I just bought a new Toshiba notebook pc, and with the purchase I got a free netgear somethingorother wireless router. I have Alltel DSL and on my regular PC it connects to the DSL with a speadstream router. The new notebook which hasn't arrived yet has a wireless card in it. But the installation instructions for the router say something about a modem or a cable modem. Do I need to buy one or am I set? 'Cause I really don't understand how the whole wireless thing works. Thanks!

You should be set. I think they are just calling the router a modem. It's not a modem but that's what everybody thinks of it as. You may have to configure the new wireless router to work with your DSL service. You don't need a cable modem with your DSL service. That's different technology. They are probably just saying that your wireless card would work with a wireless cable modem.

When you receive the laptop with the card and when the wireless router comes, that's all you need.

Do you have the model number of the wireless router? I may be able to look up some installation instructions for you if you have a model number.

You really want to look at security issues when you have a wireless router. Anybody with a laptop can park in front of your house and use your DSL service. If your neighbors live pretty close to you, they can tap in too. If you can get that model number there should be some instructions on the manual on how to secure it too.