So the router sends a signal to the laptop??Does the laptop need anything more than the wireless card to recieve the signal??And where would I get a wireless router from??
Noni,
Briefly, routers do just what their name implies. They route data between two or more different networks. Your Cable/DSL/Satellite modem will be assigned an IP address by your ISP and the modem will become part of their public network.
Your modem will plug into your router and the router will place you on a separate, private network with a private IP. It will then route data between these two networks. So you can see that a router is important because it actually acts as a rudimentary type of firewall.
Example:
Cable modem ----> (Public IP 67.116.205.0) -----> Router -----> (Private IP 192.168.10.1) -----> Noni's computer(s) ----> (Private IP(s) 192.168.10.X)
Sombody called it a "Splitter" but this is really the function of a Switch. Most home routers have this function built into them as well; that is to say they usually have at least four ports on the private side so several devices can communicate with each other and with the internet.
Wireless routers not only have ports on the private side, they also broadcast and receive a radio signal as well. Depending upon the size of your house and property, this signal could very well blanket some of your neighbor's houses.
Any computer with a wireless network adapter within range will be able to recieve this signal.
For this reason it's important that you take advantage of the fact that wireless routers allow you to encrypt the signal with a key (Think of it as a password) that only you know. Other people will still be able to receive the signal, but without the key, your router will ignore them. This is where most people that are new to networking get confused.
But I'm sure there's plenty of people here that would be willing to walk you through it. (I know I would.)
Wireless routers can be purchased at just about any consumer electronics store (e.g. Circuit City, Radio Shack, Fry's Electronics, Best Buy, etc.)
You can also buy them from online electronics stores like New Egg, Amazon, etc.
I don't have a wireless router myself (I have a commercial setup with an Adtran router and wireless access point) but I've heard good things about the Lynksys wireless router. It's certainly one of the most common ones out there.
