• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

In the market for a wireless network - want suggestions.

G

Garet Jax

Diamond Member
Hello all,

It is my birthday coming up and my wife wants to get me a present that I want (unlike the bowling ball I gave her 🙂). I am thinking of going wireless at home.

I currently have a Linux firewall/internet gateway running that is my link to my cable modem. If I understand things properly, I only need a Wireless Access Point(WAP) and I do not need a wireless router/gateway (since it would duplicate my Linux box and I want to keep it around).

If this is true, then I would plug my WAP into my switch and it would be the same as plugging the wireless device directly into the switch.

If any of this is false, please let me know.

Having said all of this (and the real reason for my post), I would like some suggestions on WAP products that are good for accomplishing the above task. Thanks.
 
yeah, you'd just need to plug your WAP into your switch and you'd be set

are you looking for wireless access for a laptop or for a desktop?

i'd probably go with an orinoco gold card for the wireless NIC and something by SMC for a WAP
 
Some general Info:

What do I need for wireless networking?

WAPs usually have DHCP that has to be disabled in case the WAP goes into a system that already has DHCP.

Since you have a Linux Box, you have to be careful about the Hardware, and make sure that they are working together, a lot of them are Win only gizmos.

BTW, Microcenter has currently a sale of SMC Wireless Barricade for $99 (after rebate). A comparable WAP probably will cost more.

Scroll to the end to see the rebate.

Barricade Wireless Cable/DSL 4-Port Router
 
Actually I've been thinking about doing this myself, I've got a D-Link AP here doing NAT but in another location I've got a linux box with a wired network. I've been thinking about just putting another network card in the linux box and running an ad-hoc network like that. The AP though might be more flexable with things like MAC addy filtering though.....
 
Originally posted by: sohcrates
are you looking for wireless access for a laptop or for a desktop?
Click to expand...

Initially for the laptop, but I may need it eventually for desktop machines as well.
 
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Some general Info:

What do I need for wireless networking?

WAPs usually have DHCP that has to be disabled in case the WAP goes into a system that already has DHCP.

Since you have a Linux Box, you have to be careful about the Hardware, and make sure that they are working together, a lot of them are Win only gizmos.

BTW, Microcenter has currently a sale of SMC Wireless Barricade for $99 (after rebate). A comparable WAP probably will cost more.

Scroll to the end to see the rebate.

Barricade Wireless Cable/DSL 4-Port Router
Click to expand...

Jack,

Thanks for the links.
 
I personally recommend Linksys products. I tried a long range wireless setup with a D Link router and D Link cards and it would not work. The signal was too weak. I switched to the Linksys AP Switch router and It worked like a champ witht eh D Link cards. Since then I have added another machine and used a Linksys card and its signal strength is even stronger than that of the D link card at about the same range. Obviously more signal strength meansa higher connection transfer rate for faster file transfers and such. My D Link card will only reach my Linksys router at 2 Mb/sec while my linksys card will reach at 11 at the same range. It is true in this case that you get what you pay for and the extra 40 bucks for the Linksys router as worth it along with the extra 30 for the linksys card. BTW I used USB cards cause they are flexible to either laptop or desktop and allow more mobility to increase signal strength plus they seem to be what the stores put on sale most often. So you're more likely to find a deal. Hope that helps
 
OK. How about this one. I found lots of useful information on the SMC Barricade SMC7004AWBR. It seems that the biggest complaint (aside from needing to reboot everyday which looks to have been fixed with a firmware upgrade) is that SMC basically took a cable modem router and plopped wireless capabilities on top of it. As a result, people were finding the certain things were awkward for the wireless side of things (MAC filtering, WEP enablement, etc...).

One person suggested that the SMC 2655W was built from the ground up to be a WAP and therefore got around the awkwardness. The problem is that it seems very few people have used and reviewed the 2655. I could barely find any data on it.

Has anyone here had first hand experience using the 2655W? Can they give me an opinion?

Anyone know where it has been reviewed? I am especially interested in seeing a comparison to the wireless capabilities of the SMC7004AWBR.

Thanks a lot.
 
Originally posted by: Relayer
hmmm, at this point I would almost hold out for 802.11g
Click to expand...

Relayer,

Can you provide a couple of reasons? As I see it, 802.11g compliant products are not likely to be released for a few months. The first couple of products will likely be before the protocol is totally nailed down so you run the compatability risk. It may make sense to wait an additional couple of months until 802.11g is totally standardized. In addition, the only thing 802.11g provides above and beyond 802.11a is backwards compatability with 802.11b. However, in so doing, it still provides the shortcomings 802.11b provides (namely interference with other 2.4 GHz appliances, more difficult channels assignments and a limit of 3 overlapping devices). Whereas 802.11a fixes all three of these problems by running in the 5GHz range. From what I understand, the range of 802.11g will be very comparable to 802.11a at the higher speeds. The only problem I see with 802.11a is not being compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g.

Based on this, the only reasons I see waiting for 802.11g are:
  • Large investment in 802.11b and want backward compatability
  • 802.11b appliances are much cheaper now and the latest ones may provide firmware upgrades to 802.11g
  • Waiting for 802.11g will likely cause the price of 802.11a appliances to drop to be more competitive
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top