How to move from Ethernet to wireless?

Topic

New Reply

We have just moved to Central America from the US. I had previously used ethernet and had a ISP and had no trouble accessing the internet from any of my 5 computers. Also, the network worked fine. Now in C.A., I have a Mi-Fi and my laptop and tablet have no trouble connecting to it and the internet.

This is my first experience with wireless. My main computer says it doesn’t see any connections. First question – do I need a router? If not, how do I get my computer to see the Mi-Fi? Using Windows 7 Professional. Network adapter is: Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller.

When I try the network troubleshooter, it tells me to connect the ethernet cable. No wireless option shows.

Thanks,
Sheila

Reply | Quote

Replies

What do you mean by “my main computer” is this a desktop? With desktops, 99% of the time they only have ethernet ports to connect to the router. From what I’ve read in your post you only have the Verizon Mi-Fi and to connect to that the devices need to have a wireless adapter installed, which you laptop and tablet have. Now you need a wireless adapter for you desktop to connect to the Mi-Fi…any wireless dongle should work but not totally sure. You’ll need to contact Verizon if there is a specific dongle needed for your desktop.

Reply | Quote

My main computer is a desktop. There is a second desktop that I will also need to connect, but have not set that one up yet.

Are you saying that my currect adaptor (Network adapter is: Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller) cannot be used for wireless? If so, can I get a wireless router that I can cable to the Realtek? Is this a possible solution? Or do I have to get a completely different adaptor?

I’m grasping at straws here since I don’t know anything about wireless.

Reply | Quote

Shelia,

You need to check out your Network Connections to see if your computer’s controller has Wireless. I have a Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller and a Dell Wireless adapter in mine. Open up the Network & Sharing Center -> Change adapter settings to see what adapters are installed.
37128-NetConn
If you don’t see a Wi-Fi controller then you have to purchase either a add-on board that goes inside your computer or a USB Wi-Fi dongle which you just plug into a USB port. Here’s anarticle with a selection of both types. HTH :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

The only adapter showing is the Realtek – which seems to mean I have to get a second adapter (wireless). When you say a USB Wi-Fi dongle, I’m guessing that means that my Mobile Wi-Fi doesn’t provide the same thing as the dongle you are talking about?

If that is true, then since I am not in the US, I’ll have to find an adapter here (Belize, Central America).

Thanks,
Sheila

Reply | Quote

The only adapter showing is the Realtek – which seems to mean I have to get a second adapter (wireless). When you say a USB Wi-Fi dongle, I’m guessing that means that my Mobile Wi-Fi doesn’t provide the same thing as the dongle you are talking about?

If that is true, then since I am not in the US, I’ll have to find an adapter here (Belize, Central America).

Thanks,
Sheila

For a WiFi connection, you need a wireless adapter in BOTH the desktop computers and the MyFi, and you only have it in the MyFi. A wireless adapter which plugs into a USB port on the desktops would be the simplest solution for you.

Reply | Quote

Thank you – I’ll get one today for my desktop.:o

Reply | Quote

do I need a router?

The mi-fi device is your router. The only thing you need, as stated previously, is a wireless adapter for your desktop computer.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote

Thanks to all – I purchased a USB wireless adapter (Linskys) and am now connected.

Sheila

Reply | Quote

Just an FYI, but you could have also bought a wireless access point. It looks like a wireless router, but instead of sourcing the wifi, it receives it and then has ethernet ports to connect your device. The advantage is they usually have 4 ethernet ports and can connect several devices simultaneously (like blu-ray, roku, tv, and desktop.)

Reply | Quote

I like the wireless access point solution better because she mentioned that she has more than one desktop.
Had she used this option, her other desktop(s) could be connected (Ethernet), and no dongles needed.
Too late now (unless Sheila can return the dongle and get a wireless access point device instead), but this may benefit future users needing help.

Reply | Quote

Sh,

The dongle is to give her computer wireless capability (it was not builtin) without it there is no way she could connect wirelessly. HTH :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

Now that I can connect each of my computers wirelessly to the internet via the mi-fi, I can connect them to each other (2 at a time) with ethernet cables. It would be nice to connect all 3 at once, though. Is there a router that can do this with my current set up?

Sheila

Reply | Quote

Now that I can connect each of my computers wirelessly to the internet via the mi-fi, I can connect them to each other (2 at a time) with ethernet cables. It would be nice to connect all 3 at once, though. Is there a router that can do this with my current set up?

Sheila

If you want to connect the three to each other, all you need is a “switch”, not a router. Here is one which would be fine for connecting the three computers to each other:
http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/switches/FS605.aspx#tab-techspecs

Each computer would simply plug into the switch using an ethernet cable; the switch would manage all of the communication between the computers. There is no simpler way to do it.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote

What am I missing here? With all computers connected to the same wireless router, can’t they be used as a workgroup, with file and printer sharing, etc.?

Reply | Quote

What am I missing here? With all computers connected to the same wireless router, can’t they be used as a workgroup, with file and printer sharing, etc.?

