any comp nerds in here?

I'm a nerd, but not necessarily a computer one. We don't have fios out here yet, but I don't see why it wouldn't be any different than a cable setup like the one I have... Get a modem from verizon, plug it into a wireless router, bada bing, bada boom, you're hooked up 21st century style.

The here you need a computer geek is where you are physically, not virtually. You should have computer geeks at your local Best Buy. All you need to do is get a WiFi router, which is a box with antennas that send your internet signal around to your computers.

You should have a Fios modem already. it is the box that connects the fios cable and to your computer. Basically, you just get the wifi router, plug the cable that goes from the fios modem into the wifi router, then you plug another cable from the router into the your desktop. For your laptops, you just use the wifi modem.

The really cool thing is that the geeks (not nerds) at your local Best Buy (or Staples or OfficeMax or whatever) should be able to describe exactly what you need to do. And so does the manual you get with the router.

One thing that is really important is that you want to make sure you put a password on your wifi so that other people can access your computers.

To summarize: Go to Best Buy or wherever, tell them you want a wifi router for your Fios and ask them what you need.

Jeff

Kind of sad you're recommending Best Buy when I am sure someone more local, more competent, and much cheaper can do the work.

I would look maybe on Craigslist and/or look in the phone book and call a few of your local ISP's if you have any. A lot of them do this type of work or have techs that do it on the side.

I would also recommend calling folks on Craigslist and I think you'll be far happier.

Best Buy might have recognition but their technicians are far less superior than your local neighborhood geek that likely lives within a few miles of you.

Very true, but I wouldn't be looking for up-to-date routers on Craigslist. Better yet would be to frequent a PC Club store for good advice as to the best available speed and range features among current WiFi routers.

Another possibility is to ask Verizon if they have any modems with built-in WiFi. AT&T has these for their DSL service, if you're stuck with them as your only broadband possibility. Unfortunately, DSL has only about one-tenth the speed I get on cable, but obviously far better than ISDN or dialup. I'd be surprised if Verizon didn't have something available for exchange.

Just be sure, as was pointed out earlier, to password protect your wireless. War driving is a fun past time for geeks and low-lifes wanting something for nothing.

And I would know who the local person is?

He doesn't even need a local person. The people at BestBuy and Staples will know exactly what he needs. It's matter of getting the hardware and configuring it. It's not rocket science and it's not hard to do.

If he has problems, then he can go to Craig's List. This really should be a DIY project.

And you know that their techs are less superior than the local geek how?

Jeff

OK, first off... most people enjoy supporting their local communities and unless we want Wal-Mart's, Best Buy's, and CompUsa's everywhere... we might be wise to suggest someone a little more local.

Also, like any big conglomerate they have policies that work against the consumer.

For instance, AVG is a free anti virus program that works quite well. Best Buy sells Norton. Do you think the Geek Squad is going to install AVG for FREE, or try to sell you Norton? That's right, they're going to charge $100+ for whatever they do, then another $80+ for Norton when anyone with half a clue knows ANYTHING is better than Norton.

That's just one reason of many.

Also, even if Best Buy wanted to install AVG they cannot because they're 'for profit' which throws the idea out the window. The local neighborhood tech can teach you in about 30 seconds how to A. Download things... and B.... how to install AVG and since it's for personal use and he didn't install it, it's perfectly legal for him and the consumer.

The customer also gets some one on one time, saves money, and gets the proper help they need.

And when the local tech screws up, most will come out no charge and make it right. Good luck getting that in a timely fashion from Best Buy.

Of course, you're free to support the big box stores.. but most, and myself included, would rather keep the money locally.

Correct. You probably won't find the most 'up to date' but if you want a bargain, CL would be the way to go. The Netgear WGT614 Family Version 3 supports WIRELESS G and the latest firmware should allow you to use the latest or very close to the latest encryption available. They're pretty cheap on eBay, much cheaper than at the store(s).

Of course, the advantage to the store is they provide warrantys but the chances of your Netgear dying are very slim. Also, you're getting it cheap enough to where if it did die in a year or two, it's cheap enough to swap for another. I've had mine for a while, still going strong.

I'll stay wired for a while. I don't need any sniffers around here...

*I* have to pay for it!!!

Whats the difference between a "G" and a regular wireless router? Someone was telling me there is a relatively strong one.. like the commercial ones used in schools and such.

G has the farthest range and best speed for now.

There's three main standards:

802.11n - this is the fastest one 74 Mbits per second and has the longest range - 70 m or about 200 ft. 802.llg - range about 35 m or 100 ft, speed 54 Mbits/sec 802.11b - range about 35 m or 100 ft, speed 11 Mbits/sec

They make the technology "backwards compatible," so if you get a 802.11n card for your laptop (or it comes with it), it work just fine with older routers. And the routers are backwards compatible with older computers with slower wifi cards.

So regardless of what you buy, the equipment will find the fastest way (802.11n/g/b) that both the router and computer has.

So get 802.11n if it is not too expensive, otherwise get 802.11g.

Jeff

Wireless N is not a standard, yet. Also, Wireless N (and to an extent, G and B) has some known issues with certain chipsets while being Wireless N -- are not compatible. Thus, a wireless N from Vendor A may not be compatible with Vendor B. I think in most tests, they all worked but some had significant issues with speed and/or reliability.

So, if you do go the N route, make sure the wireless cards AND the wireless rounder are from the same vendor.

WIth B & G, that's not so important but it does make things easier usually.

My iMac has Airport wireless N built-in. Not only will it connect to a router, it will share the signal obtained from my wired router and share it with any laptop; iow act as a base station. I enable the feature when my daughter visits with her HP.

Apple and HP work fine, though the Mac is N and the HP is G. That's not to say others may not have compatibility issues.

I had trouble getting internet access when I moved into my home because the phone company and cable TV company both forget to lay wires in my new subdivision. But I noticed one time that a laptop I borrowed was able to get a wireless connection without a password from someone else in the neighborhood, so I bought a wireless USB adapter for my desktop computer that had a high gain antenna.

The signal and the speed were fine, but unfortunately, the wireless USB adapter caused by computer to freeze up frequently, so as soon as I was able to get DSL from the phone company I signed up. Otherwise, if I had not had the wireless USB problems with my computer freezing, I would probably still be using the free wireless internet from a generous or unsuspecting neighbor. BTW, don't get any Hawking Technologies products, there drivers suck and so does their support.

USB networking sucks.

I don't agree. There are many, many free wireless hotspots so the presumption is that if someone opens up their network for use without a password, then it is in the public domain.Wireless internet is broadcast in the public frequencies licensed by the FCC. If someone's uses those public airways without an encryption key, then it is fair game for use by anyone.

Every wireless internet router that I know of comes set with a password key by default, and you must disable the need for such a password for it to be available to anyone. If the wireless network required a password and someone hacked the password that would be another story.

You may not, but the courts disagree. It's not a federal crime, but many cities, counties, and states have successfully prosecuted and fined violators.

Do you have any proof of that? I think you are confusing where there is a password, and someone stole the password (in many restaurants/cafes they have a password that you have to ask for). I am talking about a wireless systems where someone completely disables the password key and makes it open to anyone.