Wired to Wireless???

[Duff beer]

My friend has his internet connection through a cable from his modem. My question is can I do a straight swap and use an old Belkin modem/router I have and set up a wireless network? I cant see an issue myself in simply broadcasting his internet connection. ?????

If not how would I go about doing it? We are on different ISP's.

Thanks
DB

[Keef]

You mean so that you can access his network, or to get rid of the cable?

First, wireless isn't as fast as wired, despite all the ads. In my experience, you lose anything between 20% and 50% of the network speed that way.

Second, an "open" wireless network in a populated area invites the locals to use your network. If they use it for something illegal, you're the one who will get the knock on the door.

You need at a minimum to use WEP, and preferably WPA. If he's out in a farmhouse miles from anyone else, then an open network isn't going to be a problem.

If you have a telephone-type (ie not cable) router and his ADSL is also telephone, it should work (except with AOL which is always different). Ditto cable and cable, but not mixed.

[Duff beer]

Thanks Keef,
its so he and his family can use his laptop round the house. I would ensure it was WEP protected and if he was using it at his desk he could simply plug the ethernet cable in and revert to a quicker wired connection.

He is with talk-talk using a laptop thats older than god, I have checked and it does have a built in wireless card.

DB

[Loose rivets]

So Mr D, will one be getting a radio link to Bro's computer?

[Saab Dastard]

I cant see an issue myself in simply broadcasting his internet connection

That is, after all, the whole point, although rather badly put!! You are providing wireless access to a home network, and on that network is an internet gateway. It is not the internet connection that is being broadcast, just the SSID for the wifi network - and even that doesn't have to be broadcast.

As Keef says, encrypt the wifi. There have been loads of threads on here about all this - search the archives.

can I do a straight swap and use an old Belkin modem/router I have and set up a wireless network?

As long as the interfaces on the existing internet "modem" and the Belkin wifi router match up (e.g. RJ45 - RJ45) then there is no reason why not - assuming you configure it properly.

SD