Need recommendations for a wireless desktop

[Caveman]

Been out of the loop for a while, but from what I remember, wireless solutions are never options on a full size ATX MoBo, like the LGA 1366 X58 PT6 Asus, etc...

This presents a problem since I need network capability on the desktop just after I put the hardware together, in a location without hardwired access to my cable service.

Assumption is I have to install some sort of "addon" card to the MoBo to get wireless access.

Any recommendations for a cheap solution? It will only be used during final config of the machine and during emergencies when the desktop has no hardwired access. To that end, it needs to be "in the background", but easily activated.

Can someone here help me understand my options with respect to wireless support for a desktop machine... Again, assumption is wireless is not a standard ATX MoBo freebie... Maybe this is wrong assumption...

 

[JackMDS]

Edimax, PCI - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833315041

Driver/Utility for Windows 98SE/Me/2K/XP/XP 64/Vista/Vista 64

http://www.edimax.us/html/english/frames/b-download.htm

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[Magusigne]

Jack,

I'm in the same boat to where I don't have a wired connection.

I do alot of online gaming typical pings of ~60ms on my wired connection.

By using the wireless card you mentioned in my tower...can I expect quite a difference (I realize it varies on connection strength).

Do you recommend this card over most others..or is there a better router/card combo that is better than this and a simply WRTG linksys?

Edit: So I've read that getting a "N" wireless router and an "N" card provides quite a speed boost and better for gaming. On my network however there are 2 laptops that use a "G" connection.

Can I get a good router that does both N and G providing gaming speeds on the N and still allowing the G laptops to connect?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127218 for the card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127215 for the router

should work with both my laptops and my desktop with that card?

 

[Madwand1]

Look into wireless bridges. They'll support multiple devices, are OS independent, need no special drivers or configuration and beat the heck out of temporarily installing, configuring, trouble-shooting and uninstalling devices.

There are a few of these available off-the-shelf, but they tend to have a price premium for the setup convenience. E.g. D-Link DAP-1522, Linksys WET610N (single port only, but supports a switch).

For a bit more trouble, you could get any DD-WRT or Tomato compatible device, flash it with that firmware, and run it in client bridge mode. E.g. Asus WL-520gU. You have to read the guides and follow them carefully to get this working, but once it's working, it's pretty much plug & play for every computer / device which comes along.

 

[Magusigne]

Look into wireless bridges. They'll support multiple devices, are OS independent, need no special drivers or configuration and beat the heck out of temporarily installing, configuring, trouble-shooting and uninstalling devices.

There are a few of these available off-the-shelf, but they tend to have a price premium for the setup convenience. E.g. D-Link DAP-1522, Linksys WET610N (single port only, but supports a switch).

For a bit more trouble, you could get any DD-WRT or Tomato compatible device, flash it with that firmware, and run it in client bridge mode. E.g. Asus WL-520gU. You have to read the guides and follow them carefully to get this working, but once it's working, it's pretty much plug & play for every computer / device which comes along.

I'm looking into it but I don't understand really the point of a wireless bridge.

Here's what I have on hand..I can purchase whatever if needed.

I have 1 modem connected to the classic Linksys WRTG which is wired to a desktop- I have 2 laptops wirelessly connected and then in an area of the house I can't get cable to.. is my desktop (which online game heavily on)

I have 1 spare Linksys WRT54G aside from the 1 that is already hooked up.

I'll flash both of them to Tomato (which appears to be a bios?).
I've heard getting a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156250
gigabit switch would help.

how should I go about setting up my network.

Modem---->Router 1--->Switch llllll House lllll Router 2---->Home PC wired to router 2

Does that work for greatest speed to my home PC

 

[JackMDS]

Powernick50 since you have the hardware for the Wireless Bridge solution (as suggested by MadWand) try it first.

I do not know how it would effect Wireless "Speed", but it should be more stable than Wireless Card, and if needed you can Boost a little the Wireless output in the Routers.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3810281

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[Magusigne]

Powernick50 since you have the hardware for the Wireless Bridge solution (as suggested by MadWand) try it first.

I do not know how it would effect Wireless "Speed", but it should be more stable than Wireless Card, and if needed you can Boost a little the Wireless output in the Routers.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3810281

.

Looks good.

I'll flash one of the routers to Tomatoe and have it run in client mode in my desktops room..then ethernet cable from the client router to my desktop.

 

[her209]

I'm looking into it but I don't understand really the point of a wireless bridge.

Instead of installing wireless network cards in each device that needs LAN/Internet connection, you'd connect them via Ethernet cable to the wireless bridge and use it to create a wireless connection. Think of it as an uplink connection between two switches (except done wirelessly).

 

[Magusigne]

Instead of installing wireless network cards in each device that needs LAN/Internet connection, you'd connect them via Ethernet cable to the wireless bridge and use it to create a wireless connection. Think of it as an uplink connection between two switches (except done wirelessly).

Ah..I see..it's like a wireless router itself except instead of having a direct ethernet connection to the modem it uses the wireless signal.

Gotcha.

 

[her209]

Ah..I see..it's like a wireless router itself except instead of having a direct ethernet connection to the modem it uses the wireless signal.

Gotcha.

No, it has a wireless connection to the other wireless router that is connected to the modem.

Example

 

[her209]

Another couple of pluses of using a wireless bridge over individual wireless NICs:

- devices connected to the same wireless bridge communicate via wire
- some wireless networks cards may not support the same levels of encryption, e.g., WPA2+TKIP, thus forcing you to use a lower encryption.

A minus:

- single point of failure

 

[Emulex]

just use a router - like dd-wrt in client mode- connects to your pc via ethernet- has big badass antennas and adjustable rates - program it to join your network (NOT BRIDGE, client mode) and fuggedaboutit.

i'd do that before putting a noisy hot pci card in the pc. i've had alot of instability with pci wifi cards (compared to this solution or hell even usb only).