Genealogy Chat

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I want to share a broadband connection between two computers. Wanadoo Wireless and Talk seems quite attractive. Has anybody experience of using it? Is it easy to set up? Any extras to buy? Any snags?

Hi Brian, I am with Wanadoo but I took a whole day to fix a modem router through to my sons bedroom so he could play online games. THEN I got a new pc and to be honest I havent got round to the hassle of reconnecting this router thing for him so we are sharing this one pc in my office. SO I am seriously thinking about the wireless option, though I dont need the free phone calls as I am with Talk Talk option 3 that gives me ALL phone calls to landlines free day and night. If you go to wanadoos home page you can see a link for the wireless option and read through it. It sounds easy - bung a connector into your plug and thats it basically. It seems to be giving you an extra phone line? Ive emailed them for an explanation in words of one syllable. Why dont you do the same?

I use Wanadoo wireless. Setting up the wireless box is straightforward, then you use a CD in your computer to set up the workstations, and attach via the (one) supplied dongle. If you want to attach a second pc (we have two laptops), you either need to do one via ethernet (wire - supplied) connection, or use a pc/laptop that already has wireless on board, or buy another dongle or a wireless card. Initially I bought a wireless card (Belkin) for my OHs laptop. Got it set up ok, but it used to drop out a lot. I was given a spare wanadoo dongle, so now use that. My laptop is wireless, I can see that the wireless is working, but I cannot connect it to the Wanadoo box, so still use a dongle. Other people I know have reported that it is sometimes difficult to get other adapters to work with Wanadoo. Service is generally ok, but sometime I have to reboot (unplug from power!) the wireless box because of dropouts - when it's stable, it's fine, but now and then it's a real pain. Last thing - if you don't want it, you do not need to register and pay (£4) for the 'talk' bit - just don't set it up when prompted by the install.

Thanks Penny, that's really useful. Do you only get one 'dongle' supplied, so you need to buy a second for two computers to shate the connection?. My need initially is for two desktop computers. But I also have a laptop. Does that mean you can plug a laptop in via a cable rather than wireless? My laptop is a rather ancient Compaq 1230, so an adaptor card may be unobtainable/expensive.

Thanks Penny, I dont really understand all the 'dongle' talk (I AM a lady) but the bit about not having the talk option is good. We have talk talk which gives us landlines free 24/7 (well £7.99 pm). O However, 19 year old son doesnt recognise the difference between LAND lines and MOBILE so we last month had talk talk ring up to let us know he had run up £100 on mobile calls in that month and they barred the line. I really dont want him having the option of another phone line which we have no control over. Thats good. Just got to get me head round the dongles bit now. I thought you plugged in a little triangle think at your socket and that was it??? Having reread yours, I understand a bit better. When you say adding a second puter, you in effect mean a second on top of the home computer and one other. So I wouldnt need the extra dongle would I.

When you order the wireless you get one dongle (sorry, they call it an adapter, it's me using techy speak!) which is a usb connector on a bit of wire with a silver 'thingy' on the end. you also get supplied with a length of ethernet cable. You can chose to connect via the ethernet cable, only of use if your wireless box is set up near by to your pc, and not technically wireless!, which then gives you the adapter to use on a second pc or laptop. If you dont want to use ethernet, and you want to have two wireless pcs/laptops, you will need to find another way of connecting. Some laptops, if newish, have wireless in them already, and you should, in theory, be able to use this to connect to Wanadoo, but I cannot connect my laptop in that way, and I think the problem is the Wanadoo end. Or you can buy a wireless card (about £30-40) that goes in the PC card slot. As I said, I bought a Belkin for OH, and that worked ok.

Sorry, jusr re-read your questions. I should add that I have only done the installs on PCs using Windows XP ( and poss one Win 98), I would think that anything before that would be problematic, because older op systems were not geared up to run wireless. A check on the Wanadoo site should clear that up. Also, the install of the wanadoo box is just a connector into your phone socket (any yes, it can be run on a extention lead, if that makes life easier), into which you plug your regualr phone. The box runs on a wire from the connector, and needs to be able to plug into power (natch, but easy to forget!). If you use Ethernet, it runs from the box to your PC, otherwise nothing else is connected to the box, it just sits there glowing at you. Siting is important, as walls or equipment like fridges etc, have potential to disrupt the signal.

My desktops are on W2000, the laptop on W98.

Just nudging- I really don't want to lose this - 'im downstairs' and I are about to tread a similar path! Rosi

Sorry, jusr re-read your questions. I should add that I have only done the installs on PCs using Windows XP ( and poss one Win 98), I would think that anything before that would be problematic, because older op systems were not geared up to run wireless. A check on the Wanadoo site should clear that up. Also, the install of the wanadoo box is just a connector into your phone socket (any yes, it can be run on a extention lead, if that makes life easier), into which you plug your regualr phone. The box runs on a wire from the connector, and needs to be able to plug into power (natch, but easy to forget!). If you use Ethernet, it runs from the box to your PC, otherwise nothing else is connected to the box, it just sits there glowing at you. Siting is important, as walls or equipment like fridges etc, have potential to disrupt the signal.

am on phone to them now. guy has gone to find out if playstation can run on this. He said i would still have to pay the 4 quid even if i dont use phone bit. still waiting ............................ Oh well, Im signed up guys, £4 a month (free to new wanadoo customers for 6 months, what a cheek). He says it will work with the pc and playstation and I can dump it anytime if it isnt what I want. Oh dear, more pay out! Penny, keep in touch - I may need dongle info though I hope not.

Brian, you signed up yet!? Son just came in and said 'Oh it will be duff.' Great. Well there isnt a contract so I can always dump it after a month.

Not at the moment: I'm supposed to be working!

Wanadoo man tucked you up - you do not need to subscribe to talk!

Well Penny I said I dont want the talk bit, he said dont plug a phone in it and you wont have it! But I said so I wont have to pay the £4 and he said, oh yes you still have to pay. So is he wrong? I notice on the small print it says something about if you dont connect up they reserve the right to connect you up anyway???? 'You need to complete all parts of Wireless and Talk registration by activating the Talk part of your account. If you don't manage to activate within the first 20 days of registering for the Wireless & Talk service, we reserve the right to do this for you.'

All I did was sign up online for wireless (I already had Broadband), the sent the stuff, I installed via the CD, and the very last bit takes you to the Wanadoo website to register for Talk, which I aborted. I only pay the monthly charge, no extra £4, so unless they have changed things, he was wrong!

I already have theire most expensive broadband option but it looks like they are trying to tie you in to getting £4 a month anyway! See the para above that is on their website about activating the talk bit - cheek isnt it. Ive mailed them.

I initially had the top of the range one, but unless you are downloading big files or videos it's not necessary. I downgraded to the £17.99 a month and noticed no difference.

Thing is Brian, teenage son plays these on line war games onhis playstation through the net and I think they have to have the dearest option unfortunately.