Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

bendsley · 10-14-2004, 07:15 AM

I use Cisco Aironet at home and they're great, but most likely a bit much $$ for what you would want to spend. I would suggest Linksys. I have used them and not found any problem with them, and updates for the firmware come quite regular with new features being added to them.

Difference between 802.11b and 802.11g is speed. You go from 11 to 54mbs, but do remember, this will only affect your internal network, as your speed to the internet would not increase, because you are limited by your cable company. If you get 802.11g, everything in your home that has "g" will send/receive at 54mbs, but only 1,3 or 5mb (or whatever your cable modem speed is) to the outside world.

The nice thing about USB adapters is that if you have to move or change adapters, they are extremely easy to do so with. No unscrewing a pci card. Also, USB wireless equipment usually has a long enough cable to put the adapter higher up so that the signal is increased, whereas the PCI cards are just directly behind your computer and if it's beneath a desk, the signal can degrade.

As far as your computer being in the basement, I might suggest a wireless access point in addition to your wireless router. That way, your whole house would have better coverage. The access points themselves are usually quite cheap.

Whatever hardware you end up getting, as long as they support 802.11x (x being the same on all of them), then they should inter-operate with ease.

I might also suggest going with 802.11g, as it's price is barely higher, if any, than the 802.11b equipment, and the "g" will handle both the "g" and the "b" specifications (as long as your router is set to mixed mode).

10-14-2004, 07:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Location: texas	I use Cisco Aironet at home and they're great, but most likely a bit much $$ for what you would want to spend. I would suggest Linksys. I have used them and not found any problem with them, and updates for the firmware come quite regular with new features being added to them. Difference between 802.11b and 802.11g is speed. You go from 11 to 54mbs, but do remember, this will only affect your internal network, as your speed to the internet would not increase, because you are limited by your cable company. If you get 802.11g, everything in your home that has "g" will send/receive at 54mbs, but only 1,3 or 5mb (or whatever your cable modem speed is) to the outside world. The nice thing about USB adapters is that if you have to move or change adapters, they are extremely easy to do so with. No unscrewing a pci card. Also, USB wireless equipment usually has a long enough cable to put the adapter higher up so that the signal is increased, whereas the PCI cards are just directly behind your computer and if it's beneath a desk, the signal can degrade. As far as your computer being in the basement, I might suggest a wireless access point in addition to your wireless router. That way, your whole house would have better coverage. The access points themselves are usually quite cheap. Whatever hardware you end up getting, as long as they support 802.11x (x being the same on all of them), then they should inter-operate with ease. I might also suggest going with 802.11g, as it's price is barely higher, if any, than the 802.11b equipment, and the "g" will handle both the "g" and the "b" specifications (as long as your router is set to mixed mode). __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."