Setting up a wireless home network

[krnmastersgt]

I'm fine when it comes to standard computer hardware, troubleshooting etc. But I have no earthly idea what makes a wireless router/modem better than the next except maybe max speeds (my connection is nowhere near that, so not valid?) rated effective distance and the big companies in this line of hardware (Linksys and D-Link come to mind).

So I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion on a router+modem seeing as how Comcast see's it fit that I not be allowed 2 modems at once.

Also looking for a PCI/USB adapter for the computer that I'm moving, my main rig is staying hooked by a cable (hopefully the router will have a few ports?).

I'd make a thread in Networking but that seemed more the place to go once I started having problems with the network, not getting it set-up?

Going to Fry's in about half an hour, looking to pick it up today if at all possible (I dislike going to this particular Fry's for some reason, so I try to make as few trips as possible).

 

[yhelothar]

Just look up lots and lots of user reviews and choose the highest rated ones. There's a lot of duds out there that drops connections easily or overheats.

 

[JackMDS]

The whole idea of a Router is to use one connection (one modem) for few computers.

Take the Modem from Comcast.

Buy this Router, Asus WL-520GU http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023

Buy and install this PCI Wireless, Edimax - PCI http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833315041

The whole system should look like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/router.jpg

 

[krnmastersgt]

I was looking for something more in the line of a gateway as opposed to a separate router but it was an option to begin with, what I'm clueless about is what makes 1 router better than the next within the same frequency, the range output/signal strength was another thing I was looking at but unfortunately on the retail packages there's no indication of the max operation distance which I found extremely annoying.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
the range output/signal strength was another thing I was looking at but unfortunately on the retail packages there's no indication of the max operation distance which I found extremely annoying.

That's probably a good thing as you pretty much will not get whatever range is advertised.

The wireless card JackMDS suggests would probably be a good choice due to the external antenna. While the antenna wire and extra connectors lose some signal, the placement of the antenna can more than make up for it.

 

[boomhower]

Another thing to consider is what frequency you get. If you live in an apartment building or similiar with a lot of other wireless networks you can run into interference problems can seriously hurt your performance. The same can also happen with cordless phones, baby monitors, etc. Wifi B/G both run in the 2.4Ghz. You may want to consider a 5.8Ghz set-up if the circumstances warrant.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
I was looking for something more in the line of a gateway as opposed to a separate router but it was an option to begin with, what I'm clueless about is what makes 1 router better than the next within the same frequency, the range output/signal strength was another thing I was looking at but unfortunately on the retail packages there's no indication of the max operation distance which I found extremely annoying.

This does not make any technical sense.

May be you want to explain better what is the system that you have now.

BTW. If the retail packages marketing verbiage (AKA ""Technical Data"") would have any credible value there would be No need to have Technical Forums.

 

[Soul Reputation]

In the last 30 days I bought two Belkin N-routers. I took one of them back to the store to get my money back and soon I'll be taking the other one back to Costco.

I have a wireless mouse. The Belkin router freezes the cursor on an intermittant basis, which makes it a little like a virus in that you can't use your computer! If you can't move the cursor, you can't use the computer.

So if you're hard at work on the computer sailing right along on a project, and all of a sudden your cursor locks up, you'll get very frustrated. Time is money and money is time....

The Belkin user guide offers no solution for this problem, nor do they even address the issue. Forget Belkin.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
I was looking for something more in the line of a gateway as opposed to a separate router but it was an option to begin with, what I'm clueless about is what makes 1 router better than the next within the same frequency, the range output/signal strength was another thing I was looking at but unfortunately on the retail packages there's no indication of the max operation distance which I found extremely annoying.

This does not make any technical sense.

May be you want to explain better what is the system that you have now.

BTW. If the retail packages marketing verbiage (AKA ""Technical Data"") would have any credible value there would be No need to have Technical Forums.

What doesn't make sense about it? I was looking for a gateway (modem+router) as opposed to a router so I could return the modem I've been using.

