Member Avatar for wesleygolf

I have a laptop upstairs connected to a linksys router and a PC downstairs working off the laptop upstairs. I just purchased a new PC to set up in another room and am not sure what i need to do to get it online. I have never had a 3rd computer so am not sure what to do. We use DSL for internet service if that helps. Please advise. Thank you

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Short expert summary tied to the existing posts: described a laptop upstairs on a Linksys and a downstairs PC “working off” that laptop; correctly noted that joining the same wireless network is the usual path. A small but important first step is to confirm whether the downstairs PC is talking directly to the router or is using the laptop as a gateway (Internet Connection Sharing or an ad-hoc link). The required actions differ depending on that detail.

A quick way to confirm (Windows example) is to inspect the adapter information and default gateway:

C:\> ipconfig /all

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.102
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

If the Default Gateway matches the router LAN IP (commonly 192.168.x.1) the machine is using the router. If the Default Gateway equals the laptop's IP, the laptop is acting as the gateway.

If the router is the network hub, useful next steps are: locate the router SSID and wireless key (label on the router or the router admin page), verify the router’s DHCP lease range, and check for spare LAN ports (an inexpensive unmanaged switch adds wired ports). If the laptop is currently sharing its connection, moving all clients onto the router simplifies routing and avoids double-NAT problems; where wireless coverage is weak, consider a repeater, powerline adapter, or relocating the router.

Troubleshooting checklist: confirm wireless drivers are current; set the adapter to obtain IP automatically; temporarily test with a wired connection to isolate radio/range issues; check the router’s DHCP lease table for the new device; ensure the network uses Infrastructure mode (not Ad-hoc); prefer WPA2-PSK (or stronger) and change the router admin password. Router model and the OS of the clients are the most useful details for deeper diagnosis.

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Member Avatar for John A

You should have the following setup already:

  • A phone line is connected to the DSL modem. (obviously)
  • The ethernet cable from the DSL modem is hooked into the Linksys router's "WAN" port.
  • The other 2 computers are connected to the router, either by ethernet, or wirelessly.

If the setup I said above is working, adding a 3rd computer should be as easy as plugging the ethernet cable in between the router and the computer, or if it's wireless, selecting the network.

Hope this helps

Member Avatar for wesleygolf

You should have the following setup already:

  • A phone line is connected to the DSL modem. (obviously)
  • The ethernet cable from the DSL modem is hooked into the Linksys router's "WAN" port.
  • The other 2 computers are connected to the router, either by ethernet, or wirelessly.

If the setup I said above is working, adding a 3rd computer should be as easy as plugging the ethernet cable in between the router and the computer, or if it's wireless, selecting the network.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the info. How do i find out how to select the right network. I have tried doing a few things but am not sure how to find it. It is wireless.

Member Avatar for John A

Thanks for the info. How do i find out how to select the right network. I have tried doing a few things but am not sure how to find it. It is wireless.

I'm assuming that the laptop you have is Wi-Fi enabled, or else you should worry about getting a wireless card first. Anyway, there's usually a wireless icon in the Windows system tray. Expand the tray if necessary, and double-click on the icon that shows wireless. In there, you should be able to see any available networks, so select the SSID that matches your router's.

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