Which Wireless network?
Discussion
I want a wireless network as I am about to buy a laptop to go with my desktop pc at home.
I am fairly clued up with pcs, but am pretty clueless about wireless networks. I have searched this forum but not found an answer to this.
Here's my situation:
-My desktop pc is used for gaming and is situated next to a phone line for ADSL.
-I currently link to ADSL using a alcatel modem
-I will use the laptop for surfing, looking at photos and videos stored on the desktop, IM with webcam etc but not gaming
-I don't want to have to switch the desktop on for web surfing on the laptop
So what do I need to buy? I want one that will work well, not the latest whizz bang thing for £100s. Can you give me examples please.
>> Edited by leosayer on Tuesday 18th October 13:44
I am fairly clued up with pcs, but am pretty clueless about wireless networks. I have searched this forum but not found an answer to this.
Here's my situation:
-My desktop pc is used for gaming and is situated next to a phone line for ADSL.
-I currently link to ADSL using a alcatel modem
-I will use the laptop for surfing, looking at photos and videos stored on the desktop, IM with webcam etc but not gaming
-I don't want to have to switch the desktop on for web surfing on the laptop
So what do I need to buy? I want one that will work well, not the latest whizz bang thing for £100s. Can you give me examples please.
>> Edited by leosayer on Tuesday 18th October 13:44
You can pick up a basic wireless router for pennies, but personally I'd be quite tempted by one of the latest MIMO devices. MIMO means Multiple In, Multiple Out which essentially means that the wireless router has multiple ariels and is able to use those ariels to get better coverage via signal bouncing, etc.
You can also find longer range routers these days which work particularly well with the matching wireless cards. The same goes for 'turbo' mode where you can get up to twice the speed of a normal wireless g network.
A good example is the Netgear RangeMax Smart MIMO Wireless Router (WPN824). You'll see links to the matching wireless card at the bottom of the article - this is not required but gives maximum advantage in terms of range and speed.
For a basic router, Netgear do alternatives or something like the D-Link 642i is pretty good. There's a nice guide to D-Link wireless products here.
I know you don't want advanced features, but a built-in firewall is very useful and things like VPN pass-through and/or tunnels can be handy in the future. Also, make sure it has some LAN (wired) ports as this is generally useful too.
Hope this helps.
roadie.
You can also find longer range routers these days which work particularly well with the matching wireless cards. The same goes for 'turbo' mode where you can get up to twice the speed of a normal wireless g network.
A good example is the Netgear RangeMax Smart MIMO Wireless Router (WPN824). You'll see links to the matching wireless card at the bottom of the article - this is not required but gives maximum advantage in terms of range and speed.
For a basic router, Netgear do alternatives or something like the D-Link 642i is pretty good. There's a nice guide to D-Link wireless products here.
I know you don't want advanced features, but a built-in firewall is very useful and things like VPN pass-through and/or tunnels can be handy in the future. Also, make sure it has some LAN (wired) ports as this is generally useful too.
Hope this helps.
roadie.
First of all, avoid Belkin products.
You want a 54g Wireless ADSL router (Netgear or USRobotics seem popular, I have the latter) which you can pop next to your desktop and connect with a length of CAT5 cable (assuming the desktop has a RJ45 network socket).
If the lappy doesn't have wireless built in then you will need to by a wireless PCMCIA card for it. It's often a good idea to go for the same make as the router, although not essential.
I'm sure someone will be along with better advice shortly....
You want a 54g Wireless ADSL router (Netgear or USRobotics seem popular, I have the latter) which you can pop next to your desktop and connect with a length of CAT5 cable (assuming the desktop has a RJ45 network socket).
If the lappy doesn't have wireless built in then you will need to by a wireless PCMCIA card for it. It's often a good idea to go for the same make as the router, although not essential.
I'm sure someone will be along with better advice shortly....
Essentially you want an all in one router/modem(Gateway)/switch/wireless.
There are plenty of these about for home use. The modem connects it to the net, the router almost acts as an internet sharing pc, the switch is for network cable, and the wireless allows you to use wireless clients.
Using ebuyer as a location, you could buy from elsewhere:
Linksys WAG354G
I've got one atm, and its a nice little piece of kit.
Netgear DG834G
Used to have Netgear previously, very easy to use.
D-Link DSL904
Another example - comes with usb wireless in case your laptop doesn't have it.
All these kits are aimed at non-tech savvy users. You shouldn't have any problems setting them up, as long as your isp has provided you with all the details.
Edit: Spent so long typing all that out that I got beaten to it
>> Edited by xiphias on Tuesday 18th October 14:08
There are plenty of these about for home use. The modem connects it to the net, the router almost acts as an internet sharing pc, the switch is for network cable, and the wireless allows you to use wireless clients.