My thought, too. Unless these MiFi devices use some non-standard routing setup, there should be no need for anything else hardware-wise.

Reply | Quote

What am I missing here? With all computers connected to the same wireless router, can’t they be used as a workgroup, with file and printer sharing, etc.?

Precisely. The computers are connecting to the router so need only to be set up to connect to each other.

See Microsoft’s white paper “Windows 7 and HomeGroup Downlevel Sharing” for full info on how to do this, at:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17168

You don’t need to read the entire document, just the sections applicable to your setup.

Reply | Quote

If you want to connect the three to each other, all you need is a “switch”, not a router. Here is one which would be fine for connecting the three computers to each other:
http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/switches/FS605.aspx#tab-techspecs

Each computer would simply plug into the switch using an ethernet cable; the switch would manage all of the communication between the computers. There is no simpler way to do it.

Pointless and probably unworkable. The “Mi-Fi” router would need at least one ethernet port to connect a cable to the switch. The *only* slight advantage would be very slighty less delay when initiating connections (not worth the inconvenience of having to mess with cables).

Reply | Quote

I live in the UK and use a ‘3’ network Mi-Fi – a Huawei E586. It’s my second Mi-Fi and now my only internet connection, as I’ve discontinued my expensive land-line.

It can connect up to 5 devices by wi-fi (wireless), although the newer Mi-Fi devices can connect up to 10 devices. They do not require a ‘switch’.

I use 2 x Win 7 laptops, an iPad, a Galaxy Note II and my wife also has her laptop. My phone is an iPhone and I also have a connection to my satellite (Sky) TV box.

More recently I bought a RAVPower after I came across this forum:-

It’s for those who play hide-and-seek with their GPSrs, but also of interest for more technical users.

Android devices can be difficult to connect with, but iThings are even worse. The ‘RAVPower FileHub’ could be the answer. I’m so convinced of what I’ve read about this device that I ordered one from here:-

It costs £30. It is a complex device with Wi-Fi connect-ability. It has an SD Card Reader and USB connector for hard drives or USB sticks. It also has a 3Ah battery – it’s prime function, as it’s intended to charge a cellphone.

The Amazon page provides plenty of information as does the forum with a few links.

So I can now connect by wi-fi SD cards, USB memory sticks and USB hard drives, to all my devices, without the use of my Mi-Fi. As it has a USB connector, I can plug-in a card reader for CF cards etc. The RAVPower can also connect to my Mi-Fi, so then all devices connected to it, also have internet access.

It has no charger supplied, as it has another USB connector for connecting to any power source. i.e. it has a ‘host controller’ and a ‘device’ connector.

Reply | Quote

I wonder if doing printer and computer sharing via the Verizon Mifi would incur data charges. It would be something to look into.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote

I wonder if doing printer and computer sharing via the Verizon Mifi would incur data charges. It would be something to look into.

File and Printer Sharing between computers connected to the same network *does not* ordinarily involve accessing the Internet, so data charges are not involved.

Reply | Quote

I’m going to test that. I hope there isn’t any data charge. As for the switch, how does this work – does it just pick up the wireless from the mi-fi? The Mi-Fi has nothing for a switch to connect to.

I will mention that without either an ethernet or crossover cable, the computers could not see each other. They did need those cables!

Reply | Quote

I’m going to test that. I hope there isn’t any data charge. As for the switch, how does this work – does it just pick up the wireless from the mi-fi? The Mi-Fi has nothing for a switch to connect to.

I will mention that without either an ethernet or crossover cable, the computers could not see each other. They did need those cables!

With a switch, all you need to do is to plug each computer into the switch using a standard (not crossover) ethernet cable. The switch manages the connection for you, and that’s why you don’t need crossover cable. And it is wired, not wireless.

Obviously, you will need to have an available ethernet jack on each of the computers in order to do this. But it sounds like you have that, because you are using a wireless connection on each computer to connect to the mifi.

By connecting them all to the internet through the Mifi, you may already be able to share printers, etc, among the computers. But maybe not. If it is at all complicated to share printers, etc, among the computers via the mifi connection, then the simplest way BY FAR to share them is to plug each computer into a switch using standard ethernet cables. There is absolutely nothing to configure; you literally just plug them in and then share the resources among the computers.

The price is extremely low. You can pick up a basic switch at Wal-mart for around $25.00. You can get CAT-5 or CAT-5e ethernet cable (CAT-5e is the faster of the two) for about $7 per cable at Wal-mart.

Wired is always simpler and faster than wireless; and that’s why I go with wired when I can easily go either way. With a switch, you are wired, not wireless.

** Important **

I just reread your original post. You stated that you have five computers. Most switches have five ports, but I believe that you can use only four for the type of sharing I have described above. You may be able to use the fifth port with a crossover cable, thereby connecting all five computers via the switch.

Also, if not all computers are in the same room, you will have difficulties due to the fact that you are connecting them all with wire rather than via wireless.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote