Wireless or not to Wireless...

[tuNaB2nroB]

I have Cable modem at home, according to Bandwidthplace.com, my speed ranges from 4 mb/sec - 6 mb/s, according to optimum online, my speed ranges from 7mb/s-9mb/s.

I just bought a Netgear router (RP614), it's not wireless, and it's going to be a hassle running cables through my house. My friend sugggested that I get a Wireless Router, but I have only heard bad stuff about them, such as; Not Secure, Cuts the speed drastically (more than half), and they don't function all over the place.

can someone help me out, I don't know if I should return the Router and buy myself a Wireless one.

thanks...

 

[JackMDS]

As far as regular use of the Internet it does not make any difference.

In your case, since you seem to have unusually fast cable connection, you might loose 10% to 30% on file downloading (as compared to wired)

However if you use the LAN for work and you need fast exchange between your computers, you better off wire the concern computers.

General Info about Wireless.

AnandTech - FAQ. What do I need for wireless Networking?

Wireless Cable/DSL Router or Access Point ? What should I get?

Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

Wireless What Should I Get (April, Edition)?

 

[igowerf]

I have a wireless network set up at home and I really like it. It's fast enough for LAN games and internet use. It works fine for smaller file transfers but large files take a long time.

 

[rw120555]

Assuming you don't want to do it yourself, you might call someone to get a price quote for wiring your house. It may not be all that much more than buying wireless equipment would be.

Also, unless you want the convenience of being able to move equipment around (e.g. a laptop) wireless is just one of a variety of options. Personally, I had good luck with phoneline before I got my house wired, and there is also powerline. But, no doubt about it, at least on this board, wired and wireless are the connection methods of choice.

 

[skyking]

Professional wire plant folks bid out jobs at around $100 a drop. You could hire someone to come in hourly, but you are talking at least $150 minimum for any respectable telco guys.

 

[ktwebb]

Don't use web based bandwidth meter software to measure your available throughput for one thing. Download from a fat ftp pipe, a large download, and monitor what you get real world. I use communicator off Netscapes public FTP. You might be closer to what Optimum Online claims.

Having said that, 4-6 Mbps is all you can hope to achieve with an 802.11b WLAN, but that would be under perfect conditions. As you move away from the AP, and add obstructions, your throughput will decrease. Depends on variables and you'd have to test but if you have a client on the edge of an 11 Mb cell, you wouldn't get the complete available bandwidth offered by the AP at closer cells. Might consider an 802.11g solution.