Using ebuyer as a location, you could buy from elsewhere:
Linksys WAG354G
I've got one atm, and its a nice little piece of kit.
Netgear DG834G
Used to have Netgear previously, very easy to use.
D-Link DSL904
Another example - comes with usb wireless in case your laptop doesn't have it.
All these kits are aimed at non-tech savvy users. You shouldn't have any problems setting them up, as long as your isp has provided you with all the details.
Edit: Spent so long typing all that out that I got beaten to it
>> Edited by xiphias on Tuesday 18th October 14:08
catretriever said:
First of all, avoid Belkin products.
You want a 54g Wireless ADSL router (Netgear or USRobotics seem popular, I have the latter) which you can pop next to your desktop and connect with a length of CAT5 cable (assuming the desktop has a RJ45 network socket).
If the lappy doesn't have wireless built in then you will need to by a wireless PCMCIA card for it. It's often a good idea to go for the same make as the router, although not essential.
I'm sure someone will be along with better advice shortly....
Got Belkin's router and happy with it. Why avoid it?
Plotloss said:
802.11n comes out early next year though which makes 802.11g (the current standard) look pedestrian so if you can hold off, its perhaps wise to.
Good point.
No-one has mentione security yet which is a subject close to my heart. Although things are improving many basic wireless routers still have dreadful security features, even with the latest firmware. 128bit WEP is rubbish and can be broken in minutes by someone with a bit of knowledge. If you can, get a device that supports WPA-PSK (Pre-Shared Key) or similar which is much more secure.
Fer said:
I have had problems with my Netgear DG834GT and WG111T combo.
The WG111T is causing the remote machine to bomb every 10 minutes or so, and nothing from support points to a solution.
Sorry if this is basic stuff to you, but have you updated the firmware on the devices and drivers on the card?
Ebuyer usually have customers opinions on the different brands. Netgear seemed to be ok, so went for it. Out of the box to fully working in 20 mins (and I have never done it before)
Simply insert cards and cables, insert cd and follow distructions.
When I up(down)graded to XP SP2 it killed the setup. An updated driver from netgear.com and it was working again within 5 mins
Total cost a year ago was approx £100, and its just worked ever since.
Simply insert cards and cables, insert cd and follow distructions.
When I up(down)graded to XP SP2 it killed the setup. An updated driver from netgear.com and it was working again within 5 mins
Total cost a year ago was approx £100, and its just worked ever since.
agent006 said:
Got Belkin's router and happy with it. Why avoid it?
Poor hardware and badly designed software. Tech support is in the back end of beyond and is also next to useless.
Strange - bought it last weekend with new laptop. Easy to install and no software is needed really.
So must be lucky one then.
I bought the fast DG834GT Super G™ 108 Mbps wireless router and had trouble with it refusing to connect to the internet. Seems it needed a firmware upgrade to work. Great, at least I had my old router I could use to connect and download the update, anyone getting one as a first time internet connection would be a bit screwed though.
Now its working I can't fault it. I also bought the fast 108 Mbps wireless card for my laptop with very good range and network speed too.
Now its working I can't fault it. I also bought the fast 108 Mbps wireless card for my laptop with very good range and network speed too.
roadsweeper said:
Sorry if this is basic stuff to you, but have you updated the firmware on the devices and drivers on the card?
I have got the latest driver for the USB dongle (WG111T). Which firmware would I need to look for? (Fer Jr is desparate for me to get this working so he can play Runescape!)
Fer said:
Sorry if this is basic stuff to you, but have you updated the firmware on the devices and drivers on the card?
I have got the latest driver for the USB dongle (WG111T). Which firmware would I need to look for? (Fer Jr is desparate for me to get this working so he can play Runescape!)
It looks like the latest firmware for your router is v1.01.28, release in May 2005. Given this, your router may already have this firmware installed but check it anyway.
The support page for your router is here - you can find the firmware links on the left side of the screen.
If the firmware on your router is already the latest version try digging around on the above page for more information or try the Netgear forums (they only have US ones at the moment I think but there's a good chance the devices are the same and someone has had a similar problem).
Hope this helps.
roadie.
Thanks Roadie. The router is fine now they have exchanged it for a working one, it is just the dongle that is crashing the remote PC. I will upgrade the firmware again(I had done this on the previous one in an attempt to get it working) and see if this changes anything.
I have added Static I/P, removed the windows Zero Config service, and still it bombs on me.
I have added Static I/P, removed the windows Zero Config service, and still it bombs on me.
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