Will this setup with two wi-fi routers work?

[Zadillo]

To explain my current setup.

There are a few computers in my home network. My current router is a Linksys Wireless-G router. The computers are my main PC, which connects via a Linksys Wireless-G USB adaptor, and an older iBook, which is only able to connect at 802.11b (thus, I am running my wireless network in mixed mode).

Anyway, I just got FIOS, and have the 15Mbps plan, but it seems like the wireless-g caps out below what it can handle (various speed tests have shown it anywhere from 1700kbps to 4800kbps or so). I am pretty sure that it does work fine for a wired connection, as I did run some speed tests that confirmed it capable of 15mpbs.

So anyway, I want to upgrade my wireless router to one of the 108mbps capable systems (although I'm not sure what would be best to get; if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know), and get a new appropriate USB adaptor for my PC (although I'm open to a PCI card if that would be better).

But from what I've read, those 108mbps capabilities are only reachable if every computer on the wireless network is using a 108mbps adaptor. Because of the presence of that old 802.11b iBook, this isn't feasible.

However, I am wondering if it's possible to run two separate wireless routers at the same time. I was thinking I might try and do something like get a 108mbps wireless router, and set up a separate wireless network with that that I would use just for my PC; then plug my existing linksys wireless-g router into the new router, and create a separate wireless network with that that would be just for the iBook (and also maybe for my sony vaio laptop, which has 802.11g).

Before I invest in the new hardware though, I just wanted to see if you all think this would work, or even be a good idea (i.e. would it allow me to get more of the FIOS capable speeds through wireless)?

Thanks!

 

[JRock]

I have FiOS and have the same problem with the same Router. Well its not really a problem since anything wireless is just browsing and not transfering large files. All computers is my house and hardwired and gig speed except my laptop when I am in the kitchen doing work (and besides the fact the nic is only 10/100) and my girlfriends laptop.

edit: I have not tried any other wireless routers as of yet. I believe I can get my ands on 2 dlink models from a frend of mine tonight.

 

[spidey07]

Some of the manufacturers are coming out with speed combining technology that uses both G and A (instead of just two channels of G). Slick stuff. Never tried it but it should work very well.

Also if G has to run in compatability mode then it does slow down somewhat. Try it without any B clients.

 

[Zadillo]

Right, unfortunately, until the person in my household who has the iBook can upgrade to something newer, having a wireless-B client on the network is one of the realities I have to deal with.

That's why my primary question is whether or not it's possible for me to run two separate wireless routers at the same time (either plug both wireless routers into the wired d-link router that verizon provided, or use a 108mbps router to connect to the FIOS connection and run a 108mbps network from it just for my PC, and then hook up the Linksys wireless-g router to it, and run a second wireless network from that just for the laptops in my household to connect to (so I don't have to run the 108mbps wireless in any sort of mixed mode).

I also went to the store today, and was looking at the newer stuff that is out. I saw d-link had both 108mbps airextreme-g wireless equipment, as well as MIMO Pre-N equipment (although no USB adaptor, only a PCI adaptor, for the pre-N stuff)..... I also saw that NetGear's RangeMax stuff seems to be similar. My main goal here would be to try and get the best performance possible from the wireless network on my PC (I realize I'd never get anything like what it would be if I had a wired connection directly to my PC from the router). Not sure what's the best to get.

-Zadillo

 

[Nutz]

If you've only got the one host holding you up with .b speeds, picking up a cheap .b AP is a good decision. Keep in mind that if the APs are in close proximity to one another they need to be 5 channels apart in the 2.4Ghz spectrum. Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the most commonly used in the US.

FYI, the D-Link DL-624 Airplus Xtreme-g is pure junk. I've had it for close to a year and its been nothing but trouble. Random reboots, flakey connectivity, etc. Even with the latest and greatest firmware its still crap. And even when it did work as advertised it did connect at 108Mbit, but you'll never see throughput at that rate, even from one wireless client to another. Before anyone asks, yes I have the D-Link Xtream-G wireless NIC.

From what I've researched online and read in similar forums I'm not in the minority in regards to this particular model.

Overall, I suggest holding out until you can get your hands on some (draft) 802.11n parts. However, when dealing in draft products "buyer beware" is the phrase to remember. Then again most of the major manufacturers will take steps to get their draft products up to spec once its ratified. Netgear and Linksys are two such companies I trust in this respect.

 

[Zadillo]

Hi Nutz. I'd be fine with that, but I also want to upgrade my wireless network to something faster than 54mbps. I can accept that the iBook is limited to wireless-B, and also my Sony Vaio laptop has wireless-g integrated, so I'd want to use that as well.

But I have more freedom with my desktop PC, so I'd prefer to be able to use a 108mpbs wireless connection with it (unless I'm wrong in thinking that I would get more benefit out of the FIOS connection). But I also get the impression that I can't just get one of the 108mpbs systems and use it in mixed mode while still getting those benefits.

So, in theory, I am wondering if I can (and if so, if it makes sense) to keep my linksys wireless-g router and run a mixed b/g wireless network for the iBook and the Vaio laptop, and then get a new 108mpbs router and run a second dedicated wireless network just for my PC.

From you answer, it does at least sound like the idea of running two separate access points wouldn't be so bad. Would you recommend doing that (getting a cheap wireless-b router and using that for the iBook, and just use my existing linksys wireless-g router with desktop and vaio laptop, and would that result in faster speeds)?

Would the speed improvements be worth it though to instead run a separate 108mbps router? Thanks for the tip, btw.......... would one of the other brands, like the NetGear RangeMax, be worth checking out? Or the D-Link Pre-N wireless router? Or the LinkSys with SRX?

-Zadillo

 

[Nutz]

Originally posted by: ZadilloWould you recommend doing that (getting a cheap wireless-b router and using that for the iBook, and just use my existing linksys wireless-g router with desktop and vaio laptop, and would that result in faster speeds)?

Yes.

Originally posted by: ZadilloWould the speed improvements be worth it though to instead run a separate 108mbps router?

In my opinion, no. Not only are you getting the 108Mbit AP, you also need the NIC that's compatible with it. Plus there's no guarantee that you'll ever see those speeds due to potential environmental variables, interference, etc.

 

[Zadillo]

Hrmm, OK. Will it be worth getting a MIMO/802.11n router once things are finalized? I know that I wouldn't get the full 108mbps, but I was thinking that even with a dedicated 54mpbs system, you don't actually get the max possible speed out of that either (I think I read somewhere that it's usually more like 25-35).

I guess the main thing is that I want to try and get the most I can, within reason, out of my wireless connection now that I have upgraded from DSL to FIOS.

I kind of get the impression that it may conceivably be worth investigating what it would take to run some more cat5 so that I could just go ahead and do a wired connection.

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like for the time being, I might just stick with the setup I have, and see how things play out in the future.