I am in China for a couple of months and I got internet in my apartment. I am now able to connect my laptop directly using an ethernet cable without a modem.

I want to buy a simple wifi router like a TP-Link WR740N to use wifi with my latop.

Will I be able to use it without a modem? So far what I read shows me that I will need a modem.

Need clarification.

Thanks

Since you are able to connect your computer to the wall outlet and get an internet connection you would not need a modem. Just hook the Wifi router to the wall outlet.

Yup, plug the WAN socket of the router into the wall and all should work with the default settings of most routers.

For the last 7 years I have only used WIFI provided by someone else and have not used a modem so perhaps technology has changed/improved.

So can I assume these days, modems are unnecessary for home use and you can connect to internet via the wall outlet by either ethernet cable direct to your PC LAN port or connecting a inexpensive, simple WIFI router and get internet using the router's LAN ports or WIFI?

Thanks for your helpful replies.

For the last 7 years I have only used WIFI provided by someone else and have not used a modem so perhaps technology has changed/improved.

So can I assume these days, modems are unnecessary for home use and you can connect to internet via the wall outlet by either ethernet cable direct to your PC LAN port or connecting a inexpensive, simple WIFI router and get internet using the router's LAN ports or WIFI?

Thanks for your helpful replies.

Most home internet arrives via a telephone line ADSL and a modem is still required.

For the last 7 years I have only used WIFI provided by someone else and have not used a modem so perhaps technology has changed/improved.

So can I assume these days, modems are unnecessary for home use and you can connect to internet via the wall outlet by either ethernet cable direct to your PC LAN port or connecting a inexpensive, simple WIFI router and get internet using the router's LAN ports or WIFI?

Thanks for your helpful replies.

Most home internet arrives via a telephone line ADSL and a modem is still required.

The wall jack I am using appears to accept both a twisted pair or ethernet cable.

Assume there is no problem with your internet connection, is the test to determine whether one needs a modem or not, simply to connect an ethernet cable to your PC and if you get internet you don't need a modem or if you don't get internet, you do need one.

As I previously wrote, I am getting good internet connection, with a direct cable from the wall outlet to my PC(laptop).

For the last 7 years I have only used WIFI provided by someone else and have not used a modem so perhaps technology has changed/improved.

So can I assume these days, modems are unnecessary for home use and you can connect to internet via the wall outlet by either ethernet cable direct to your PC LAN port or connecting a inexpensive, simple WIFI router and get internet using the router's LAN ports or WIFI?

Thanks for your helpful replies.

Most home internet arrives via a telephone line ADSL and a modem is still required.

The wall jack I am using appears to accept both a twisted pair or ethernet cable.

Assume there is no problem with your internet connection, is the test to determine whether one needs a modem or not, simply to connect an ethernet cable to your PC and if you get internet you don't need a modem or if you don't get internet, you do need one.

As I previously wrote, I am getting good internet connection, with a direct cable from the wall outlet to my PC(laptop).

An ethernet connector (RJ45) is not the same as a telephone jack, it is larger (at least it is in my house - Thailand). Of course, things may be different in China.

Vagabond48,

Somewhere in your building, or in the same common block of buildings, there is a Modem/router. The wall plate probable has an RJ45 (large port 8-wire, used for Ethernet Internet) and well as an RJ6 or RJ8 (small port 2-wire, 4-wire or 6-wire, used for standard analog land-line telephone) -- the large one connects you to a modem/router somewhere nearby that provides DHCP IP address, gateway and DNS information. If this wasn't true you would get nothing usable to directly connect to your laptop.

If the modem/router doesn't already provide a WiFi signal (have you checked for strong SSID names yet?) then you have a couple of options for adding WiFi:

1. Check to see if the people providing the room with Ethernet Internet also has it available via WiFi.

2. Buy a WiFi "Access Point" or a WiFi "Access Point 4-port switch" and plug it into the wall. This type of device is not a 'router' and only passes along DHCP IP address information from the original modem.

3. Buy a WiFi 'Router' or WiFi 'Router with 4-port switch' (if you need the ethernet ports). It can be configured to take the single IP address and, via NAT, give you multiple IP addresses via WiFi and the 4 Ethernet ports to use with your laptop, mobile phones or android devices.

** Don't by a WiFi Router with ADSL or VDSL ports as these devices are 'modems' and won't work for you, since your Internet connection already uses a modem (somewhere at the other end of the ethernet wire).

OP until Xmas I had what appears to be the same set up in an apt building in Guangzhou. I simply plugged the lead that came from the wall into a router (which i changed twice when I was there) as opposed to the laptop ethernet port, input the user name and password in the router set up, changed other passwords for access and away I went.

No need to make it complicated - just do it

Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions.

I'm off tomorrow to purchase the wifi router.