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Conflicting info from my provider; MAC wireless plus desktop PC

This may be super easy but I couldn't find my exact issue in search....

My daughter just got a used MacBook Black from her aunt. I currently use a PC desktop through a wired DSL modem.(Using Verizon).

When going through Verizon's steps to create this internet setup:
-Wired PC desktop and
-wireless MAC

I get conflicting info about the jack (port?) to use for the connection.
They recommend a new large modem box and a PCMIA-something card for the MAC, yet the slot on the MAC is only Ethernet ... I hope I'm missing something really obvious here (so obvious that I could not find it in any discussions here).

I'd like to know if the real solution is to be learned from MAC people or on the phone with a halfwit from Verizon.
Thanks for your patience !
-Alan

macbook black, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Apr 8, 2009 12:40 PM

Reply
9 replies

Apr 8, 2009 1:23 PM in response to alanfc

In order for you to provide a wireless connection for the Mac you will need a wired/wireless router to connect to your DSL modem. The Ethernet cable from the DSL modem would connect to the WAN port on the router. Your computer's Ethernet cable connects to one of the LAN ports on the router. The Mac will connect wirelessly to router. The router will share the Internet connection from the DSL modem to both computers.

Nothing special is needed for the Mac because it has a built-in wireless card.

Whatever Verizon suggested would be for a cellular modem, but you don't connect to the Internet via cellular based on your description. It sounds as though you were talking with someone from Verizon Wireless, not from your DSL provider.

Apr 9, 2009 9:57 AM in response to alanfc

If your DSL modem has no routing functions built-in (check the user manual or search Google for the model number) then you need a basic router that supports wireless and has some LAN ports for wired Ethernet. You can look for a 4 or 5 port router. Basically any router should work, but it's impossible to know which ones may be "more" compatible than others. My preference is to use the Airport Extreme Base Station from Apple. Many don't like spending so much for a router, but I know the Apple router is completely compatible.

That said I have used other brands. I have used a D-Link DI-524 router for quite some time in my Vancouver home. However, it's a pretty old router and does not support the new, faster wireless and wired speeds.

A downside of many third-party routers is that their manufacturers do not support Macs. The routers must be configured through your browser because there's no Mac compatible configuration software. If you have difficulties with the router you often will find that the company's tech support is useless because there is no Mac support available. Nevertheless, you may have success with D-Link and LinkSys products.

Apr 13, 2009 1:12 PM in response to alanfc

Since last writing, we bought the Airport Extreme base station, spent a couple hours on the phone with the Verizon MAc specialist, and at the end came to the conclusion that my Westell 2100 modem couldn't run two computers/internet anyways ! ('oh, you have the 2100, that won't work')

He did tell me that a larger box/router the Westell 7500 is what I need. A "router", does that mean I potentially would not need the Airport Extreme base station? A call to the Verizon store revealed that there is another product, the Gateway 2400 that can "do seven lines" , and she called it a "router". Could this device replace my Airport as well?
Thanks if you can confirm

Apr 13, 2009 1:28 PM in response to alanfc

Any device that's a router can replace the AEBS, but the real concern is how compatible that device will be with a Mac. Why are they not able to provide a standard modem that doesn't have any router? For example the Motorola Surfboard SB-5120? Then use the AEBS to provide the necessary wired/wireless routing. If you require more than three LAN ports then just add a multi-port switch.

As for the hardware Verizon is suggesting I know nothing about them.

Conflicting info from my provider; MAC wireless plus desktop PC

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