need some networking advice (please)

[goatweed]

ok, the hardware :

4 year old Dell Dimension, XP Pro
2 month old Dell Dimension, XP Pro
X-Box (live)
Ps2 (online)

currently, all of this is in my "computer lab" (aka the small den) and the consoles are connected to a 19" crappy TV. I have (in the living room upstairs) a 36" Sony XBR400 digital HDTV. I would like to move the x-box and ps2 up there, but my internet connection is in the den and moving it isn't an option. Plus, I'd like to connect the two pc's so I can use them both (I would use the old one mainly for media storage).

as I understand it, the best way to achieve all of this would be with a router and linking everything up - which is fine for the PC's, but when it comes to the consoles wiring them up and over to the living room would just be way too complicated and difficult. So, I start looking into wireless networking and from what I have read, I would want to take advantage of 802.11g technology since I would be gaming a lot (I game on the consoles as well as the PC).

since the PC's and the router are so close, i would like them wired - but I need wireless for the consoles. Are there routers that do both? Or is it all or nothing? Also, I would appreciate any router/misc hardware recommendations you guys have, as I know absolutely nothing about networking.

Also, I remember hearing that wireless connections for gaming were slower than wired - is this still the case? I hope not.

Thanks in advance for all replies!

 

[kkdeals]

wireless is definetely slow on wired conn atleast on gaming

and i have a dlink(DI 614+) which i connect with two desktops(wired-RJ45) and a laptop(use wireless conn 802.11g)...i believe pretty much every router supports wired and wireless conn..but no USB port on the router...

hope this helps

 

[goatweed]

it does actually - I just realized that all wireless routers support wired as well.

Gaming is slow, even on a g-based router? That's not good news at all

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: goatweed
it does actually - I just realized that all wireless routers support wired as well.

Gaming is slow, even on a g-based router? That's not good news at all

I'd reccommend that you just find a way to lay the wire.

If you are renting then run it along the floor or up the wall.

If you own your own home this shouldnt be a concern. Running wire through your basement or under your carpet really isn't a big deal.

 

[goatweed]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007

Originally posted by: goatweed
it does actually - I just realized that all wireless routers support wired as well.

Gaming is slow, even on a g-based router? That's not good news at all

I'd reccommend that you just find a way to lay the wire.

If you are renting then run it along the floor or up the wall.

If you own your own home this shouldnt be a concern. Running wire through your basement or under your carpet really isn't a big deal.

well I own, but it really is a pain in the ass to run the cable - my living room is above my garage, and to get up there I would need a miracle - its hard to explain, but lets just say it wouldn't be easy.

is the speed decrease that noticeable from a wired setup?

 

[Teva24]

Wireless speed vs Cat5 speed is really not an issue when you are gamming, only when doing large file copies.

I routinely play (as the host) of 8 player Warcraft3 games, 802.11b. And it's flawless. Most multiplayer games are desigend to run over a 56k modem, so unless you have a really slow connection or poorly configured wifi setup you're fine.

Keep this in mind, most connections max out around T1 speeds for downloads, and alot less for uploads. So if you are going to be playing online, your biggest bottleneck will still be the upload speed of your ISP, not your Wireless network.

802.11b maxes out at 11mbits, but in reality it's more like 4mbits. T1 is 1.544mbit. Wifi can handle T1 speeds no problem.

802.11b will add about 13-16miliseconds to your pings (network lag).
Quick compairison:
10/100mbit ethernet: 2-3milisecond
28.8 Modem: 200-300milisecond
DSL/CABLE: 64-80milisecond
T1: 30-45milisecond
802.11b: 13-16milisecond

Really it's the path between you and the person you are playing against that will determine the lag. bandwith shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Nothinman]

wireless is definetely slow on wired conn atleast on gaming

Not true. I've played games over 802.11b, connecting to an AirPort Base station and latency was fine, under 50ms (it's been a while so I don't remember how low it was) which is more than playable.

 

[goatweed]

thanks guys, this is really helpful.

I think I'm gonna go with a wireless 4 port, since I'll have the option to hardwaire anyway if the wireless is that bad (though should I end up having to wire....ugh).

I was also thinking of going with a router that uses the newer G standard, since its B compatible and seemingly is the way to go far speed (at least for now).

I know they're popular, but what do you guys think of Linksys routers? Are there any better ones I should consider?

 

[Nothinman]

I think most Linksys devices run a form of Linux, so I'm all for them =)

There was a semi-recent discussion on LKML about the Linksys devices and how Linksys wasn't providing the source for products like the license says they must, after a little contact with them Linksys started putting the source on the CDs so if you know Linux you can do some really cool things with those Linksys devices, anything that runs on Linux can potentially be setup on them =)

 

[goatweed]

so my next question is...whats a good wireless router to get?

A lot of people have been talking about the Linksys BEFW11S4, but its 802.11b - I'd be looking for a comparable model in the "g" family. I would also need a wireless ethernet bridge (I think) for the consoles, as I'll leave the PC's wired.

Do you guys have any other recommendations?

 

[goatweed]

just a little "bump".

 

[goatweed]

ok, so I talk to my friend this morning and I tell him about my dilemma - so he says he knows a guy that can come and do the wiring for me if I want, all I would need to do is buy the cable - so now I can have an all wired setup rather than wired and wireless.

Should I still get a wireless router? I'll be able to use the 4 wired ports, but if I get a laptop I could connect it wirelessly without losing any of the ports (thinking down the road)....or I could just get a wired router and save some coin (thinking present).

Sorry, I know I'm sounding extremely n003ish, but when it comes to networking stuff, I really am completely clueless as to what's good or not good.

 

[Teva24]

Advice: Get a WiFi AP seperate from your router. Easier firmware fixes/upgrades (not tied together). If one fails you aren't stuck with a half dead piece of equipment. If you someday want to upgrade to a new wifi format or router you can keep the other part.

Keep devices that are desigend to do different things seperate.

Linksys BEFSR41 router and Linksys WAP11v2.2 (make sure it's the v2.2 or v2.6) WiFi for 802.11b, of course get the right AP if you want 802.11g or a.