# Wireless AND Wired Routers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-and-wired-routers/107895>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 8, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-and-wired-routers/107895 "2002-05-08T14:13:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Vaioman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ecccb3/32.png) [@Vaioman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaioman)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-and-wired-routers/107895/1 "2002-05-08T14:13:11Z")

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I have been wondering, ever since I got my laptop, if there is a router that has both antenna’s and ethernet ports. I have been using a long CAT5 to hook it up in the room, but I want the versatility of the wireless **for my laptop** … I don’t want to lose the speed of the actual wire connection on the 2 main pc’s that are already on the network though, so, I was hoping there was something along these lines released. I looked a little on yahoo, but I didn’t really see anything.  
Thanks for reading.

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**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-and-wired-routers/107895/2 "2002-05-08T14:18:59Z")

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You mean like [this?](http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=22&prid=173)

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**Author:** ![Vaioman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ecccb3/32.png) [@Vaioman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaioman)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-and-wired-routers/107895/3 "2002-05-08T14:42:48Z")

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Exactly like that! Thanks for the fast response.

One more question about this issue. My laptop came with a PCMCIA wireless card, made by Xircom. Would this card be compatible with the Linksys router, or would I have to buy a new wireless card just for home use? (I use the Xircom card at school)

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**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-and-wired-routers/107895/4 "2002-05-08T15:07:59Z")

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I have and love my D-Link system. It ties together our desktop, laptop, DSL connection and printer. The desktop and printer are directly connected to the [DI-713-P](http://support.dlink.com/products/view.asp?productid=DI-713P) wireless gateway. A [DWL-650](http://support.dlink.com/products/view.asp?productid=DWL-650) fits into the laptop’s PCMCIA slot and we’re good to go throughout the house. I’m glad I got a gateway with a print server, so if I’m just working on the laptop I don’t have to turn on anything else. The speed is very good but when I want to transfer large files (I typically back up the MyDocs folders of the two machines on the opposite drive) I simply carry the laptop back to the office to plug it directly in to the gateway (I keep a cable in the gateway specifically for that purpose so it is pretty easy).

I just noticed on preview that you already have a wireless card. I think that they all follow a set of standard communication protocols, so you should be able to go from one to another with minimal difficulties. Check out the D-Link site, they have a wealth of information. I received excellent tech-support both before and after the sale. Good luck!

Rhythmdvl