network help: I don’t understand why I have to plug a wireless router up to a pc for it work. - Help.com

I’m not at the system right now, but yes…I did have an IP adr (I ran the ipconfig). I tried to ping 3 things…the IP adr, the gateway, and then google.com. It wouldn’t ping the gateway and google.

Also, I don’t know now after thinking about it, if the modem we have is a cable modem from our cable company or a broadband modem…OR if thats the same thing then yeah I’m dumb.

Let me mention that I’m not the owner of the router, and I don’t really speak to the person who owns it. So that is another obstacle…i’m trying to figure this out from the outside looking in. I do have the desktop that the router was originally plugged into, because I’m trying to fix some viruses. Also, if I need to unplug/plug back up the router or modem, I can do that no big deal.

Mills - you say I shouldn’t have to worry about ethernet cables? Could you expand upon this, because if thats the case, then what FDSLFJDSAK is getting at is probably where the solution will be found…

Hmm…about the 2 cables plugged into the pc…a guy at best buy asked me why the heck I had cable internet and wireless internet, and told me we were wasting money.
Afterwards, I thought ok lets get rid of the cable internet and save that 40 bucks a month.

But now, I think I’m starting to understand that there has to be SOME KIND of internet being provided from SOMEWHERE, right???
So if we get rid of the modem we got from the cable company, what will the router plug into to get the internet, right??? I guess my idea of wireless was that if we got a router and plugged into the power outlet, that POOF! magically the router would pull the internet out of its little shiny behind.

So ok…am I correct to say that I have to have:

1. someone supplying the internet service, like comcast, cox, maricopa broadband..etc.?

2. a modem to plug the router into?

3. a pc THAT HAS TO STAY PUT to plug the modem AND the router into?

3. a comfortable chair and ear plugs so that I can work in the croweded and noisy loft that the desktop pc with the stuff plugged up to HAS to stay in???

Is there an alternative to this?

And more importantly, have we gotten to the bottom of my problem…that I can access a network but can’t use the web???

Thanks you guys, I need help like crazy with this.

“I’m going to strongly assume that the “cable internet” is the internet comapany providing your internet service through the actual coaxial cable, which is connected directly to the modem itself. Once connected to the modem, you can access the internet from the modem solely, if you attach an ethernet cable from the modem to the pc.” - ABSOLUTELY. There was no problem with anything before we took the desktop away.

“But once you introduce a router and connect it by ethernet cable to the modem, then and only then is you pc able to operate off of the router by a “wireless connection.” But your pc has to have either a wireless internet card or a wireless network adaptor in order to recognize the router and support the internet wirelessly.” - The desktop was always hooked up to the modem. Not until I moved it into my room to work with it comfortably did I purchase a USB network adapter. I am not sure if there is an internal wireless card or not. Its an older (over 4 yrs old) Gateway pc, so prob not. And yes, the router was hooked up to the modem and the pc, and all was well on each of the 4 computers in the house. (as well as a Wii, a DS, and a PSP)

“The modem is the essence of your internet. The router is only responsible for connecting your pc directly to a network without as many wires.” - So the modem is still the head guy in charge, and the router is only saying “Hey, you other pcs want in?” The router lets the other computers connect to the modem wirelessly, instead of having everyone sit in the same room at a table awkwardly trying to look at pics of Beyonce and Jessica Alba without everyone seeing? If it weren’t for the router, we’d all have to hook our computers up to the desktop…or the modem?

So lets see if I got it:

The cable company is how we get internet. Period. They provide the service. And without that, there is no net access at all. It ‘cooks the chili’.

The modem is where the internet comes from. Its the ‘big pot’ of chili.

The router is just something that allows other computers to use the net…the server of the chili so the computers don’t have to get up and sit next to the pot with a spoon and eat directly out of the pot.

And in order for the modem and router to work with eachother, they not only need to be plugged into eachother, but also into the pc (the desktop in my case). And the pc serves as…the chili coordinator, who sets up how the chili is distributed to the laptops??? This is where I’m getting confused. What role does the desktop play in all this???

“So your router is not serving its purpose if it doesn’t allow your other laptops to access the internet.” - It was before. We took the desktop out. And it ain’t now. No one can do anything except connect to the wireless network. There is a printer that I put on the network (don’t remember how i did that), and we can all still print to it while we’re connected to the network. Don’t know if that info means anything, just thought I’d throw it in there.

(I’m at work, that’s why its taking me a while to respond)

Ok so the desktop is not important. The router being plugged up to the desktop is not important. The modem being plugged up to the desktop is not important.

Am I correct?

If so, then is it safe to say that I have some kind of configuration problem?

I’m leaving work now, and of course I don’t have the net available at home, however I’d appreciate if you could still get back to me on this, and we could pick it up next week?

I do plan to go to a couple guys that I know who know their stuff over the weekend. If I solve the problem, I’ll post it so maybe someone else who is going through similar drama can be informed. I greatly appreciate your help so far, Mills and anyone else who has or will offer anything else.

What is so frustrating is that we all were doing just fine with the web a couple days ago. Now this. And it just seems like the desktop is the culprit because NOTHING else has changed on any other front. Unless…the owner of the router screwed with some setting unaware of they were doing, which is quite possible.

So, I guess another question to tack on here would be: Not being the owner of the router, is there ANYTHING I can do on my laptop OR the desktop (configuration wise) that will fix this???

Again, thanks!

Well now.

What is the first thing we always do when a gadget ain’t working right? Turn it off. Then turn it back on.

Yeah, Mills. It was that simple. LOL!!!

Sorry for making you THINK. All I did was turn everything off and disconnect it all, then plug it back up! Oh man. I guess a future in computers isn’t gonna happen for me! I’ll stick to the chili:)

Thanks, though. You have opened my understanding to wireless networking now. Take care!