Setting up new home wireless network

Zend · 08-05-2004

Hi, I've decided to setup a wireless network in addition to my wired for use on a couple laptops, I need an AP and a decent pc card, I would like to get an AP with very good power output and i need 802.11G, as for the card I would like an external antenna. The routing side of things isnt important to me as far as using the broadband router function most AP's come with today, since i wont be using it. Can you please reccomend a good quality AP and card, i was looking around at orinoco's stuff, but i hear its mostly their classic gold card thats good..........but i need G.

subnetmask · 08-06-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zend

Can you please reccomend a good quality AP and card, i was looking around at orinoco's stuff, but i hear its mostly their classic gold card thats good..........but i need G.

Do you really need G? I have a G network, a Linksys G card, and an Orinoco classic B card. The G is really nice if you're going to be moving files from machine to machine; it gives it a little extra edge. But if I'm moving huge video files, I can just wire into my gigabith switch.

Zend · 08-06-2004

Could you first of all, reccomend a good 802.11G AP (built-in router not neccesary) and I would like to have at least 60mw of output, to cover my whole house and backyard.

As for the card I would like to have G because I will be accessing smaller files, such as mp3s and such, and would like things to be as quick as possible.
Could you please reccomend a card for this?, it doesnt have to be top of the line and I would prefer inexpensive.

wrzwaldo · 08-06-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zend

Could you first of all, reccomend a good 802.11G AP (built-in router not neccesary) and I would like to have at least 60mw of output, to cover my whole house and backyard.

As for the card I would like to have G because I will be accessing smaller files, such as mp3s and such, and would like things to be as quick as possible.
Could you please reccomend a card for this?, it doesnt have to be top of the line and I would prefer inexpensive.

I stream mp3's over my b wireless with no problems. I have the "b"rother to this AP and it performs quite well (I can pick it up down at the end of the block and two houses down in my uncles house). If you don't need an external antenna the Linksys "g" card is fine. I think any of the major brands are fine.

Zend · 08-06-2004

Do you mean you have the 802.11b version? The B version has an output of 80mw I read somewhere(for the 2.2 and up revision anyway), which is probably why it transmits so far, the G only does 30mw.

wrzwaldo · 08-06-2004

Yes I have the B version 2.2. I was running D-Link firmware on it until about 2 days ago.

Zend · 08-06-2004

I was just looking at the new linksys speedbooster products (router and card) and they seem pretty good, the main difference seems to be that they output 18db each(63mw), and they are G, what do you guys think?Unfortunately they havent released a plain AP with speedbooster yet, any idea when that will happen?

Thorn · 08-06-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zend

I was just looking at the new linksys speedbooster products (router and card) and they seem pretty good, the main difference seems to be that they output 18db each(63mw), and they are G, what do you guys think?Unfortunately they havent released a plain AP with speedbooster yet, any idea when that will happen?

Speedbooster (and similar products) are a bad idea. Since they are proprietary, you get locked into one brand of equipment. In addition, they gain the speed advantage by bonding channels. This decreases the available channels in the immediate area.

fastlanwan · 08-06-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

Speedbooster (and similar products) are a bad idea. Since they are proprietary, you get locked into one brand of equipment. In addition, they gain the speed advantage by bonding channels. This decreases the available channels in the immediate area.

Also it increases everything. This includes noise. i.e if you have alot of noise without it, you'll have even more with it plus more. More? Yes, since it is not pin point accurate in amplifying the AP's signal, it acually take the APs noise and adds its own to it.

If you have low noise (pre-booster) now, you'll stand a good chance the increase in noise after the booster won't effect you. If your noise was high but not enough to stop a connection at a decent speed, then it could add enough noise to slow the signal transmission rate.

Also be aware that more people will now be able to see you than before.

Dan

Zend · 08-07-2004

Ok, well then what if i just buy the AP and card for its price, and the ability to transmit at 63mw, and just disable the speed booster?

Thorn · 08-07-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zend

Ok, well then what if i just buy the AP and card for its price, and the ability to transmit at 63mw, and just disable the speed booster?

You'd be better getting the WRT54G. It's completely programable; runs Linux; runs the kismet clone; and has similar RF output.

Zend · 08-08-2004

What about the package deal,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...712650075&rd=1

Do you know if that has the same output as the wrt54g?
The only difference i notice is the one antenna, but i cant find specs anywhere on it.

wrzwaldo · 08-09-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zend

What about the package deal,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...712650075&rd=1

Do you know if that has the same output as the wrt54g?
The only difference i notice is the one antenna, but i cant find specs anywhere on it.

Looks like it is functionally the same (except for antenna diversity).

Quote:

Note:

This is a bundle package, the model number for this package is WKPC54G. This bundle contains WRK54G (which is functional the same as WRT54G) and WPC54G.

08-05-2004	#1 (permalink)
Zend Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6	Setting up new home wireless network Hi, I've decided to setup a wireless network in addition to my wired for use on a couple laptops, I need an AP and a decent pc card, I would like to get an AP with very good power output and i need 802.11G, as for the card I would like an external antenna. The routing side of things isnt important to me as far as using the broadband router function most AP's come with today, since i wont be using it. Can you please reccomend a good quality AP and card, i was looking around at orinoco's stuff, but i hear its mostly their classic gold card thats good..........but i need G.

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08-06-2004	#3 (permalink)
Zend Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6	Could you first of all, reccomend a good 802.11G AP (built-in router not neccesary) and I would like to have at least 60mw of output, to cover my whole house and backyard. As for the card I would like to have G because I will be accessing smaller files, such as mp3s and such, and would like things to be as quick as possible. Could you please reccomend a card for this?, it doesnt have to be top of the line and I would prefer inexpensive.

08-06-2004	#5 (permalink)
Zend Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6	Do you mean you have the 802.11b version? The B version has an output of 80mw I read somewhere(for the 2.2 and up revision anyway), which is probably why it transmits so far, the G only does 30mw.

08-06-2004	#6 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,147	Yes I have the B version 2.2. I was running D-Link firmware on it until about 2 days ago.

08-06-2004	#7 (permalink)
Zend Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6	I was just looking at the new linksys speedbooster products (router and card) and they seem pretty good, the main difference seems to be that they output 18db each(63mw), and they are G, what do you guys think?Unfortunately they havent released a plain AP with speedbooster yet, any idea when that will happen?

08-07-2004	#10 (permalink)
Zend Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6	Ok, well then what if i just buy the AP and card for its price, and the ability to transmit at 63mw, and just disable the speed booster?

08-08-2004	#12 (permalink)
Zend Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6	What about the package deal, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...712650075&rd=1 Do you know if that has the same output as the wrt54g? The only difference i notice is the one antenna, but i cant find specs anywhere on it.