Q. I would like to switch from a wired internet connection to a wireless one. However, I use a desktop PC which does not support wireless. I have read about wireless USB devices, but have heard that they can have problems. Should I have a wireless card installed, or is a wireless USB adapter a good idea?

A. Most laptops have built-in Wifi, but it is true that it is quite rare for a desktop PC to have wireless facilities. This is largely historical, with desktop PCs traditionally connected to home or office networks using Ethernet cables (and as desktops are not exactly portable, wireless connections have not been seen as terribly practical). However, many people do like the idea of connecting to the internet wirelessly with their desktop computer. This could be because they want to take advantage of a wireless connection in the area, or it might be because they wish to avoid having to run network cables through the house, which gives more possibilities when it comes to choosing where the computer will be located. As mentioned, modern laptops tend to include integrated Wifi but older models can be connected to wireless networks using USB adapters. There is no reason why the same type of wireless adapter should not be used on a desktop computer. This is an established and very reliable technology. Netgear’s N150 Wireless USB Adapter, for example, costs around £15.

Q. I want to add a new printer to my Wi-Fi network, but have forgotten the password. Is it possible discover it from my Netgear wireless router?

A. It should be. All routers contain software that one can access via a web browser, and you can use that to change settings like the Wi-Fi password. You need to know the router's address to do this, which will be in the manual. The default address for the majority of routers is 192.168.0.1, but you will need to use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to one of the sockets on the back of the router. (Such a cable will have been supplied with the router, but may be bought very cheaply from somewhere like PC World.) Open a browser, and type the string of numbers that is the router's address into the browser's address bar. You will be asked for the administrator's name and password. Netgear's default for this is admin and password. Once logged in, open the screen that deals with wireless security. Depending on versions/models you may not be able to view the current password, but you will be able to enter a new one. If you cannot log on, the details must have been changed in the past, but you can do a factory reset by pressing a button on the back of the router which will restore the admin name and password to the defaults. Look up your specific router model on Netgear's website for details of how to do this.

Q. Another question from Buzzer: there is a key on my laptop that toggles on/off both WiFi 802.11b and Bluetooth at the same time. Is this normal? Aren’t they entirely different wireless protocols?

A. This is a good, but surprising - at least to me - question. They are indeed entirely different wireless protocols. WiFi has a range of typically 300-400 metres and is aimed at providing the ability for devices to share resources such as Internet access and printers, transmitting reasonably large volumes of data at speeds of up to 100Mbps. Bluetooth has a range of typically 10-20 metres, supporting much lower data volumes at rather slower speeds, and is aimed at providing communication between devices such as mobile telephones and associated earpieces, though it is possible to move data between for instance a PC and a printer using it. The most likely reason for the key on your laptop toggling both protocols on/off at the same time is that the manufacturer has kept costs down by using the same component to handle both protocols!

Q. Problems getting your wi-fi signal to somewhere on your property?

A. It is possible to buy wi-fi range extenders, which operate like repeaters, from around £30. However, because they create what are effectively additional wi-fi zones, they tend to confuse devices like smartphones which may continue to try to use a weak signal rather than transfer to a stronger one. If the budget is not too constrained, it would be better to use a power-line connection, which uses a property's electrical wiring and sockets to send a signal. These cost from around £80 for a complete solution, and operate through any power socket on the property. Connection to the units that plug into the sockets is via an Ethernet cable or wirelessly.