I understand the noise problems I'll get with any other devices operating on the same frequency (which is why I opted for 5.8ghz wireless handsets for the house instead of 2.8). Any way to check what the frequency of the surrounding signals is? On my laptop there's about 4-5 signals strong enough to reach my house from the surrounding neighborhood.

And while it may be a bunch of lies on the packaging as it is with most computer hardware, I'd still like some general info on how far the theoretical range is

 

[bob4432]

i went w/ a linksys wrt54g v2 and am using Firmware Version: v4.30.1, HyperWRT 2.1b1 tofu13c [Feb 7 2006] along w/ a motorola cable modem.

this setup has worked very well for me as i have the modem going into the router, the router into a coupole GbE switches placed around the condo for moving large files and the router setup for wireless g for the laptops and it is also the dhcp server. the key here is the firmware - when this router had linksys firmware it wasn't so hot, but after i changed out the firmware very shortly after i bought it all things work very well. this router currently has an uptime of only 44days - that was because i replaced my ups, but it has gone over a year before w/out a reboot.

as far as range, w/ the stock antennas, i get easy 50ft through 4 or 5 walls and many noises in the condo - 1 - being in a condo where i can see 6-10 other aps around, cell phone, flourescents lights, microwaves all on the same 2.4GHz spectrum. this has been a very good setup. i have not tested any further than that, but i am still getting an excellent signal. i did move the power up on the router to 100% fwiw.

to me, it was more important what i could get in the area of 3rd party firmware than the stock stuff which is very limiting.

this passes the wife test, so it is good as she has no patience for computer downtime - if something is wrong, i hear about it, w/ this setup, i don't hear anything about it from her

 

[s44]

You should be asking in the networking forum!

But, short answer: buy a G wireless router that uses the Broadcom chipset and install third-party firmware on it.

That means the Asus suggested above, the Linksys WRT54GL (note that the WRT54G has been crippled for a number of years and is no longer worth getting), or one of the Buffalo routers if they're again available.

If you want a fuller, longer list, just look at the routers supported by Tomato firmware. That's the one to use -- simple, elegant interfact, and extremely effective. This will give you stability and functionality better than any other consumer-class router. The firmware also lets you crank up the antenna power if you like...

Don't bother with all-in-one solutions. If you want a modem, buy it.

As for the PC side, I might actually just get either another of the Tomato-enabled router you're buying or the Zyxel P-330W if you can find that for cheaper. Either will work in Bridge mode to connect your computer wirelessly to the network -- with a nice antenna and mobility limited only by ethernet cable length.

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
Any way to check what the frequency of the surrounding signals is?

Yes -- with Tomato you can run a "Wireless Site Survey" to check the channels, quality, ID, and strength of other local signals.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: Soul Reputation


In the last 30 days I bought two Belkin N-routers. I took one of them back to the store to get my money back and soon I'll be taking the other one back to Costco.

I have a wireless mouse. The Belkin router freezes the cursor on an intermittant basis, which makes it a little like a virus in that you can't use your computer! If you can't move the cursor, you can't use the computer.

So if you're hard at work on the computer sailing right along on a project, and all of a sudden your cursor locks up, you'll get very frustrated. Time is money and money is time....

The Belkin user guide offers no solution for this problem, nor do they even address the issue. Forget Belkin.

Seriouslt, who uses a mouse. Keyboarding FTW.

 

[ibex333]

Ehhh..... Don't mean to poop on anyone's parade here, but the OP might want to go easy on the "wireless" stuff in his house. The less wireless things you use, the better off you'll be. (just my 2c)

If there is no other option due to the architecture of the appt./house then it's understandable, but in most cases a wired option is very viable and doable, not to mention it's usually faster and more stable.
If the OP does decide to use a wireless router, I strongly recommend that it is as far away from him as possible at all times. Not where he sleeps, not where he eats, not where he watches TV, etc. A closet is a good spot, or a living room, away from the couch.