router or usb adapter for gaming on my laptop??

Question

hi, i am a kid (so plz try to make things clear for me). I have a laptop upstairs which is about 3 years old. I have a desktop comp. downstairs which has wireless internet on it and a usb wireless adapter hooked onto it. i plan to play online games on my laptop and i was wondering if i needed a wireless router or a wireless usb adapter to connect to my wireless int. downstairs?

Answer 1

You can connect to the same router as the downstairs desktop. You need either a USB adapter for your laptop or a PCMCIA card (slot in side of laptop) if you don't have built in wireless



If your wireless is encrypted, you will need to key before you can connect your laptop to it.



So, go get an adapter or wireless PCMCIA, connect to your laptop and then try to connect. Windows may detect the wireless signal once you connect the adapter or card to it.



If it prompts you for a key, enter it and you should be able to connect.

Answer 2

You need not to get another wireless router. Just check if your laptop has a built-in wireless adapter. Go to My computer, click on Hardware, Click on Device Manager, under Network Adapter, look for something that says "802.11 or wlan" adapter. If it has then well and good. If none, then you need to get a PCI mini wireless card. Install the driver that came with the cd installer. Once you have successfully installed the driver, Go to Network Connections, and check if you have now "Wireless Network Connections" Then you're way to go wireless connections.

Answer 3

If your downstairs computer is already connected wireless, then that means you already have a wireless access point / router.

You simply need a USB or PCMCIA wireless connection card for your laptop. connect it to your wireless router as your downstairs computer is, and you are in bizness.