mobiusmike

So I talked to my IT department yesterday about getting wireless enabled on my work laptop, and they pretty much refused, citing security concerns over wireless networks - viruses, blah blah blah. Which apparently only applies to people OUTSIDE the IT department, because I know at least two IT staffers who have enabled it on their machines.

At any rate, I'd really like to use the laptop in the upstairs living room - and of course my wife won't let me install cords up the stairway and through the kitchen.

SO . . . is there some type of device (a "hub" if you will) that I can place in the living room that will connect to the wireless network, into which I can plug the laptop using a network cable ???? Or some other solution you can think of ???

Howard2k

There are plenty :)

Look at the Asus WL-330g. It will function as a wireless bridge. It's basically invisible to the PC, the PC just sees it as regular Ethernet.

There are other similar devices by 3Com, Linksys, DLink etc.

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smiley1635

You can also but wall plug adapters that let your ethernet 'piggy-back' on your exisiting eletricals. They are quite expensive though. What howard suggested would probably be a better idea if you have an existing wireless network in your house.

mobiusmike

Thanks, that is EXACTLY what I need.

Choirguy

IT staffers are notorious for doing things like that..."we can have it, but you can't." Then again, they also have to deal with all the idiots in the world who think that their CD/DVD drive is actually a soft drink holder. So, they typically work to the lowest common denominator.

What's odd is that they will let you access the Internet through a hard-wired cable on your own (at home, at a coffee house, whatever), but not through wireless. Strange. You would think that their policy would be, "No outside connections for this computer, period."

I was going to suggest the simple use of a USB wi-fi adapter since it seems that you already have wi-fi at home...but perhaps you need administrator authorization to be able to install software/hardware on your notebook?

Let us know what you eventually decide to do.

mobiusmike

I already have admin rights on the laptop (and my desktop here at the office), as there's some software that ONLY our group uses that I have to be able to install and do stuff with.

Would the USB wi-fi adapter do the same thing ???