Who uses wireless internet?

I'm going to be getting the linksys wireless router with "speedbooster technology" but I need recommendations on which PC card to get. I've read that linksys' wireless pc cards aren't all to good (loose connection frequently, horrible set-up). This leads me to maybe d-link or netgear's products. Anyone using a good wireless PC card?

Chris

p.s. If it matters I'm using a cable connection (Comcast)

 

I like LinkSys and find their products to be great. Easy setup and stable. When I installed my wireless router and net card, worked out of the box with no setup...of course had to change that (enable WEP, change SSID, change channel, etc...)

I think that with the proliferation of wireless routers, some channels are getting overly used and leading to spotty service. Last night, I scanned my nieghborhood and found there were now 7 APs (including mine) on Channel 6. Just out of curiousity, I changed to channel 3 and my connectivity has been MUCH better. Even my wife noticed I changed something around b/c she felt things were faster.

 

I;m a netgear fan...good products with quality support...though it is Indian.

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

 

Big C, I would recommend that you move to channel 11.

As you likely know, when we say 2.4GHz, we really mean a spectrum (2400-2483.5 MHz to be precise). Wifi devices can be configured on 11 different channels, but the 802.11b standard requires a pretty broad signal so that configuration really is selecting where the center of the band is and then it overlaps onto the two adjacent channels in each direction. So, a wifi device set to use channel 6 is actually spreading out into the spectrum of channels 4 - 8. If your AP is configured to use channel 3, it is actually occupying the frequencies of channels 1 - 5 and therefore you still are overlapping across the frequencies represented by channels 4 and 5. That is much better than a complete overlaps, but it is still unnecessary. In order to eliminate interference, there are only 3 channels that should really be used - 1, 6 and 11. (The FCC provides "buffers" between spectrums so channels 1 and 11 bleed into completely unassigned bandwidth). Using those three channels is the only way that you can have three channels in the spectrum with no overlap. Most APs are preconfigured to use channel 6, and therefore it is typically the most crowded. A switch to 1 or 11 is usually a good idea. And, in my experience, 2.4GHz phones are more likely to use the lower end of the spectrum so going to channel 11 is less likely to have interference with cordless phones.

Brian, while I think Netgear historically has had stronger (yet uglier) router and switch products, I have found LinkSys APs to be my preference.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Big C, I would recommend that you move to channel 11.

As you likely know, when we say 2.4GHz, we really mean a spectrum (2400-2483.5 MHz to be precise). Wifi devices can be configured on 11 different channels, but the 802.11b standard requires a pretty broad signal so that configuration really is selecting where the center of the band is and then it overlaps onto the two adjacent channels in each direction. So, a wifi device set to use channel 6 is actually spreading out into the spectrum of channels 4 - 8. If your AP is configured to use channel 3, it is actually occupying the frequencies of channels 1 - 5 and therefore you still are overlapping across the frequencies represented by channels 4 and 5. That is much better than a complete overlaps, but it is still unnecessary. In order to eliminate interference, there are only 3 channels that should really be used - 1, 6 and 11. (The FCC provides "buffers" between spectrums so channels 1 and 11 bleed into completely unassigned bandwidth). Using those three channels is the only way that you can have three channels in the spectrum with no overlap. Most APs are preconfigured to use channel 6, and therefore it is typically the most crowded. A switch to 1 or 11 is usually a good idea. And, in my experience, 2.4GHz phones are more likely to use the lower end of the spectrum so going to channel 11 is less likely to have interference with cordless phones.

Brian, while I think Netgear historically has had stronger (yet uglier) router and switch products, I have found LinkSys APs to be my preference.<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>
That's some great info! I just get worried when I buy this "tech" stuff since I am relatively new to this genre. I guess there's only one way to learn!

 

I just had someone recommend the USB 2.0 wireless adapters. They said they get a much stronger signal and they never have any serious problems with it.

