Have new MacBook and older PC - what router to handle Airport Express?

[fluxnet]

Hi, my first post here. I'm the proud owner of a new 13" MacBook Pro. When I first bought it, I had it at the home of a friend who has an older Linksys wireless router/access point. It was slow as molasses, and it wasn't until I got it home and found an open network in my building that I saw the true speed of the MacBook.

So I purchased an Airport Express. The sales person told me I should just be able to plug it into the ethernet out port on back of my friends old Linksys, and it would work. As it turned out, it didn't work, but if I use just the Airport Express alone, the speed is fantastic on my MacBook Pro.

My quandary is that I also own an older Dell PC - no wireless capability. If I switch computers...disconnecting my cable from my modem to the Airport Express to the ethernet cable that connects to the PC, I always end up having to call my ISP to reset my IP number to get net access.

So, what should I do to use both computers? Buy a newer (wired?) router that I can have attached to the PC via cable, and also have a cable connection from back of said routher to the Airport Express? And do I have to make sure to buy a router that can handle the Mac's 802.11n protocol? Will the old machine slow down the Mac if it's wired this way?

Thanks for your assistance!

 

[MYmacROX]

Yes, get a router to plug your desktop into and your airport express into.
Although, if you just get a wireless router you technically wouldn't NEED the airport express. Unless you want/need it for reasons other than just providing wireless signal to your Macbook.

802.11n isn't absolutely necessary for functionality, but is faster than g.

Having your desktop machine hooked up to the same network shouldn't affect your Macbook connection speeds noticeably. I do this with a Dell desktop and my mbp. Never notice slowing when using both simultaneously.

 

[fluxnet]

Thanks for that. I like having a portable wireless, and I often go to my friends' house with my MacBook, and since her (Older) Linksys, for some reason, seems totally incompatible, I unplug it from her modem, and run her modem to my Airport Express. While that works great for me, it's actually a slower wireless connection for her Toshiba Satellite, but since the option is for me to have no access for my MacBook, she puts up with it.

Are there specs I need to look for in newer routers to make sure it will work with the Airport Express?

 

[MYmacROX]

Can't say for sure, but I would imagine all you need to worry about above all else is if the router says it's Mac OS compatible. Usually they give the system requirements or compatibility specs. Look for that.
I have a D-Link router. This one here. But that's not to say you have to get that specific one.