How do I tell if I can talk to a wireless modem?

[Guest]

In XP Professional, where do I look to see if my laptop (a Compaq Evo N1020v)
has what it takes to be able to talk to my Billion 7404 VGP modem, which I'm
told can talk to computers that have ears for it? Where do look for those
ears? And what do they look like? It has a "Wireless network setup wizard"
but it doesnt seem to do anything. In "Network connections" I have under "LAN
or High speed internet" 2 entries: One called Local Area Connection (Network
cable unplugged, firewalled; Device name Realtek RTL8139C+Fast Ethernet NIC)
and Another called 1394 (Connected, firewalled, perhaps a Firewire?)
Thanks
T.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

In XP Professional, where do I look to see if my laptop (a Compaq Evo N1020v)
has what it takes to be able to talk to my Billion 7404 VGP modem, which I'm
told can talk to computers that have ears for it? Where do look for those
ears? And what do they look like? It has a "Wireless network setup wizard"
but it doesnt seem to do anything. In "Network connections" I have under "LAN
or High speed internet" 2 entries: One called Local Area Connection (Network
cable unplugged, firewalled; Device name Realtek RTL8139C+Fast Ethernet NIC)
and Another called 1394 (Connected, firewalled, perhaps a Firewire?)
Thanks
T.

Your first step should be to read the manual for your laptop
in order to find out if it has a wireless adapter and how to
enable it. This will give you the opportunity to set an SSID
and a security code, which must match the SSID and security
code on your wireless access point. If this makes no sense
then you should take the laptop to the place of purchase and
ask them to show you how it works.