The linksys pci card seems to be hit or miss. Some people have no problems, while others could never get it to work. What stinks is theres no way to tell whether the product didn't work because of faulty set-up or the product was truely at fault.

 

Could someone with the knowledge to know answer this:

Here would be the set-up in my apartment; let me know if this would work.

1. Split cable wire, one to the TV; the other to the computer
2. Take the wire going to the computer and connect it to the modem
3. from the modem, split the wire; one going to a desktop, the other going to a wireless router
4. The wireless router would give my laptop wireless internet.

This would give my tv cable, the desktop a cable connection, and my laptop a wireless cable connection.

Is this possible? If so I can forget about the pci card. Sorry about all the craziness... shows how much of a newb I am. [ ]

Chris

 

I use wireless internet with the linksys wireless "G" router, and love it.

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Jchastain, very good info!!! and very much appreciated. I'll give it a shot tonight and see if performance gets even better. Thanks again!!

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by remedyzrider

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>1. Split cable wire, one to the TV; the other to the computer<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

With a cable modem, you really want to have it come off the initial signal into the house if at all possible. But as long as you have decent signal strength where your computer is, you should be OK. It is technically a "tap" and not a splitter that will be used to divide the signal for the TV and the cable modem but that isn't important for you to worry about - the cable modem installer will have the right piece of equipment. Bur generally speaking, the setup is as you describe.

<blockquote id='quote'>quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>2. Take the wire going to the computer and connect it to the modem<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

Yep. The cable line coming off the tap goes into the cable modem.

<blockquote id='quote'>quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>3. from the modem, split the wire; one going to a desktop, the other going to a wireless router<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

As Brian said, the cable modem plugs directly into the router. There is a "WAN" port especially made for this. The PC then plugs into the router. It is important that the router be between the cable modem and the PC for a lot of reasons I won't go into here.

<blockquote id='quote'>quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>4. The wireless router would give my laptop wireless internet.<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

Yep. That is exactly right.

 

Great guys!!!

What I wasn't aware of (because I've never seen a router in person)was the fact you could run a cable wire from the router to the desktop and also run the wireless function to the laptop! Fantastic!

Thanks again! [ ]
Chris

 

I agree, netgear, have much better build quality, and they don't have lots of firmware update. very reliable. Usually netgear products are gear toward budget tech geek, my old trustly(retired) RT311 was only upgrade the firmware once, b4 I retire it. the telnet, and RS232 console support is proved to be the geeks' lover.
<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Brian

 

[8D] Note that if you want to use the "Booster Technology" it may only work with the vendors wifi cards. Something else to keep in mind is that when the "Booster Technology" is active it may interfere with other access points that are nearby.

 

Is "speedbooster technology" thing is the 108mbps stuff. if it's, let me break it down simple for you. it's pretty much a gimmick. 108mbps mode only work where you can get 54mbps mode, also in general you will never archive that 108, even at 54m, transfer rate is usually around 30m, and you got to be darn close to the AP(Access Point), and at 108, you usually get around 40-50, 70-80 if you are in a perfect environment. In addtion to that, if you are using it to surf the net, then guess what, most DSL are running at 384kbps-1.5mbps, while cable are around 6mbps(share), and cap at 1mbps during traffic hours. so, even a normal wifi 802.11b, 11mbps is overkill. what you should worry most is which one give you the best reception, and sorry that I would not be the person who can answer that question for you.

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As of yesterday i am now a wireless user. I have the Lynksys Wireless G Router, It opened new doors for me. I can now download files, while i "Dump" files in the bathroom...it's changed my life.

Inspiron 9100- 3.2ghz P4 HT - 1gb RAM - 100GB HD - 4x dvd/cd burner -128mb ATI 9700. RoX0r mY coX0r!

 

Thats a little too much information CSpwntsYOU...[ ].

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Fujitsu S6210: 1.6Ghz PM ~ 768MB RAM ~ 60GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
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