Need help setting up 802.11b wireless network

LordFortius

Senior member
Mar 11, 2001
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I'm setting up a wireless network for my home in the next couple days, and essentially what it will be used for is to hook up two desktops and two laptops. One desktop, which is near my cable modem (and thus near the wireless base station) will be hooked up by wired ethernet, the other desktop will be in the room directly above the base station and use a wireless connection(too lazy to run ethernet cable), and of course the two laptops will be wireless as well. All I will be doing with the laptops is kind of moving around my house, and going outside to the lake in back of my house, which is be approximately 120 feet out.

My main problem is that I'm still not quite sure what hardware to order. Basically, what it comes down to is the 3com wireless gateway vs. the Linksys EtherFast Wireless AP + Cable/DSL Router w/ 4-Port Switch. The Linksys seems like it has some better features, however, I am hesitant to get a Linksys product over a 3com product. I've never used a Linksys and I haven't heard very good comments about them either. What do you guys think? Also, what Wireless LAN pc card should I get for my laptops? and the PCI card for my desktop? I'm kind of partial to one of the 3com pc card models because of its X-Jack antenna, but are there any other good brands to buy wireless pc cards and PCI cards from?
 

xyyz

Diamond Member
Sep 3, 2000
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if you dont mind sepnding a bit more money... get the Cisco 350 series products...
 

xyyz

Diamond Member
Sep 3, 2000
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if you dont mind sepnding a bit more money... get the Cisco Aironet 350 series products...
 

AnimeKnight

Golden Member
Jan 8, 2000
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I second XYYZ
I have the aironet 350.. easy to setup no problem at all..
i am using SMC barricade as my wireless router it goes about 120 feet radius cuz i was able to use it across the street at my neighbor's garage
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
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According to what people reports on various BBS, and my own experience: It seems that a combination of Wireless Barricade (about $260), and Lucent Orinoco Silver Wireless Card (about $120) yields good results, for "modest price".

More expensive. The Cisco line is very good they have a selection of External Antenna that is not offered elsewhere. External Antenna that can be manipulated in term of position, and orientation can increase the distance significantly.

Discount vendors don?t stock these items (probably because of relatively low demand by individuals).

Look at Amazon.com, Buy.com, Egghead.com, Outpost.com, Computres4sure.com, if they have it the price is usually decent.

Look at the sale sites they have reports on current sales; some of these items are on sale in BestBuy, CompUsa, or Circuit city.


Look here for Charts and reviews of Wireless equipment.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/wireless_chart.htm




 

Jorrit

Member
Jun 4, 2001
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sitecom is a lot cheaper and works fine if you have few computers connected. btw, if you have 6 or less computers connected you can do without the gateway...

 

LordFortius

Senior member
Mar 11, 2001
358
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the cisco looks nice but I also want to have something with a built in switcher that has at least 3 ethernet ports for a regular lan. I will find out more about the SMC though.
 

fab

Member
Jun 7, 2001
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D-Link??

I've been looking for the same setup and have been leaning toward D-Link which I don't see mentioned in all these replies. They have a wide range of products and good prices. Has anyone had any experience with D-Link? particularly is there any reason not to go with them?

I'm still open and searching for the right thing to do here. What say you folks out there?
 

fab

Member
Jun 7, 2001
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The link below is to the best review article I've seen so far on 802.11b products. It is a bit dated, 15 feb 2001, but the info in it is still good. I believe 128bit security features may be more widely available amongst the products now. Also, some newer products are out, but the basic laydown of info is still pertainent:

http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2685397,00.html

The next link is to a "talkback" to the article that brings out one of the important issues in wireless networking, Antennas:

http://www.zdnet.com/tlkbck/comment/221/0,7721,106568-826619,00.html

And finally another important issue is cited in the "talkback" link below,Signal Capture:

http://www.zdnet.com/tlkbck/comment/221/0,7721,106568-740972,00.html