I am not a computer genius.
I recently purchased a laptop and tried using the 802.11 wireless near
a wireless router.  It did not get me online. Question:  How do I
operate
the wireless function on this computer? The computer is a Toshiba L-25
non pentium.  I am sure the answer is extremely simple.  I assumed I could
be near a wireless router and as long as the computer was hooked to a phone
line there would not be a problem. I assumed wrong.

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 28 Jan 2006 15:53 PST

Do you mean a telephone line as opposed to an ethernet cable that
plugs into the router? Does your laptop have a built in receiver of
wireelss connection?

Hi Brenher,

   First, do you have a highspeed internet connection? If you do, one needs a
wireless network adapter card, that plugs into your laptop, or a
laptop with a built in wireless receiver. If your laptop is a Toshiba
Satellite L25-S119, it is equipped with a built in wireless connection
and an Intel Celeron processor.

  Next, your cable modem is plugged into the router with an ethernet
cable (usually blue, but can be gray).

  Then your desktop can be plugged (if you have one) into the router,
and your laptop can receive internet service. You may need to
configure your laptop in order to receive the internet service. Be
sure your wireless router has its antennas pointing up, or only
slightly angled.



This Microsoft site will help you  configure the laptop:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

Here is PC World's version as well:
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,102461,00.asp

Once  you get it going, you do not need to be near the wireless
router, but you can move about the house! You do not need telephone
cords or phone jacks for this, but ethernet cables.

Let me know how this works! Please request an Answer Clarification if
you need additional help. I'll be gld to help further, before you rate
this answer.

Good luck! Sincerely, Crabcakes

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Request for Answer Clarification by brentjer-ga on 28 Jan 2006 23:18 PST

Crabcakes-Ga

Thanks for the info so far.
I will be back near the DSL tomorrow -I will try your suggestion. 
Home is not High speed just dial up
The lab top is L25-S1193 w/ 802.11 wireless.
I was using a telephone line.  Didn't think about hooking up the ethernet.

It appears I was REALLY wrong about how to handle the Wireless situation.
I will let you know how it works.  Thanks again.

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Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 29 Jan 2006 05:49 PST

Hi again Brentjer,

   According to the following website, you can use a wireless router
with dial-up. This site even tells you how.
One caveat: "Not all broadband routers support external modems; look
for those that feature RS-232 serial ports."
http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wireless/f/wlansharedialup.htm

Regards, Crabcakes

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Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 29 Jan 2006 05:59 PST

I also found this, which mentions the same product recommended in the
previous link:
" It's funny: Sometimes I forget that not everybody has the luxury of
a high-speed Internet connection, and it seems that I'm not alone.
Most vendors don't even make dial-up routers anymore. The few that do
use them primarily as a backup in case the broadband connection goes
down. In fact, the last time somebody asked me a question like this I
couldn't even find any new products to recommend. The only ones I was
familiar with (the ZoomAir IG-4165 Wireless Internet Gateway and the
SMC Barricade Wireless Router) were already several years old.

Coincidently, a few days before I received your question a colleague
of mine pointed out a product that's perfect for your situation. It's
called the WiFlyer ? it's a dial-up/broadband portable access point
from a company called Always On Wireless Inc..

About the size of a large PDA, the WiFlyer is designed to be used as
an access point providing your network access to a dial-up Internet
account. Just as a router does for broadband, the WiFlyer provides
Internet access for all of the PCs in your workgroup without the need
to configure complicated software. And unlike Microsoft's Internet
Connection Sharing (ICS), a dedicated PC doesn't need to remain on at
all times. It supports the 802.11b standard and has an internal
antenna along with an antenna port for an external antenna (not
included). While it's not as fast as its 802.11g brethren, it's more
than adequate for the average user."
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/3482466

I'm afraid I was a guilty as the author of the comment above!!! I
don't even think in terms of dial-up any longer! Good Luck!