Internet router

[Nick]

Okay so basically I am hopeless at computers and I was wondering if anyone could help me. Today we got our internet service upgraded from Telstra ISDN Broadband to standard wireless broadband.

Previously with ISDN, our two other computers could connect to the main computer with an ethernet cable. Now that we have wireless broadband, we can no longer do this and have to purchase an internet router.

How exactly do these work in my instance? I've had a look on the internt but it doesn't really tell you much about it functionality?

[abcat]

What type of wireless broadband? (Telstra Wireless, unwired, etc.?)

[Nick]

It's Telstra Bigpond Wireless

[gfb]

You would need to purchase a wireless usb adapter to use the internet on the 2 other computers (a laptop should already have it in-built)

Enjoy wireless, it's great 

[AppleXY]

802.11n pwns all. Game over.

[excal]

Wait. Is this standard land based ADSL with a wireless router OR actual wireless internet (using 3G/HSDPA infrastructure - the stuff used in mobile phones?). However, you say that you don't have a router? So how's the internet getting into your house? Can you photograph the device (from the front and back) for us?

I'm assuming it's the former. This will have your router connected to a phone line. Basically, inside the router is a built-in modem that decodes the signal that's sent from the telephone line. This now usable data is then transmitted over radio signals to your computer. Generally laptops have an in-built receiver...but if not, you can purchase wireless adapters (either USB or PCMCIA) to receive this signal.

With the latter (3G/HSDPA), data is sent using a carrier-supplied modem over the mobile phone network.

I know I'm using the wrong terminology, but it's in the interests of keeping this away from tl;dr.

[gfb]

I just said the same thing, except in 1 sentence .

[Nick]

I bought a router today.

I'm currently trying to connect it with not much luck. The instructions say that I must connect the router to the cable/dsl modem via the ethernet cable provided. Despite this, the modem doesn't have an ethernet jack to actually put the cable in?? Can anyone help?

[Mao]

mmm what plugs can go in the wireless modem??

[excal]

What cables are currently leading out of the modem?

If there is a phone line coming out of it, you may need to ask for a return on the router and get a modem/router intsead. Do you know the authentication details of the internet connection (known as a ADSL Password / RADIUS password or PPPoA authentication).

tl;dr: photograph the back on the wireless modem and any jacks it's connected to and show us.