Networking & wireless forum: Wanting to connect my Compaq desktop to my wireless network

you can get usb wireless network card and connect to your wireless network with that; they cost like 20-30 bucks now-a-days I believe.

Try:
Linksys WUSB11, or,
D-Link DWL-G122, or,
TRENDnet 54Mbps 802.11G Wireless USB Adapter, or,
Linksys WUSB54G, etc ...

hope that helps

What linksys router do you have?

A TEST:
Temporarily move your wireless laptop to the back room where your soon-to-be wireless desktop is. How strong is the signal from the router?

It sounds like the other router you have is a Linksys WRT54GS (the SpeedBooster router). It's a good one. Any wireless-b or wireless-g network adapter from a big name networking company (Linksys, D-Link, Netgear) should be able to connect to it. Paying more for SpeedBooster wireless network adapters is not worth it, IMO.

30 feet is not a problem for your typical wireless router. There are some things that can make for a weak broadcast signal (wireless phone interference, microwave ovens, thick walls, very long distances), but these can be overcome. Your house looks to be no problem for any wireless-g router from Linksys.

I'd get a USB 2.0 wireless-g network adapter. Adding a an internal wirelesss-g PCI card adapter in a desktop is not difficult, but there is one slight drawback--you can't position the antenna as easily as you can with a USB adapter on the end of a USB cable. This sometimes helps to better receive the router's broadcast signal.

Keeping the router and adapters from the same company helps to ensure maximum compatibility, so Linksys would be my first choice for the adapter.

Laptop internal wireless cards tend to do a little better than USB wireless adapters.

Bluetooth adapters, such as the USBBT100, are not for connecting to wireless routers or wireless access points (WAP). You wireless network adapter needs to be compatible with your wireless router or WAP. So, if you have a wireless-g router, you need a wireless-g (802.11g) network adapter. Also, make sure that the wireless adapter is capable of WEP and WPA encryption.

SIDE NOTE: Todays comomon standard is wireless-g (802.11g), which is backwards compatible with wireless-b (802.11b).

I have used many different Linksys adapters with success. Even though keeping everything in the Linksys family is a good idea, Linksys has always seemed to be a little more expensive; so, I have purchased the occasional rebate special or discount wireless-g adapter from CUSA, Staples, CC, and BB over the years. They work just fine.

Really, any wireless-g adapter model should work at 30 feet, even PCI models. I have used cheapo store brand wireless-g PCI adapters to connect to Linksys routers without a problem.