Anyone here with a wireless network?

Arkitech

Diamond Member
Apr 13, 2000
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I've been debating on whether or not I should invest in a wireless setup. I have about 4 desktops and a laptop at home, 2 of my desktops are'nt connected.

Whats your experience been with wireless?

Is it possible to play games over a wireless network? (C&C type games)

If you have to copy large files from one machine to another are there any problems?

Whats the range like on the equipment?

 

Aves

Lifer
Feb 7, 2001
12,232
30
101
In theory there is no difference between wired and wireless but the best place to be asking these things is here IMO.
 

Arkitech

Diamond Member
Apr 13, 2000
8,356
3
76
Originally posted by: aves2k
In theory there is no difference between wired and wireless but the best place to be asking these things is here IMO.

I'm not really looking for technical answers just general opinion
 

Arkitech

Diamond Member
Apr 13, 2000
8,356
3
76
Originally posted by: aves2k
In theory there is no difference between wired and wireless but the best place to be asking these things is here IMO.

I'm not really looking for technical answers just general opinion
 

BigFatCow

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2001
3,373
1
0
ive had wireless for a while now but its not on my main computers. In general i would say that it is a great way to get internet to your laptop and computers where there is no cat 5 drop around. I have played an internet Counter- Strike game using the wireless(b) before and it worked fine. there is no problem with transfering large files but it will take considerably longer than with a wired connection. I have had two different linksys APs (b and g)and both of them have been able to give a signal to my laptop as far away as my garage.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
56,702
17,178
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Wireless is great for my lappies. But my desktops are all hooked up via gigabit.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,491
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On Wireless.

The following refers too Entry Level Systems that are usually equipped with < 50mW radios, come with 2dbi antennae, and cost bellow $100.

For Internet surfing it does mot matter since in most cases Internet broadband connection is slower than 802.11b.

For traffic across Internal LAN, 802.11g is significantly faster.

As a frame of reference. The transfer "Speed" of a Good Windows based 100Mb/sec. Network is 70 to 80Mb/sec. (b=bits 8bits=1Byte)

These are the most common used Wireless standard and their official rating.

802.11b = 11Mb/sec. Network "Speed" (Carrier transmission 2.4GHz)
802.11g = 54Mb/sec. Network "Speed" (Carrier transmission 2.4GHz)

Wireless Ethernet needs additional protocol over head for the transfer. In addition, it is not as stable as Wired so it needs extra processing procedures.

As a result the 11Mb/sec. of the Network chipset is translated to a much lower actual performance. Usually 4-6Mb/sec.

Few 802.11b hardware units are also capable to work at 22Mb/sec. (usually referred to as b+) it is nice if it works, in real term will yield 20%-40% more than 11Mb/sec. systems.

The 802.11g line that is rated 54Mb/sec. in the real world it yields 18-22Mb/sec.

***Does 802.11g provides more Distance than 802.11b?***

The answer is Yes and No.

Since the frequency and the output power of 802.11b and 802.11g hardware are similar, the general distance that they cover is similar.

That means that if you have an envioroment that "Kills" the signal it will "Kill" them both.

However if you have a weak unusable 801.11b signal at 50? (just a numerical example) 802.11g might provide a working signal at the same distance since it provides more bandwidth.

Log the following page. The differences between the first set of graphs to the second represent the performance differences between 802.11b to 802.11g

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

Notice how the D-Link and Netgear Super G Stick above the rest of the Crowd.

Note. If you go with Super G all Wireless units should be of the same Brand.

At the moment the best performance for the price is: D-Link Extreme G Bundle Kit ($87 after rebate)

On Distance in general.

2.4Ghz. is the microwave band; it looses energy on Water molecules. It is susceptible to 2.4GHz noise, and there is a lot of it around (Microwaves, Cordless Phones, etc.)

Indoor, No obstructions (no walls, or Baroque type furniture), it will go up to 100' -120'

Once walls get in to the equation it is a fast decline.

One or two "flimsy" (i.e. not concrete full of metal) walls will yield 40-70'.

Three walls or more? You never know until you try.

If you are almost there, a good external Antenna can save you.

Outdoor with Entry Level Equipment as is out of the box. You can get above 100'

With Direct line of sight using High towers and very good directional Antennae it can work for few miles.

Link: Wireless - Basic Configuration.

Link: Wireless Security for the Home User.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.
 

AFB

Lifer
Jan 10, 2004
10,718
3
0
Originally posted by: Arkitech
I've been debating on whether or not I should invest in a wireless setup. I have about 4 desktops and a laptop at home, 2 of my desktops are'nt connected.

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Whats your experience been with wireless?

I like it, it works well.

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Is it possible to play games over a wireless network? (C&C type games)

Yes, I do it often.

Originally posted by: Arkitech

If you have to copy large files from one machine to another are there any problems?

No, unless you are moving multi-gigabyte files.

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Whats the range like on the equipment?

It depends.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,076
753
126
My gaming machine sits right next to the router so I run it wired. In fact, all my machines are wired off of my wireless router. I only use wireless when I go into another room with my laptop. But I nicked the wire to my "server" and that will be going wireless if the speed degrades. I picked up a wireless USB nic from the FS/T forum for $16.
Network:
cable modem
wireless router
2 desktops
2 laptops.

Thanks to JackMDS for the set up help.
 

AFB

Lifer
Jan 10, 2004
10,718
3
0
Wireless is fine unless you are:

*A doctors office.(I hate thoose ads)
*A military base.
*The CIA.
*A Datacenter

Since you don't fit in to any of those....