Q:Because my older PC lacks Wi-Fi, I had to run a long network cable from my Verizon Fios router to it. Can I use the Linksys router I got for my old Comcast account to relay the Wi-Fi?

A: If relocating the Fios router isn’t an option, you can do exactly that. But it will involve more tinkering than I usually suggest: First, you load third-party firmware on the Linksys router, then you configure that new software to “bridge” your Wi-Fi to the computer’s Ethernet connection.

Several different kinds of free, alternative firmware (the name describes how this low-level software is embedded in the chips of a device) exist for Linksys’ widely used WRT54 routers. When I wanted to use one such spare model to hook up an HDTV with Internet-video features, I went with the DDWRT firmware (dd-wrt.com).

The DD-WRT site has a complete set of directions, or visit makeuseof.com and search for “DD-WRT bridge” to get a simpler walkthrough of upgrading an old router. The exact procedure is way too detailed to relate here; suffice it to say that you need to follow directions exactly, be patient, and have a decent grasp of networking jargon. It doesn’t hurt to be lucky either, as the firmware-update procedure can “brick” the router if something goes awry.

But as I found out, at the end of the process you can extend your wireless network in two ways. You can run an Ethernet cable from it to a Wi-Fi-deprived computer (or TV). Or, if your existing router supports a feature called WDS, short for “Wireless Distribution System,” you can employ your souped-up router to extend your wireless coverage. Unfortunately, Verizon’s Fios routers don’t appear on DD-WRT’s list of WDS-compatible hardware. If you’re not too technically inclined, though, this is best left to a friend with computing skills— whom you can then take out to dinner as a reward.

Q: Can I text a donation for Haiti from a prepaid mobile-phone account?

A: That depends if your prepaid service has enabled this option. MGive, the Denver company managing these text donations (mgive.com/haiti), reports that Virgin Mobile USA and Cricket Wireless, among others, support text donations while TracFone does not.