WiFi

[Cooldude9693]

If I want to get WiFi in my house so that I can also purchase a WL110 card, how do I get started? I use cable internet, so is there a device for this or something like that? Also, does Wifi charge for a fee if you use it at home?

[profvisor]

Then you hook the cable to the router, and the router to your desktop. The WIFI card accesses the wireless port on the router. I would recommend a Netgear router. They seem to be relatively painless. Mine was a breeze to set up and works like a charm with my NX70. It doesn't cost you anything extra, as you are already paying for the cable hookup.

[wellsjs]

The Netgear MR814 that I have is selling now for $39 after rebate at BestBuy. You will, of couse need the WL110 card, which will set you back considerably more. If you want home PCs or laptops to go wireless, you can do them for about $40-60 apiece (wireless USB device for a desktop PC, and PCMCIA card or wireless USB device for a laptop.

If you can read and follow instructions, you should have no problems setting the MR814 up. I strongly recommend after you get it working as an "open system" that you change the SSID to something unique and turn on 128 bit WEP encryption. It's not hacker proof, but one has to be pretty good and use sophisticated equipment to "break in" with it protecting your wireless network. The Netgear MR814 also provides a very good "hardware firewall" for your entire network, including your desktop PC(s).

Of course the MR814 provides 11 Mb wireless which is pretty fast, but for about $80 (at BestBuy) you can get an identical looking wireless router (not sure of the model number) that runs 54 Mb wireless, and for about $139 you can get 108 Mb wireless. PCs and laptops will need devices that run at those speeds as well. Of course they are downward compatible so your WL110 will work on the higher speed models, but only at its 11 Mb speed.