Need help deciding on Wi-Fi Parts

[leglez]

Ok this is going to be my first Wi-Fi setup and its just because we dont want to run wires through the walls in our new house so here is what i will have hooked up to it:

3 PCs (1 older family PC, 1 Multi-Media/Gaming PC, and 1 Server)
2 Xboxs
2 Ps2s
1 Laptop

So I need the following but need suggestions:

1 Wireless router
4 Game System Adapters or whatever i could use for the Ps2s and Xboxs
3 PC Adapters
And Possibly Antennas
The Laptop already has a wireless card in it

 

[OdiN]

Linksys:

WRT54G router (or WRT54GS the one with speed booster)

WUSB54GP portable USB Wireless adapter x 3 for your computers. This will allow optimal placement for best signal and these units work great.

For the game adapter...are the systems located near each other? Basically do you have like a PS2/Xbox both by each other in the same location? If so you can use this:

WET54GS5 - Wireless Etherenet Bridge w/ 5-port switch. You could plug ethernet from the consoles right into the switch and that may be less expensive than buying four of these:

WET54G - Wireless Ethernet Bridge

(EDIT - did a price check on the bridge with switch and it's roughly twice the price of the single bridge...though it looks cooler and will take less plugs on your power strip if you get the one with the switch since the cost won't be much different.)

I have the WET54GS5 for some compenents in my living room and it works very well.

If you have a large house you may want to get a WRE54G - Wireless Range Expander - it will pickup the signal from the router and repeat it extending the coverage area of your network.

You probably won't need any extra antennas.

 

[JackMDS]

Link to: Wireless What Should I Get?

:sun:

 

[leglez]

The family PC has USB 1.1 so will the WUSB54GP still work it says its only for 2.0

Is there something a little less expensive with less ports for the gaming adapters cause there is 1 ps2 and 1 xboxs and sometimes another xbox/ps2 in my room and then there is 1 ps2 in my brothers room and i dont want to put one with 5 ports in my brothers room who will only use 1 and i dont want 5 in my room if i will only use 2 also the router will be in my room so will 1 ps2, 1 xbox, 1 gaming pc, and 1 server and if i need anything else i will hook ethernet cord up to it

also would it be better to hook the server upto the router through the LAN because it is going to be a local server, and my server for my websites

And does that router have a way to make it so that my neighbors can't get onto my network? And if so is it possible to make it so that my friends laptop can and will the connection be able to go from my house across the street to his house?

 

[OdiN]

Anything that is in the same room I would use a ethernet cable just because it is a LOT cheaper.

That router has encryption as well as MAC filtering. You can allow your friend's laptop to use it but it may not reach across the street. It depends on where your room is located, any interferance, the quality of his wireless card's reception, etc. Lots of variables. I have this same router and with my Dell 600m w/ Dell WLAN card I could probably do it but it wouldn't be a 54MBps connection.

As for the less expensive game adapters...I don't know. I recommended the linksys ones because I've used them and I know they work good. I'm sure there is less expensive out there.