About wireless networking

[leolaw]

Do I have to buy the same brand of equipment if I am building a wireless( or wired) newtork? Such as all Linksys or SMG?

The second question I want to ask is that:

I am having a Linksys Router right now (BEFSR41), and I recently bought a laptop. What I want to do is that I want to install a wireless network card on the laptop but how can I connect the wireless NIC to the network if I only have a wired router? Should I buy another wireless router or should I just add a Access Point into my Network just for the Laptop?

Which Access Point would you guys suggest to me?

Thx

 

[JackMDS]

Almost all brands of 802.11b are compatible.

You can add an Access Point to the wired router, and you are set.

As Wireless devices Access Point are usually better than Wireless Cable/DSL Routers but they cost more, so you might want to buy a Wireless Cable/DSL Router.

More info here.

Wireless Cable/DSL Router or Access Point ? What should I get?

Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

Wireless What Should I Get?

 

[Kung Lau]

Almost in the same boat, but wanting to go full wireless if I can do it.
Have the Linksys router connected to 2 computers atm. Now, I've gotten
a third computer and would like to go wireless with the whole setup.

I can keep the BEFSR41 router and add a WAP11 and WMP54G for each computer?
(I assume I don't nee a WMP54G for the computer directly connected to the BEFSR41)