[961]

Hi,one & all

Having been looking around for wireless system bits I seem to have acquired a,(no doubt unhealthy ),curiosity in "Dongles" which,as I understand it,enable you to make all sorts of things wireless capable.(I know there are other sorts but ,for the moment,I'm just into wireless).

Now does that mean that if you were to put one in each, say, of a PC,laptop & printer with a Router Modem they would all talk to each other or do you have to have senders & receivers or what?. (I appreciate a printer & modem wouldn't have a lot to say to each other!).

Or am I just talking a load of dongles?:D

[961]

All right-I'll keep taking the tablets!

[Dave Hybrid]

Dongles transmit and receive data, as do routers and WiFi laptops.

The thing is they need a central piece of hardware that manages them all, that is where the router comes in.

So two PCs with a WiFi dongle in each will not communicate.

[961]

So all could talk to each other provided there was a Modem Router present?

[Dave Hybrid]

Within reason.

Like you said a modem has no point talking to the printer.

But yes, correctly setup the computers will all be able to access the printer and Internet through the router and each others files.

[961]

Thanks for the help for my poor old brain-it's had a lot to do in the last 76 years!

By the way,(a bit off topic),would you tell me where I find the definitions of the little symbols you sprinkle around.

Also,Dave, I hope you don't think that by occasional flippancy,I am not giving the Forums the respect they certainly deserve-far from it!

[Dave Hybrid]

Not at all mate, carry on... :D

As for acronyms there is a article here http://www.thecomputerforums.co.uk/f...474/#post18896

[961]

Relieved my mind a bit.

Just noticed your "Within reason" caveat. As you know I'm investigating the possibility of going all laptop/printer wireless & wondered if I went down a "normal" laptop & printer,each plus a dongle, route,it might be financially acceptable to "'er indoors" if you get my drift.

Plus Router Modem of course.

I've seen that you are rather partial to ZyXEL & have been assured that a Re: ZyXEL ZyAIR G-202 Wireless USB Network Adapter 802.11g,is compatible with an Hp F380 Printer. If I also put one in a non-wireless laptop,it might be more cost effective.

I can do the sums but would value your opinion on the principle.

Thanks for your forbearance.

[Dave Hybrid]

All decent new laptops are wifi enabled so you will not need a dongle for it, you will not save anything by hunting down a model without wifi just so you can buy a dongle for it.

If you want a wireless printer get one that has wifi built in, it will be more reliable.

Dongles are basically for PCs that don't have wifi built in, you really have no need for them.

[961]

Once again,many thanks Dave.