How important is it to use the same brand?

[pilgrim2u]

How important is using the same brand?

I have a speedstream ss1021 wireless card for my toshiba laptop, and a speedstream USB ss1022 wireless for my desktop.

I read where some people have problems mixing brands of networking stuff.

OD has a closeout on the speedstream ss2624 wireless router with print server.

Does it matter if I use a Netgear cable/dsl router MR814v2 or stay with the all speedstream?

thanks

 

[JackMDS]

Not important with current Hardware.

I use the ss2624 with 4 other brands.

 

[IceNineJon]

Well, theoretically, it does not matter. If you're using 802.11b or whatever, that's a standard and all the equipment should talk. For example, I have the Netgear MR814 router and Linksys USB wireless NICs and haven't had a problem.

That said, there's an advantage to getting the same equipment from the same manufacturer...when you call tech support because something doesn't work, they won't blame it on the other guy

 

[wjsulliv]

As long as your not using Mac's it doesn't matter at all.


With Mac's it only matters in the initial choice of the equipment as some has better compatability with certain functions and OS versions (Some brands will allow apple talk over 802.11b between the wired side and wireless side of a wireless router.). So after you choose the first peice, you should stick with it (presuming your origional choice still meets your needs).

 

[rutchtkim]

Does not matter, that's why we have IEEE standards

 

[cmetz]

Just because a device complies with the IEEE standard doesn't mean it will interoperate, unfortunately, which is why the Wi-Fi consortium was created. Wi-Fi certified hardware has passed some reasonable standard of interoperability testing and is likely to be able to interoperate (that doesn't mean it won't require a little configuration work on your part, though).

Most (all?) new 802.11b gear is Wi-Fi certified and should interoperate.
Most 802.11g gear is rough on interoperability right now.
There's not much data on 802.11a interoperability from what I'm seeing... wonder if people are using it...