Question about wireless router with USB wireless external doodadds.

[jyates]

Hi all,

I know nothing at all about networking but have been thinking about
sharing my internet connection with my son whose computer is
in the ajoining room.

I have my internet supplied by cox cable and I'm using a
Toshiba cable modem and my computer has built in ethernet
on the motherboard.

My son has a regular PCI network card in his computer.

I saw a wireless Motorola router and an external USB ethernet
device at Target for about $99 and I was interested but wanted
to get some advice from the folks here on Anandtech.

Is wireless a good way to go or since our computers are so close
(right through the wall) would a wired system be better?

Basically I want to give him internet access.

Thanks for any and all help my friends!

Jim

 

[amdskip]

Personally I would run a wire through the wall and use wall jacks to make it look nice. Wireless is cool but the technology is far from perfected.

 

[JackMDS]

Wired connection will be faster and more stable.

However given the prices you are better off buying a Wireless Router.

It has 4 wired ports that you can use (your computer your son and two others).

When ever you want to go Wireless it would just a matter of buying a Wireless Client card.

P.S. The correct price for these items is more like $20 for a Wireless Router on sale and $10 - $20 for a Wireless card (both staples and CompUSA have sales this week with such prices).

Link to: Wireless What Should I Get?

:sun:

P.S. Regardless of what you do never buy a USB Modem/Router.

 

[jyates]

Thanks for the info......Running a wire through the wall
would be no big problem at all.

I had a friend who knew someone who was running a wireless
network and every time they turned their cordless phone on
it knocked them off the internet, so I was worried about how
stable a wireless network was in the first place.

 

[JackMDS]

The truth is that for purposes of Internet surfing Wireless works very well.:thumbsup:

The Phone? Yeah if you use a cheap 2.4GHz phone it would interfere. So would Diesel fuel in regular car.

:sun:

 

[Kelemvor]

Get a good router and you shouldn't have problems with cordless phones. LinkSys and NetGear are great. D-Link and other cheap routers are just that.. Cheap.

For internet browsing a wired connection is no faster that wireless. Both can go faster than your connection allows. For transfering files between computers wired is definitely faster. But most people don't transfer huge files between computers so it really doesn't matter.

Also many people have better luck with an actual PCI Wireless Network card than the USB types but that's more personal preference.

Good Luck.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Get a good router and you shouldn't have problems with cordless phones. LinkSys and NetGear are great. D-Link and other cheap routers are just that.. Cheap.

Hmm... I was told that NetGear and D-Link use the same OEM.

:sun:

 

[amdskip]

I will not buy another netgear wireless router for a while. I've had 3 defective ones in a row. Linksys wireless products have worked great for me.

 

[JackMDS]

So please Help me out.

How come Franky likes Linksys, and Netgear?

AMDskip likes only Linksys, and hate Netgear?

I had trouble with some of Linksys models, I like some of the D-Link models , and I am neutral about Netgear.

So as far as real technology goes what is the story? :disgust::shocked::roll:

:sun:

P.S. I have no affiliation, No finance Interest, and No connection with any of the Network Hardware Brands (or any other Hardware Brand) that is mentioned.

:thumbsup:

 

[imported_bajan]

Originally posted by: JackMDSP.S. Regardless of what you do never buy a USB Modem/Router.

Why?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: bajan

Originally posted by: JackMDSP.S. Regardless of what you do never buy a USB Modem/Router.

Why?

Yeah, it is simple.

USB Modem has to go to a computer USB port.

As a result the whole gamut of Routers, Wireless and other Network goodies become unavailable or at best very problematic and Quirky to use.

:sun:

 

[Kelemvor]

I think LinkSys is the best quality and would rank NetGear and SMC next as I have them in my house and have never had a problem. I'd put most other things underneath that in the "everything else" category.