Router or Access Point?

[GTdrew]

Already posted in genereal hardware. Sorry for the repost forgot about networking forum.

Will the Netgear ME102 802.11b Wireless Access Point provide better wireless connection than the Netgear MR314Cable/DSL 802.11b Wireless Router??

Basically I already have a wired router and just need an Access Point. I got a great deal on this router but will just exchange it for an Access Point if it will work better as far as range goes.

Thanks

 

[rw120555]

I prefer separate router & AP because

(a) It is easier to move the AP around to get optimal placement
(b) Separate APs have a few extra bells and whistles that may come in handy someday, e.g. you can configure them as bridges or clients
(c) A modular setup is nice if you want or need to replace part but not all of your equipment someday, e.g. you later switch to 802.11a, or the AP part goes bad.

I don't know that it makes a big difference though. I think Netgear claims equal range for both devices.

 

[GTdrew]

Decided to stick with the router. If I ever move I can just keep the wireless router and let one of my roommates have the linksys 4 port router. Only advantage I see is the AP has 2 antennaes. As it is I see %80 at the farthest point in my house. More than fast enoughtfor my dsl connection which tops out at 1.5 megs a second.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: GTdrew Only advantage I see is the AP has 2 antennaes.

Many Wireless Cable/DSL Routers have two Antennae too.

Most of these Antennae are either useless or fake.

So basically Access Point has no use!

I wonder why they sell them?

Or may be RW is right?

 

[ktwebb]

Fake? That'd be a trip.

Two antennas handle multipath interference problems much, much better than a single dipole. With limited SOHO AP experience I'd guess that the ones that do have dual di-poles do not have an option to turn off diversity, it's on by default. Which is fine, very few circumstances where you would not want diversity turned on.

Multipath, for those that can still remember circa cable TV days, would cause the ghost images you'd see when receiving your tv signal through the air. Multipath is RF signals bouncing off structures, affecting signal strength, quality, etc.. due to the fact that the bounced waves get recieved out of phase with the original, assumably line of sight straight path signal. Diversity antennas continually switch the signal between the two antennas, counteracting fading produced by multipath. That's a dumbed down explanation of diversity antennas but two antennas (assuming one is not fake. hehe) are always better than one. It may not matter, depending on the environment. My AP/Router only has one dipole, but if their was a same model choice with two, the two dipole device is the better choice every time.