Need best quality wireless AP...

[theycallmeaububba]

There are so many wireless brands out there but I know for a fact that they don't meet the specs that the manufacturers are claiming. I have recently tested the Linksys AP and it doesn't even come close to 100 ft indoors. I am lucky if I can get 30 ft out of it, I probably can't even get 30 ft directly without any wall interference.

Can some one point me in the direction of a good wireless AP that will actually serve its purpose and be 100 % efficient in my home?

I noticed that D-Link has a 5GHZ wireless AP. Has anyone tried it???

Xircom looks good to and Cisco is too expensive. A friend has the Cisco AP and it is great, it has no problems through walls, etc.

HELP

Thanks,

Joey

 

[Nighthawk69]

Easy, the SMC Barricade Wireless Router.

 

[JackMDS]

The Wireless manufactures are relatively careful. They usually claim a solid distance when they put the equipment on two towers with no Visual and electrical interference.

Indoors it is any body guess, in part because our environment includes a lot of transmission obstructions. (Elecetrical Screening).

Most of Houses has Insulation with Aluminum Foil cover, metal screens, cordless telephones, microwave etc.

The regular Entry level WIFI is usually bellow 50mW in transmission input.

One option is to buy the next level Access point, and attach it to a regular Cable/DSL Router.

As an Example:

EZ Connect Wireless Access Point/Bridge.

And equip it with Hi gain Antenna.

EZ Connect Wireless High Gain Antenna Kit.

Otherwise - The best reputation in Wireless Cards belong to the Orinoco Gold.

ORiNOCO PC Card - Gold.

And the SMC Wireless Barricade (as suggested by Nighthawk69).

Wireless Routers Compared

When it comes to Wireless your mileage may varied, there are too many environmental variables that are unique to each individual setting.

 

[theycallmeaububba]

And I can share internet with the High gain ANT and AP???

Thanks SMC seems to be the way to go.

 

[ktwebb]

Actually the bulk of the SOHO AP's/Routers are 30mW. (Linksys BEFW11S4 and WAP11 (Hackable to 100), Orinco series (just about all of them), D-Link DI-713P, Apples Airports, Maxgate Ugate3300, Some even less. I couldnt find info on some of the other AP's for what I deem obvious reasons. Weaker output than the residential defacto standard of 30 mW) There are a few with Amtel controllers that can be hacked to 100mW which makes a considerable difference in cell size.

Edit: Did find a few with higher than 30mW output. BreezeCom and Intel offerings. Non Competitive price for home based users. Basically Corporate AP's. 600 to 1100 dollar range. Can't really find a mention of a consumer based AP base power output chart.

 

[theycallmeaububba]

I think I am going to go with the new model SMC barricade and the ORiNOCO card. <b>I assume that you can share an internet connect with this combo?</b>

My neighbor tried they sony version and couldn't share the internet connection and could only use it to transfer files.

Joey

 

[ktwebb]

Well if you, your neighbor, or anyone else for that matter, get an Access Point, and not a Wireless AP/Router Combo, then yeah, you will need another Software or Hardware NAT/Proxy solution to share an internet connection. Sounds like your friend just got an AP, which by itself will not share an internet connection. It will allow him to add wireless clients to his LAN, however, it is not file sharing only. If he has proxy/nat software/hardware between the internet connection and the wireless client it will share it just fine.

 

[rawko]

The 5.4 ghz one is 802.11a, which is NOT compatible with 802.11b (2.4ghz).

 

[ktwebb]

Yeah, that didnt occur to me when you said new. Make sure, if you have an 802.11b client card, and want to be able to use this card, that you buy the 802.11b AP/Router. Or be prepared to buy new client card(s), if you buy the .11a product. Various reasons to upgrade. Bandwidth and lack of other household devices using the same frequency range (5.15-5.35Ghz) being among the most important.

 

[ponch007]

Check Pc Mag Feb 12, 2002. They picked the SMC Barricade 7004awbr as the Editors's Choice Wireless

 

[theycallmeaububba]

Oh, I understand... It has to be an AP and ROuter to allow internet sharing. The router serves out the private ipaddresses.

I am ordering the SMC and the Orinoco card

Thank everyone for the help

 

[cipher00]

Good choice. I've enjoyed the Barricade.

On the 802.11a issue, though: higher bandwidth and a lack of other household devices in that range are good.... but I'm under the impression that 5+GHz will have a harder time penetrating objects (walls, floors, etc.). I haven't seen any conclusive stats yet though, and as JackMDS points out, homes seem to be a crap shoot.

 

[ktwebb]

The higher frequency does lend itself to smaller cell sizes at like power outputs to .11b, usually 30 milliwatt. Higher power, better antennas etc can overcome this. Remains to be seen what each vendor will do to counter this issue.

Edit: pretty good article here that explains some of the differences in the technology (CCK vs OFDM), power, frequencies, etc..

http://www.networkcomputing.com/1201/1201ws1.html