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Need reccomendations on wireless.

L

LuNoTiCK

Diamond Member
I need people's recommendations on wireless. It will only be used for internet. I would like to get it as secure as possible, but not break the budget completely. I'm really not sure what to go with. If anyone can give me suggestions it would be great.

I need to set up wireless at two places. One will be with Verizon DSL, and another one will be with Optimum Online.
 
On Wireless:

802.11b vs. 802.11g.

For Internet surfing it does mot matter since Internet broadband connection is slower than 802.11b

For traffic across Internal LAN, 802.11g is significantly faster.

General Wireless info.

802.11b = 11Mb/sec. Network "Speed" (Carrier transmission 2.4GHz)
802.11g = 54Mb/sec. Network "Speed" (Carrier transmission 2.4GHz)

Wireless Ethernet needs additional protocol over head for the transfer. In addition, it is not as stable as Wired so it needs extra processing procedures.

As a result the 11Mb/sec. of the Network chipset is translated to a much lower actual performance. Usually 4-6Mb/sec.

Few 802.11b hardware units are also capable to work at 22Mb/sec.(usually referred to as b+) it is nice if it works, in real term will yield 20%-40% more than 11Mb/sec. systems.

The 802.11g line that is rated 54Mb/sec. in the real world it yields 18-22Mb/sec.

The differences between the first set of graphs to the second represent the performance differences between 802.11b to 802.11g. It might give you a good idea about indoor's distance coverage. Your actual distance might be different. Indoor coverage depends heavily on the envioroment; graphs like this should be used to understand the relation in performance between Wireless hardware. .

Link: 802.11a/b/g SOHO Routers & Access Points: Performance

The following collection of links might help.

Ignore the prices in the links bellow. The same or similar hardware can be found for 60%-90% less.

Link: AnandTech - FAQ. What do I need for wireless Networking?

Link: Wireless Cable/DSL Router or Access Point - What should I get?

Link: Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

Link: Wireless Security for the Home User.

Link: Wireless Network Troubleshooting,

Link: How do I use a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point?

What should I get.

Networking in General is no CPU OverClocking or "squeezing" few frames from a "puny" Video card, it is more complicated.

The number of variables that goes into the equation of each situation is so variant that it is impossible to give one rule of thumb.

If the Wireless Computer is going to be used in the vicinity of the Wireless Gateway, and you are going for 802.11b buy the cheapest you can find. You can get a Wireless Cable/DSL Router for about $29.99 + PCMCIA card for $19.99 (both after rebate).

To achieve the top of Entry Level Wireless performance (as of Sep; 2003) I would use a cheap Wired Router, and combine it with a 802.11g set of Access Point and Client Cards by either D-Link or Linksys.
 
Thanks for all the great info, looks like I have to do a lot of research. If I have any questions, I know who to ask.
 
Don't forget the always solid Proxim/Orinoco products....they are great performers, and they have good 802.11b/g options, just not as cheap as you might like (not breaking the bank though).
 
Just chiming in too...If you want really really dependable access points, get Orinoco. (HP also has a cloned ORINOCO)
 
Orinoco is very good.

However the price of the Orinoco 802.11b is close to the price of deals that can be found for 802.11g.

So if you already pay more you might as well get 802.11g.

Any 802.11g will do better than Orinoco 802.11b.


 
I guess I am the only one, but I personally dont care for Proxims. I have about 100+ at my facilities, and they are a PIA. I am basing it only on this scenario, but I would recommend to anyone to stay away. I prefer Cisco Aironet if cost is of no issue. Cheaper alternative is either Linksys (1) or D-Link (2).

-Mack
 
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Orinoco is very good.

However the price of the Orinoco 802.11b is close to the price of deals that can be found for 802.11g.

So if you already pay more you might as well get 802.11g.

Any 802.11g will do better than Orinoco 802.11b.
Click to expand...

And if you are willing to pay more for 802.11g, why not pay for a Orinoco 802.11b/g card...

😉
 
From my (somewhat) limited understanding, the Orinoco cards are made by lucent and are resold under different names. I too have used a proxim card and wasn't impressed, but other Orinoco cards I have used have been nice.
 
In general netgear equipment is also very solid. I personally do not understand any preferance for linksys. Their range is impacted 2 out of 3 times
 
Need to know more about your sites and possible interference, etc. Also, do you want the cheapest option or the best long-term investment?
 
Originally posted by: faye
my notebook support centrino, is 802.11b the fastest that i can get?
Click to expand...

can someone help me? up up

actually, is centrino only support 802.11b? if this is the case, i would rather get a 802.11b for now and get a G later when it gets cheaper
 
Your Centrino notebook has a built in antenna. If it is 802.11b then that is the fastest you can do without installing a new card, assuming your router is g capable. Some of the newer laptops ship with b/g compatibility, you will have to check which one yours is. If it is g you will need a g router as well.
 
Ended up getting a Microsoft Router, worked like crap. Constant disconnecting, would work with only 1 computer at a time. I was sure that it should be easy to install, but it wasn't. It's not just that it had a bad router, I switched from the G to the B version. Maybe it was me, but I also think that the router simply sucks. I even had to resort to calling Microsoft Tech Support, and of course they didn't know anything.

I ended up returning the router for a Linksys WRT54G, and it worked beautifully. It didn't cause any problems at all, and was so simple to install. But it was too expensive.
 
I should have told you to stay away from Microsoft Networking products. NETGEAR is a solid product, and for the most part inexpensive.
 
If you had to choose between Linksys and Netgear, who takes the crown? I have heard good and bad on both the wireless G models for them. I want to go wireless with a Mac G3 and my Desktop PC and am having a hard time choosing which brand to go with. I currently have a Linksys cable/DSL router and have never had any issues but when reading reviews for the Linksys wrt54g I heard allot of bad things. Any suggestions?


Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!





Lothar1974
:beer:
 
I haven't used Linksys, so I cannot attest to their quality personally. I have heard good things about them though. I personally use NETGEAR wireless products, and I am very happy. The MR814v2 has been excellent to me. I have had no compatibility issues with any card manufacture I have tried. The MA521 card is great as well, TX/RX is clear outside almost to the street.
 
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