Internal Wireless Modem (Sprint PCS) w/ Belkin Wireless LAN?

[KBHrt]

We live in a place without cable, hence no high-speed Internet access. Recently, however, I purchased a Sprint PCS cellular PCMCIA modem and installed it. It works flawlessly! However, now I want to share my Internet access with another computer at the opposite end of the house.

I purchased a Belkin N wireless router to connect to the host computer (the one with the Sprint modem installed) and a Belkin N USB adapter for the client computer.

I figured that using Windows Network Setup would allow sharing of this connection over the LAN... the LAN works flawlessly. Unfortunately, Belkin tech support informed me that this router will not support an internal modem. (I suppose this should have been obvious from the bright yellow MODEM port on the back.)

Please tell me whether there is a workaround... if nothing else, a way to make the host computer with the PCMCIA modem able to "act like" the modem that the Belkin router expects to see.

Thanks for your time. - Royce

[bilbo_Baggin]

Please help me sort this out, because something doesn't sound right.

How many PCMCIA slots are in the laptop?
Does the laptop have a built in Ethernet port?
What is the model of the PCMCIA modem you've installed in the laptop?
What are the models of the Belkin router and USB adapter?
Is the client a laptop or a PC?

What OS are you running in the host and the client?

[KBHrt]

Howdy Bilbo -

Thanks for your quick response. I'll "reply between the lines" here:

Please help me sort this out, because something doesn't sound right. How many PCMCIA slots are in the laptop? Is the client a laptop or a PC?

There are no laptops involved. All PCs concerned are desktops. I had to purchase a PCMCIA card slot for the host PC to use the Sprint modem.

Again, this is the result of having no alternative high-speed Internet access in our area (no cable, no affordable satellite service, etc.). Sprint works incredibly well, though!

Does the laptop have a built in Ethernet port?

Both the host and client PCs have a built-in Ethernet port.

What is the model of the PCMCIA modem you've installed in the laptop?

The modem was sold to me by Sprint in San Antonio, TX about two months ago; it's got a little antenna that pivots at the end, and it's labeled with the Sprint logo. I'm writing in from work and don't have the model number handy. Sorry.

What are the models of the Belkin router and USB adapter?

The router is a Belkin N, the USB adapter is also a Belkin N. Again, I don't have the exact numbers as I'm at work. Sorry.

What OS are you running in the host and the client?

Both the host and client are using Windows XP (I believe they're the home edition).

Thanks again for your help, we really appreciate it.

Royce

[bilbo_Baggin]

Hmmm, welll I'd be very surprized if a standard wireless router even cares at all what the source of uplink is.

Idealy, I would have the host set up as a host within Windows, and tell windows that the output conection to the rest of your network would be the internal existing ethernet port.

Then that should connect to the "uplink" port on the router.
Then any clients would effectively connect to the internet through the the router which goes to the Host, which goes out through the PCS modem. From a security standpoint, this is also great becasue it actually allows you to place a VERY effective firewall on the inbound side to provide nearly invincable security for all clients.

windows networking should allow you to identify the Internet source, and the outbound ethernet port and let you make a diskette to use for the other PC set up.

If the router you're using has a port labled modem, that should be the uplink port.

Assuming you've tried that, and it does not work, I'd say your router is being "too picky" and I'd look into other alternatives.

I have a nearly identical set up here except I use a hub instead of a switch or router, and it works fine. Of course the catch is the hub is not wireless.

[PartieHonteuse]

Why not just get the Sprint mobile broadband router? It's guaranteed to work with your card and it provides 4 wired and a wireless access for other computers.

Here's an image of what it looks like:

http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonther...O%20router.jpg

I'd call your sprint store direct or check online for special pricing.

Partie

[bilbo_Baggin]

that sounds like the way to go to me as well.

[KBHrt]

That's the answer.........

Thanks for your help