Wireless Router or WAP for my new 802.11g Laptop???

[DaveR]

Hello all:

I can not find the answer to this anywhere. I have a wired network at home. Lots of switches and a Wired Router. We use this for several systems and three ReplayTV's. All is OK.

We just bought a new Laptop, due to be shipped in three weeks and it has a

"54g? 802.11b/g WLAN w/ 125HSM/SpeedBooster? Built in.

So, should I get a WAP for this and connect the WAP in the room closest to the laptop, or would a Wireless Router be even less money? I assume I could disable the router and DHCP if I got a Wireless router and still used my wired router?

Also, will the 125HSM/SpeedBoost buy me anything? Not sure I have ever seen this on a WAP or router.

Just looking for a good access point. Any suggestions as to what to buy? There are hot deals on Wireless Routers every week!

TIA,

Dave

 

[Cooky]

A wireless router will indeed cost less than an AP.
It sounds like you have a Broadcom / Linksys wireless chip in your laptop; you can get a Linksys wireless router and hook it up to your existing router through one of the built-in switch ports instead of the WAN port. That way you don't have to do any further configuration as far as LAN setting is concerned.

 

[JackMDS]

I think that the 125 Speed Booster is Buffalo Tech. Super 802.11g

So, if you would like to take advantage of the extra speed you need to buy Buffalo Wireless hardware.

In case of Buffalo you can buy a Wireless Router since they are WDS (and they are Good).

You can connect the new Router as a Switch with an access point and position it in a way that would give you max coverage.

Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

:sun:

 

[DaveR]

Thank you everyone. I think Frys has Buffalo as well. I can look.

So, if I disable the router portion, I assume this means I can locate the wireless router any place I have current LAN access. Sort of move it to the best location to hit my laptop. Is this correct?

Is there a model number that you know of for the Buffalo router mentioned?

TIA

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: DaveR
Thank you everyone. I think Frys has Buffalo as well. I can look.

So, if I disable the router portion, I assume this means I can locate the wireless router any place I have current LAN access. Sort of move it to the best location to hit my laptop. Is this correct?

Is there a model number that you know of for the Buffalo router mentioned?

TIA

Yes you are correct about the Router positioning.

I think they have two models with Speed Booster.

WZR-RS-G54, and a much more expensive WZR-HP-G54. The more expensive suppose to be High power (I.e. provides stronger signal). I never tried it, I saw few reviews claiming the additional power does not provide any real gain.

:sun:

 

[DaveR]

Thank you again. Now I will look for good price! I was expecting a lot of free after rebate action here not >$100...wow.

Will the SpeedBooster buy me anything?

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: DaveR
Thank you everyone. I think Frys has Buffalo as well. I can look.

So, if I disable the router portion, I assume this means I can locate the wireless router any place I have current LAN access. Sort of move it to the best location to hit my laptop. Is this correct?

Is there a model number that you know of for the Buffalo router mentioned?

TIA

Yes you are correct about the Router positioning.

I think they have two models with Speed Booster.

WZR-RS-G54, and a much more expensive WZR-HP-G54. The more expensive suppose to be High power (I.e. provides stronger signal). I never tried it, I saw few reviews claiming the additional power does not provide any real gain.

:sun:

 

[DaveR]

Looks like they have a WBR2-G54S with the 125 speedboost and Buy.com has it for <$70.

 

[JackMDS]

I thought the WBR2-G54S was discontinued.

However if it still around (it is much cheaper than the WZR-RS-G54) it might be a good choice as well.

:sun:

 

[DaveR]

Thank you again, I am just wondering if 125 is so dependant on how far away you are, if I should just save big $$$ and get the non-s?


Dave

Originally posted by: JackMDS
I thought the WBR2-G54S was discontinued.

However if it still around (it is much cheaper than the WZR-RS-G54) it might be a good choice as well.

:sun:

 

[DaveR]

UPDATE!

All is OK on the wired end! I did not use the NETWORK (WAN) port on the wrt54gs but LAN port to LAN port. So far all is OK with no DHCP on it and 192.168.123.253. I can not test wireless yet until my new Compaq comes. So far so good!



Well, I spoke to Buffalo and they said "to be honest that the Linksys would be better to connect to my Compaq R4000 Broadcom with Speedbooster".

So I got a WRT54GS and it is V2.1 (CGN4....).

So, here is what I plan...is this correct?

My WIRED LAN has a router and many switches. Not all are auto sensing switches.

So, my main router is at 192.168.123.254 and DHCP range is 192.168.1 thru 20, with LAN subnet at 255.255.255.0.

So, can I just plug WRT54GS inlo a laptop and make its IP 192.168.123.253 and turn off DHCP? Or does the WRT54GS have to be in the DHCP range of the first router?

At any rate, I want to be able to just plug the WRT54GS into any wired port in the house. I may have to just build a xover cable, but to test I do have at least one switch that I know is autosensing.

Lastly....Linksys says to run the CD setup before I do anything else, but I wonder if just powering it up and changing the main IP will hurt anything?

TIA

Dave

P.S. Page 10 of the manual shows what I want to do but it uses the NETWORK port of the WRT54GS going to a LAN port!

 

[LeatherNeck]

You do not need the CD to configure your WRT54GS. You can plug a computer into it directly, surf to it, log in, and then set up everything without the CD. The CD just makes it easier.

You do not have to set the IP in the range of the DHCP server. DHCP just releases all the information to a client. You will have to make sure you manually set the default gateway and DNS information for your notebook.

By the way, the extra speed you get from any Sppedbooster seems nice but your notebook hard drive cannot even keep up with the transfer rate so there's little point in buying it IMHO.

 

[DaveR]

Well, it was not that much more after Fry's pricematch and rebate. This is all working now, but will play some more when I get the wireless. I did take an older laptop with wired 10/100 and connected it to the wrt54gs and it was OK.

Won't the wireless notebook just get its dns and gateway from the main router?

Originally posted by: LeatherNeck
You do not need the CD to configure your WRT54GS. You can plug a computer into it directly, surf to it, log in, and then set up everything without the CD. The CD just makes it easier.

You do not have to set the IP in the range of the DHCP server. DHCP just releases all the information to a client. You will have to make sure you manually set the default gateway and DNS information for your notebook.

By the way, the extra speed you get from any Sppedbooster seems nice but your notebook hard drive cannot even keep up with the transfer rate so there's little point in buying it IMHO.

 

[RCmayor]

I was looking at a Dlink USB storage router for about $60. I have a usb/firewire 160GB drive. This way I could use the router as an access point and have some storage attached to it. I already have a SMC 8 port router.

Do I need a x-over cable to attach the storage router?

 

[dnoyeb]

you can use the WAN port on your downstream router and daisy chain them if you like so long as you turn off NAT on the downstream router and enter a proper route entery into the upstream router telling it where the downstream network is. I do this now so my wireless network is public and my LAN is protected by the 2nd router.

wireless routers are cheap these days and you scrasely see a access point without routing feature.

 

[RCmayor]

In this scenario, which would be the router connected to the modem? the non-wireless 8 port router, or the wireless router with storage attached.