802.11B+ or 802.11a?

[Kenazo]

Option 1:
Am I right in understanding that the + version is approx twice as fast as the B version?

Also, I'm looking at US Robotics model USR2210 802.11b+ PCMCIA card for a laptop, mostly b/c of price ($35 cdn), found hereThe standard would say that any B+ NIC would be able to talk to any B+ WAP, right? It should work with the D-Link - DI-614+? $35cdn after rebates.
Total cost: $70cdn

this is for a client who would basically just be using it to run ICS over, so speed isn't that important

Option 2
any 802.11a device can talk to any other 802.11a right? Doesn't matter what brand they are?
a Netgear 802.11a HE102 WAP is available for $27.99 cdn, and then for the Laptop the D-LINK Dual Band A/B model DWL-AB650 PCMCIA card is $41.99 cdn.

Total Cost: $72

So, assuming that the devices I have listed in each option can actually talk with each other (I'm assuming that these things aren't brand sensitive), and since the price is pretty much the same for the B+ and the A options, which route should I chose?


anyway.
thanks a lot.

 

[JackMDS]

The D-Link 614+ should work with any 802.11b.

However you should notice that it is 802.11b+ Router. I.e. with a matching D-Link Card it should yield better ?Speed?.

In general 802.11a is approaching EOL if you do not care too much about future upgrade. For short distance operation 802.11a would yield better performance.

Link to: 802.11a/b/g SOHO Routers & Access Points: Performance

BTW, a lot of people have problems configuring ICS with Wireless.

In such a case you should try this.
Link to: AnalogX Proxy.

 

[Kenazo]

The D-Link 614+ should work with any 802.11b.

However you should notice that it is 802.11b+ Router. I.e. with a matching D-Link Card it should yield better ?Speed?.

Both the USR PCMCIA card, and the D-link router are b+ compliant. This would mean they should communicate with each other @ B+ speeds, right? Although b speeds would be sufficient for this application. I just need to know for sure that these two devices are compatible with each other.

For getting the network going, is it basically a matter of just plugging them into the correct computer? Will they find each other, or are there a lot of settings that need to be played with first?

Thanks again for all the help in my first foray into wireless.

 

[JackMDS]

Quote: "Both the USR PCMCIA card, and the D-link router are b+ compliant. This would mean they should communicate with each other @ B+ speeds, right?"

NO, 802.11b+ is not a standart. It might or it might Not.

If you go the USR way make sure that you can return if it does not work.

Wireless basic Configuration:

MS Zero Configuration was not devised for Entry Level consumers Hardware, it has to be set Off.

Put the computer with the Wireless Client close to the Wireless Router,

Disable all software Firewalls (including Windows ICF).

Make sure that the drivers are set to infrastructure mode and obtain IP according to your setting.

Make sure that the Router does not have any MAC or IP filtering on.

Router's DHCP On for Normal setting. (If you use ICS better configure the IP manully or through ICS).

Disable WEP on both devices.

Set the SSID and channel of the Router and the Client card to be is same name.[/b]

Link to: Wireless Network Troubleshooting,

 

[Kenazo]

Thanks for all the help. Do you perhaps do this for a living?

I ended up sticking w/ D-link. I bought the D-Link - DI-614+ Router and the D-Link - DWL-650+ PCMCIA Nic. No bad for $88cdn after taxes. I hope this will fulfill their needs.

 

[MontysNotebook]

D-Link is a respectable brand. Good price by the way.

(I have the same card. Excellent!)

I wouldn't say I do this stuff for a living, and I've mostly just set up 5 or 6 for friends and such... my Mom gets mad at me b/c I do it for free lol.