Wireless G or N Router Networking, Ethernet, Wireless Adaptor and Connection Issues.
 

Dear people reading this post, I have come unstuck, please help if you can.

I have a Dell Dimension 8400 PC, am currently on AOL Dialup but am about to change to Broadband and am looking in to getting a 'N' WPA enabled Wireless Router as my new Vaio Laptop supports the N series and like most new Laptops comes with built in Ethernet and Wireless facility. I am not sure if I have an Ethernet facility in my Dell PC though, (when checked in my PC’s Device Manager/ Network Adaptor’s/Properties/Driver details, I have something called nic1394.sys and also BroadcomNetxtreeme57xxgigabit controller - is the former one my Ethernet?). Can I treat it as such?

However, if that isn’t the Ethernet, then what may I do to make my non Ethernet Dell PC speak to my Wireless Router, Vaio Laptop, new X-box and USB printer that is connected to my Dell PC and our spare Netbook? Please note that, my Vaio Laptop Operating System is Windows 7 and my Dell PC O/S is Windows XP Home Addition SP2. Would I need to buy a NIC or WNIC card, if yes, will I need a technician to install it? Or would I have to buy a Wireless Adaptor for my Dell PC? I wish to make my Dell PC the main protagonist in my Home Network, as my partner has to take the Laptop when travelling (which has a separate dongle for this) – as a result of the laptop not always being stationed at home, it would be useful to have my Dell desktop PC as the main Network administrator if you will. Also the non wireless USB Printer/Scanner is connected to this PC. How do I go about this, especially as both my PC’s have different operating systems too. Or will the best option be a separate wireless adaptor for my Dell PC? Or can a Lan cable or a specific cable sort this problem out?

I’d really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions that would help me resolve this, I thank you in advance for your time.

PS: Is Wireless Router and Wireless Home Hub the same thing? And the only difference being BT’s branding hence called Home Hub? :-0

PS2: I am also guessing that I am better off with a Wireless Router rather than an Access Point?

PS3: The cheaper Broadband websites are offering the G router WAP rather than the N WAP router, I know that the latter one is better but will the G do, or am I better off with a N? Thanks.

Best wishes
Renee

Welcome to LInuxQuestions.

Your ethernet adapter is the Broadcom Netxtreeme 57xx gigabit controller. All you need to do is connect a LAN cable from your desktop to your router. You do not need to purchase a wireless adapter for your desktop unless you do not want to run a cable.
You can share printers between computers.
You want a wireless router and not just an access point (WAP). n will be faster then g. The raw numbers are 600 vs 54 Mbs.

This is not really a linux question and so have reported it to be moved to a more appropriate forum.