You certainly can use the Belkin you already have for wifi.
You already paid for it and it won't cost you anything extra.

Not much to wifi actually other than minor new terminology that initially might seem confusing.
But once you understand what's what ... its really simple stuff.

I'm curious what you have now for a modem/router ?

Thanks, Miki. That's good to hear. My modem is a Motorola Surfboard SB4100 that Charter installed when I went to cable-modem, probably about 2 1/2 or 3 yrs ago. Any hints about installing the Belkin?

You'll want to plug the Belkin in where the PC plugs in now, then plug the PC into the Belkin. For the wireless part of the equation, you want to ensure that you use security. WPA is best, but WEP is better than nothing. Just enable it and enter keys in the router and the wireless configuration for the PC that is connecting wirelessly.

as stated sure you can use the Belkin wireless router. Once you have the wireless router set up and you have the acer turned on you will see a pop up at the bottom down by the clock that says wireless network detected right click to see available networks, when you do that it shows you the ones it finds you select yours and choose to connect to it that is pretty much it.
Mine will find other networks around here but most are secured, if you are around where they have free hotspots you can select to connect to those if you want to.

I got an att air card for mine so that I can travel around and be able to have a connection with me when on the road.

If you get that acer like mine let me know how you like it and if you have questions I can sure try to help if I know the answer. I am still learning too.

by the way that is an excellent package, that acer is the bigger 10 inch and has the 6 cell battery which is much better than the 3 cell I have, but I did get a car lighter charger at Fry's which has the plug receptacle which is the regular 3 prong electric type plug in so I just use my acer electrical cable and plug it right into the charger and use it that way when in the car and at home I usually have it plugged in anyway. I will probably eventually get either a 6cell or larger for it but it is so light and slim with the 3 cell in it.

what color did you get?

I've had no experience with wireless routers, so while searching for definitions for WPA and WEP security, I ran across this link that might be helpful.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1277020,00.asp

Thanks bpgreen and gringo50 for suggestions. I will remember them when I set up the wireless. I've been concerned about the security. I am sure I will have more questions when I actually get down to it. If I get the WPA (or WEP)set up properly, then it will be as safe as my desktop? I do my banking, bill paying, etc on line.

Raven, I haven't bought it yet, I'm still trying to justify the purchase, but knowing I already have the Belkin puts me a step closer. That $50 installation fee was probably going to be a deal breaker for me. I would imagine I will have other misc items to buy also? I am planning on getting the blue one. the other choices are black & red. Oh, and will a flach drive pretty much makeup for the lack of a cd/dvd drive ?
Thanks again, I'm sure I will have more questions.

I don't think I'd do my online banking on any wireless connection in the home especially if i had a direct connection on the desktop

Online banking login and all of the transaction is securely encrypted,, nobody can sniff that in your neighborhood and make any sense of it. Just like they cant when its on the wired/fiber network.

Thanks did not know that

Does that also apply to purchasing on the internet, like from amazon or buy.com, etc?

Mikie, now I'm curious about why you asked what kind of modem I have now. Was that a sufficient description? Is there any problem, or something else that I should be aware of?
Thanks

I was curious if it was a combination router/modem and supplied private NAT IP, or a real wan pass-through IP. Which would determine how you might best want to hook it up to the Belkin you have.

I don't know if you want to read this if it might put some concern in your mind .. not much to it really, pretty simple stuff ;

I did a quick search and really didn't spend a lot of time looking or determining for sure ... but it appears to be capable of suppling 32 IP's via NAT,,,another-words it has router capabilities,,, but seems to be a single real IP in default configuration ...
At first glance internal configs seems to be only configurable by the isp. (that way they have the option to charge you per connected computer, if you asked them for x# of connections)

Assuming it has real IP then plugging its ethernet cable into the wan port of the Belkin will work nifty ... if the modem provides private IP then that is NAT and the ethernet, easy way is anyhow , is to plug it into one of the LAN ports of the Belkin along with a couple of configuration changes to the Belkin to disable its NAT and make it function as a dummy 3 ethernet port switch / with the typical couple hundred or so ports for a wifi access point.

If that makes any sense to you... heh.

.....heh is right! pretty simple stuff to you maybe (smile). Anyway, I'm going to try to hook it up now. Wish me luck.

Actually, there's no reason to disable the NAT on the Belkin in the second scenario.

I have a modem/router with a single connection. When I first got it, I used a hub, then when the price of switches dropped, I went with a switch. I later connected a router without disabling its router capabilities.

The reason I didn't is that the modem/router doesn't have any firewall capabilities (unless you consider NAT to be a firewall of sorts, but I don't). The router I have has firewall capabilities, but only when used as a router.

The modem/router for my DSL assigns addresses in the 10.0.0.2 to 10.0.0.255 range (it uses 10.0.0.1). So the modem/router has an external IP assigned by my ISP. The new router has an external IP of 10.0.0.2 assigned by the modem/router. I configured it to assign IPs in the 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.255 range.

OK, so far so good I think. Got it set up but called Belkin support about the WAN light that is supposed to be green, but instead flashes orange. After checking the connection, he said not to worry about it, that everything was set up ok. Does that sound right? He also had me set up 64 bit WEP instead of WPA-PSK for security. Should I change it to WPA-PSK? And should I set up an administrative password? There are some other things I need to check out, but I guess i would have to say it was a very easy process. Going to bed now.

Be a good idea to change the SSiD if you havent so it doenst say Belkin just like the one on the new neighbors house.
...... and set a login/password so your neighbor doesnt accidentlally think its his and reconfigure things on you or steal your secret pasphrase.

WPa-Psk is safest bet and I certainly would use it if available.
WEP 128/Shared is what i use on an old dlink right now. I dont really worry about someone hacking a computer, but I dont want to share my isp connection because the way others use it could possibly get me in trouble.

Mikie, I changed the SSiD and setup a admin password. I haven't changed the 64 bit WEP yet. Thanks for your help.

Another question - now that I have the wi-fi set up, can I connect my HP Pavilion 4458 running win 98se into this system? I do have a Wireless G Desktop Network Card (unopened, still in the box). My current desktop is XP home SP3. Is this possible to mix win 98 & xp?

If the card says it works with 98SE .. it should work fine.
Pretty simple to open most cases and plug it in.

I haven't had a chance to accomplish much today on the second computer. I think I will not try to get this connected because I don't think I'm savvy enough to figure it out. I've got the case open, but I don't see where the PCI expansion slot is. Maybe it doesn't even have that capability. Anyway, I think I will drop it for now.
Thanks everybody. I couldn't have gotten the first one done without you

Raven, I finally just bit the bullet and ordered the little Acer, so I'll probably be leaning on you for heellllp. Are you still happy with yours? Here's hoping the wi-fi works. I can hardly wait to get it. They said I could expect it between the 22nd and 25th, so I guess I must be further away from the shipping center than your are.

they told me that too but it was here the next day which amazed me.

I love it, I was just on the road looking for a new house to buy and had all my bookmarks of houses and info on my acer which made it so much easier and at night at the hotel I just got on the free wifi there, it found it and connected immediately, I have my att air card for anytime I need it should I not be around an available free wifi signal.

I should be getting my netbook tomorrow I hope. So far it started out in Georgia, made a stop in Colorado, and today arrived in Portland. It is better traveled than I am! It seems so long since I ordered it that I've almost lost interest. But I am anticipating tomorrow! That's what happens when you live way out here in the far west. Just takes that Pony Express a long time, you know, stopping every little bit to rest and feed the ponies and boosting them up over the Rockies.