Do i actually need a wireless router?

So, you already have a PC, and it has a wired connection to the internet?

The wire from your PC will ultimately connect either to the phone line or possibly a cable modem if you have cable.

Possibly the connection to the phone line is via a modem, but it's more likely to be a router.

If there is just a cable from the PC to the phone socket, then the PC has an internal modem.

Tragically, as your existing connection is wired, it may be that your existing router (or cable modem) does not support wireless. That is, there is no hardware present that will allow wireless devices to connect. Or it may be that your router/cable modem does support wireless - what are the model details?

You most definitely will require something in your network to which your laptop can connect wirelessly - but it may be that you already have such a device...

A USB dongle for your existing computer would enable sharing of files/data between the laptop and the PC, I believe that allowing a piggy back of the internet connection might be more easily achieved by use of a wireless access point... The card on the first scan link below is only £5.84, but does require a free PCI-e slot.

Wireless routers start at only £15 or so, and connection will be much more straightforward than some half-assed access point connection, trust me.

The cheaper wireless routers will support up to 802.11g rather than n, but that's going to be a considerable improvement over an access point, which would require that the PC be always on - at least, when you wanted internet access on the laptop.

Cheaper wireless routers do not include a modem, so they would sit between your existing modem and PC. More expensive modem routers include firewalls and other functionality I'll not pretend to understand...

Hope this helps.

PC World talk crap: I know, I used to work there. If a dongle couldn't transmit, it wouldn't be able to connect to a network at all.

You want Bridged Connections. This approach may be a bit cheaper, but it means you always need your PC switched on, and not in standby. This is a hassle, and it will cost you a lot more in power bills than a wireless router. Is it really worth this roundabout approach?

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Is your PC windows 7? then you can use a program called CONNECTIFY to send your internet connection toward you laptop, if not then you are stuck with a router like the rest of us

Ehm..

If you need to download Connectify you can get it here for free http://j.mp/UfoMNS

It works like a charm.

Have a nice day

Well

I downloaded Connectify for free here http://bitly.com/UfpdHQ

It's a good free solution.

Bye Bye

depends which dongle and provider some allow shared use . go 2 O2 see spec.