have old skool XP.

 

[sistergoldenhair]

I seriously doubt that. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[intensebeet]

Both of those probably have them. I think I got one for the old PC we have at Best Buy.

 

[OakDawg]

There are versions, that look the same, that are for XP. The important things to know are what type of network are you connecting to? Wireless-B is older and slower, Wireless-G is typical and Wireless-N, I believe, is the latest.

 

[RunsTheBitterroot]

Sistergh, I got mine at Wallmarts for my older PC. I your computer has USB it probably also has an ethernet connector which is what I used to hook to the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router. I think I paid about 40 bucks for it. It is easy to hook up and setup is easy. The model number is WRT54GS. This may have been discontinued in favor of the wireless-n which is probably the same price. I compared prices with the other Big Box stores and found Wallmarts prices were best at the time. Good Luck, Larry

 

[maccabeth]

Question- if you don't have a laptop, why do you need wifi internet? Are you using someone else's internet connection? Otherwise, just connect with a hard wired connection. Wireless is when you don't want to be tethered to a cord/wall. If it's a PC, then you are already tethered, thus making wifi unnecessary.

 

[RunsTheBitterroot]

I hooked up wifi to my desktop so that I could access it anywhere from my laptop. Also I wanted to use the desktop as sort of a server when I get my Satillite internet hooked up and be able to access that anywhere in the house without being tied to a wire. I can also use the wifi to sync to my zune mp3 player. Lots of reasons to have wifi in the house. Larry

 

[CoyoteMark]

Hi SGH!<br><br>
A) Are you moving into a place that already has WiFi?<br><br>
-Or-<br><br>
B) Are you thinking about upgrading your current wired connection to WiFi?<br><br><br>
If A, then the device that OakDawg suggested is sufficient.<br><br>
If B, then I agree with Beth that a wired connection is sufficient for your desktop. If you want to set up the wireless so that you can also use a laptop, then you will need <i>multiple</i> devices:<br>
1) A WiFi hub/router connected to your DSL or Cable Modem.<br>
2) A WiFi transceiver for each computer that you want to connect to the network- one such as OakDawg mentions. Usually these days laptops already have WiFi transceivers built in.<br><br>
What ever you get make sure that it comes with Windows XP drivers- almost all of them should.<br><br>
Cheers!<br>
Mark