What wirless network card to get?

Hi everyone

I am completely clueless about wireless network cards and I have just found out that the wireless network at my university requires "128 bit security capability. While many cards that support this level of encryption (and are certified for the 802.11b standard) will work, the university currently supports only the Enterasys and Truemobile cards."

The wireless card that comes with my notebook is a Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)

Will I be able to use the wireless network at my university with this network card and will it be effective/fast?

Also, I am getting a wireless router so that I can use my notebook anywhere in my house. Do you think this is a good choice for a wireless router?

D-Link DI-524 Wireless G Router:

Provides a fast transfer speed of up to 54 Mbps
Operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band
Enhanced firewall and parental control for prevention of intruders into your network
Integrated 4-port switch supports multiple computers
Allows quick and easy set-up

Thank you

 

The wireless card in your notebook is fine. It'll actually support 802.11a/b/g, so you're set. All they're saying is they won't support aftermarket cards that they haven't specified. If you follow their setup procedures, you should be alright.

For the router, should be decent. I personally don't like D-Link routers, I hate their admin interface. But at least it's better than Netgear's It should all work for you though. You've got the right idea. Make sure you use WPA at home. It's more secure. Your university is probably using 128bit WEP.

 

You dissin netgear! it's been the most reliable router ive ever had, linksys is the one we should be laughin at, that stuffs a joke

 

Netgear routers are good, at least better than D-link. I have the same router DI-524. It's HORRIBLE. I've installed routers for alot of friends and I can tell ya that D-Link is the worst. Linksys in the other hand are the best mainstream routers. So, either go with Netgear or Linksys. Linksys is number one in my book though.

 

Thankyou so much Pitabread for explaining that. You have been better to any representative that I have talked to from my university or any webpage I have checked but i'm not sure what you mean by WPA and WEP...i'm sorry but could you please explain

thanks for the replies everyone but i'm scared of the D-link router now Is it really that bad? What are the specific problems with it? I could get a Linksys but that would just cost me another $110 Plus, I've got a D-link router for my desktop and I've had no problems with it and i'm only planning on using the wireless D-link in my house. I just don't want to be restricted because of a cable.

 

WPA and WEP are both ways of encrypting data going over a wireless network. Clever hackers like me can listen in to anything you transmit, so if you don't want your private pictures or conversations posted to random internet forums, you'd best use some soft of encryption on your wireless signal WPA is a better encryption algorithm than WEP (WEP can be broken relatively easily, but it's still better than nothing). So I suggest setting up a WPA encryption on your new router at home when you get it.

A Linksys shouldn't cost you $110. A WRT54GL is $66 at newegg.com, and you can get other Linksys routers in the same price range at Best Buy/Circuit City/Office Depot/etc. D-Link's administration interface and hardware are just sub-standard compared to other things I've used, and I've used quite a few different ones, which is why I recommend against it. It will probably work to do what you want, but just not as well as other brands and models in the same price range.

 

My Linksys WRT54G was horrible, needed resetting once every 24 hours on the dot. I love my new Belkin N1. It's not cheap, but it is great. I'd try for a Belkin, maybe a cheaper one. They seem to be the best in my opinion. My Netgear WGR614 was fine, it just ran hot.

 

that was the same router i had, and i ended up having to reset it every 2 hours, it got so much in the end i had to replace it with a netgear. Who ever said that linksys made the best stuff has to be joking!

 

I think Linksys has really gone down lately, from what I gather.

 

The range in that router is not the hot. As I have it I can attest to that fact. It won't work throughout my house. It works in the family room in which I have it hooked up perfectly. In the next room and kitchen it works a little less well. As i get in my room I lose all connectivity. Maybe going through 2 walls is to much for it. As just outside my room I get very low connection.

 

my dlink wireless is about 1 year old still working like it was new

 

pitabred why would you want to post innocent people's pictures on the net (i'm guessing your conscience is on vacation )...thanks for the overview though. I'm going to go and read up more about WPA encryption so i know everything by the time my computer gets here ...as for the linksys router i'm not really sure what the proper price should be. I only got a chance to look at the price on the dell website but I ultimately ended up ordering the D-link. You guys seem to be against the linksys too so i'm just going to focus on solag3's comment and tell myself that the D-link will be perfect