Should I bother getting 'G' pci cards for my home wireless network??

[cohenfive]

i'm starting to build a home wireless network. i just bought the linksys wrt54g from amazon and would like to start hooking up my family's desktops (4 of them, 1 winxp, 3 winme) to the network.

the question i have is whether i need to bother getting 'g' pci cards (wmp54g), or given the actual speeds involved should i just get 'b' pci cards?

also am i better off from a compatibility standpoint getting linksys cards to match the linksys router/access point??

thanks in advance, sorry for the newbie question.

richard cohen

 

[JackMDS]

Unless your Computer is in the middle of the room and nothing is close to it you should not get Wireless PCI.

The majority of Entry Level Wireless Hardware is interface circuitry (I.e. USB or PCI or AP) and Plastic casing around PCMCIA Card. So the differences between PCMCIA, PCI, and USB are minimal.

For Laptop the regular PCMCIA is the best solution,

For Desktop (or tower case) USB Wireless Client Card should be considered as the preferred solution.

Why?

Wireless is depending on signal propagation.

PCI Wireless Client Card ends up been stuck behind the computer's case, resultant in obstructed transmission and poor performance. USB is connected to the Port with 2-3' cable allowing the Antenna to be placed above the System for better Transmission.

So why there are selling Wireless PCI?

There are few scenarios in which Wireless PCI card is useful.

Few Examples.

If you need to install good external antenna many Wireless PCI cards will allow changing of the antenna.

If the Wireless is restricted to one room.

In cubical office settings with walls that do not reach the ceiling. You can put the Access Point?s Antenna on the ceiling in the center, and it will communicate nicely with the PCI cards.

802.11b vs. 802.11g.

For Internet surfing it does mot matter since Internet broadband connection is slower than 802.11b

For traffic across Internal LAN, 802.11g is significantly faster.

General Wireless info.

802.11b = 11Mb/sec. Network "Speed" (Carrier transmission 2.4GHz)
802.11g = 54Mb/sec. Network "Speed" (Carrier transmission 2.4GHz)

Wireless Ethernet needs additional protocol over head for the transfer. In addition, it is not as stable as Wired so it needs extra processing procedures.

As a result the 11Mb/sec. of the Network chipset is translated to a much lower actual performance. Usually 4-6Mb/sec.

Few 802.11b hardware units are also capable to work at 22Mb/sec.(usually referred to as b+) it is nice if it works, in real term will yield 20%-40% more than 11Mb/sec. systems.

The 802.11g line that is rated 54Mb/sec. in the real world it yields 18-22Mb/sec.

The differences between the first set of graphs to the second represent the performance differences between 802.11b to 802.11g

Link: 802.11a/b/g SOHO Routers & Access Points: Performance

 

[cohenfive]

thanks for the info, this definitely makes sense to me as my pc's are scattered all over the house and in every case are below or in a desk.

ok, who makes the usb wireless clients and are there differences in performance among the brands??

looks like the linksys version is the wusb11 for $40 or so. i wonder when they will come out with a 'g' version.....

thanks.

 

[MSNY]

I have the LinkSys 'G' Router & Laptop cards. The BIG difference you will see
is when you file share btw your computers. As noted:

If you use these cards your network will run at the slower speed...
802.11b = 11Mb/sec. Network "Speed" (Carrier transmission 2.4GHz)

This would be your network speed all around...
802.11g = 54Mb/sec. Network "Speed" (Carrier transmission 2.4GHz)

54mb/sec is fullblast btw your computers but as noted you get no
help with your internet connection.

 

[cohenfive]

thanks for the info. so far i haven't found anyone making a usb wireless client yet. is that correct?

maybe i should buy a usb 'b' version for one pc to get the network going and to see how reception is. that way i won't have too much into it in case i can't make it work.

 

[JackMDS]

I do not think that 802.11g USB is available.

The regular USB v1.1 is not fast enough for 54Mb/sec.

The 802.11g will have to be built around USB2.

I bought an 802.11g Router and I use it with 802.11b USB. When 802.11g USB will be available for reasonable price I will switch.

If you insist on a general 802.11g, you can buy the 802.11g with a removable Antenna.

Example: D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-G520 PCI Adapter.

For computers in close proximities it will work. For those computers that it will not work, you can buy extension coax and put the Antenna higher. D-Link sells extension cables for ~$50. You might find a Cable on the aftermarket for $20-$30 per PCI card.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

You may as well get the G wireless cards seeing as how you bought the G router. I'm using a Netgear router with a Linksys PCI card in one PC an Airport Extreme card in my apple. It's all working fine. I would discourage getting USB adapters. It was the first adapter I got and it was really flaky. If I moved the box it would lose signal, and oh, I just had so many problems with it in WinXP.

The difference between B and G won't make a difference in Internet, but sharing files and doing things between computers you will see a differene.