Wireless Networking NOob needs some advice

[thespeakerbox]

Im looking for a router or router-repeater combo to supply a 600x300 ft area wit wifi, both inside and outside the house. Ive been looking at some systems, but cant decide what a good solution is.

The router itself will be located on the street side of the house , in an upper floor office. We also have a basement office and a backyard deck we are trying to reach to.

Can anyone offer any good suggestions for a a good router that can give us good signal and not drop connection, and also provide good security from neighbors trying to access the wifi network.

I've been looking at the BUFFALO Wireless Router and Repeater Kit, Model WRB-G54K and it looks to be good. I was planing to attach the repeater near the backyard.

Some more info:
We have about 3 laptops that needs to access the wlan from the deck and 2 in the basement. There is a HTPC on the middle floor that i would like to set up wifi on as well. And there will also be about 4 or 5 pdas that will need to be able to connect.

Any advice will help.Thank you

 

[thespeakerbox]

I tihnk i have it narrowed down to a couple of choices:

Buffalo AirStation WRB-G54K Wireless Router and Repeater Kit

The new NetGear Rangemax

The Linksys WRT54G

or the D-link 624.

 

[JackMDS]

The Linksys is Not WDS as is out of the box, and even after flushing it with the third party firmware it is not offering a comprehensive WDS.

The D-Link is a little less expensive than the others but Not as Stable.

I would go with the Buffalo system, it provides very good WDS, it more stable than the others, and if you get the AOSS line it is much easier to set security.

Link to: Wireless What Should I Get?

:sun:

 

[thespeakerbox]

but the range on the buffalo is alot worse than some of the others

 

[JackMDS]

Range was a big deal in the past when we dealt with 802.11b and buying an additional piece of Hardware was very expensive.

The differences in Range between of 802.11g hardware are small and additional hardware to increase range is not as expensive any more.

You want to cover 300 x 600 which can not done by one unit no matter what you would buy.

In addition the range of the Buffalo is above the average, if you have a URL that objectively claim otherwise please post it. If you count on ?Guys Stories? spare me the laugh.

:sun:

 

[thespeakerbox]

Do you think the buffalo kit with the adapter would be sufficient enough to cover the area? Doesnt the adapter act just act as an acces point, meaning i would have to run cat6 to it anyway? Or does it just use the signal from the router? Thanks for all the help.

 

[JackMDS]

The kit is a combo of a Router and a Repeater.

Given your description of your environment you probably will need more then the kit to get good coverage and enough Bandwidth to share.

However I can not predict whether it will be enough to cover your area. Wireless is too much environmental dependent.

:sun:

 

[thespeakerbox]

I'm drawing a diagram of the area and will post soon. Thanks for the help.

 

[user1234]

wait for wimax

 

[thespeakerbox]

Here is the diagram for the house. It's a brownstone, so thats why its so tight on the sides.

Im trying to get wifi working mainly in the living room, deck, and balcony. But as you can see in the pictures, the router location is on the opposite side of the house in the 2nd office, where it can't be moved from since thats where the cable line comes in for broadband.

Please add your opinions on what would be the best wireless setup for "project brownstone"

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/thespeakerbox/sideview.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/thespeakerbox/topview.jpg

If anyone needs anymore info, please ask. Thanks for all your help.

 

[JackMDS]

As long shot I can tell what I would try.

1. Make sure that the Router is sitting above the system and nothing obstructs the Antenna, You might need to point the Antenna Down since it is above the real of the area.

2. Put the repeater in the Dining area near the window over looking the back deck.

If there is No Heavy inside walls or other heavy partition such an arrangement should cover the two upper floors and the deck. . (Knowing NYC Brownstones the inside is probably wood).

The basement? It a toss up, you might need to install an additional unit.

You probably will get better result if you use a CAT5 cable and put the Router out of Room O in the hallway near the staircase. Doing so will cover Room O but will provide much better signal to the rest of the system.

:sun:

 

[Bodine]

You might want to consider the Belkin pre-N, as well. Here's a ZDNet article that shows the pre-N, especially in mixed mode (both B and G clients), blowing the listed competition away in terms of range. The article is about 6 months old but I doubt *that much* has changed in 6 months.

Also, CC is running a deal on a low-end Belkin for $10 (after rebate). It's supposedly WDS-able, but I haven't really looked into it. That deal is here if you want to take a look.

 

[thespeakerbox]

I really dont want to move the router out of ROOM O - the office. It has two computers and server already connected to it. Moving it out of there would be a heck of trouble. What about using more then one repeater? Im really interested in the buffalo system, but i hear more than one repeater can cause problems because they repeat the exact same signal.

What if i place one repeater on the top floor, in the last room near the balcony. Will it be able to:

1. Catch the signal from a router that will be about 50 ft away. (note the walls in the way)
2. Project down onto the deck and balcony, and maybe some living room.

I'm most interested in getting wifi setup in those 3 areas.




Oh, and there are no heavy partitions-- just wood, sheetrock and plaster.

 

[thespeakerbox]

Originally posted by: user1234
wait for wimax

Wimax wont be available till late 2007. A little too late. Plus, it will probably cost lots of $$$$.

 

[JackMDS]

thespeakerbox

I think at this point you should get some hardware and start the first step with the understanding that at the end you probably will need 3 - 4 units.

:sun:

 

[thespeakerbox]

What hardware would you recommend?

 

[The Big D]

Have you looked at Linksys' WRT54GX? I was reading up on it and it seems that this could be all you need. the price at bestbuy near me is 199.99 (too pricey for me ><), but if it goes as far as a typical router with 3 access points then it would be worth it for ease of setup and possibly a better price.

I have never tested this router though, im only going on what ive read. anyone else here have one of these yet?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: The Big D
Have you looked at Linksys' [L=WRT54GX]I have never tested this router though, im only going on what ive read. anyone else here have one of these yet?

I think that is the problem the most of us have.
When it comes to Wireless reviews it is almost impossible to infer Indoor range from the review.

The pre 802.11n is very new and limited to two or three market entries. I personally would not rush into it, and I consider it unfair to rush others in order to make them our Guinea pigs.

However if some one has the hardware or does not mind to spend the $200 to $300 (Router + cards) please let us know what is the out come.

:sun: