wireless router query.

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corleone · #1 Post by **corleone** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:29 am

Whenever i have a question about hardward for my T42 I know right where to come.

I live in a very large (2500 sq ft) house and want to set up a wireless router for my cable internet.

Can anyone recommend a QUALITY wireless router for a large house that will be as powerful as plugging the cable internet directly into my computer?

I have never used a wireless router... are there any specs that i should be looking for. What do you recommend? Im reallyin the dark...

Thanks in advance
C.

#2 Post by **daeojkim** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:40 am

As long as you get a 802.11g router it should work fine.

My parents house is 3000+ sq ft and I get great signal whenever I am at there house. Even outside in the backyard.

Actually the range of 802.11g is pretty good and I pickup signals from 5 of the neighbors' routers.

I use linksys WRT54G and has worked pretty well for me so far. (about $65)

But I think you can get other brands such as Belkin w/ rebates and such for $25.

mattfromomaha · #3 Post by **mattfromomaha** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:36 pm

I have a D-Link wireless B, I think DI-614+, and I've had great luck with it as well.

Depending on your needs and internet connection (and what card you have in your ThinkPad), you may only need a wireless B, which is cheaper than G.

The B works at 10 MBPS, the G at 54 MBPS. Since most internet connections (cable, DSL) are far slower than 10 MBPS, the upgrade to G over B will be unnoticable, unless you are doing file sharing or home networking with other computers in your house.

DavidNZ · #4 Post by **DavidNZ** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:08 pm

I have the same router as mattfromomaha and am generally quite impressed. Every once in a while, I find I have to hard reboot it (i.e., unplug it and plug it back in!), but the reason I went with it is because you don't need to install software to configure it. Instead, you use your browser.

11g will give you a wider signal range than 11b, and given the size of the house I would go with g. You could even go pre-n (i.e., 802.11n) if you wanted.

I set up an 'all-in-one' D-Link ADSL modem/wireless 11g router for some friends in the UK about a month ago and it was a painless installation. I've had good results from D-Link products.

Whatever you do, make sure you:

1) enable at least WEP encryption (some say WPA-PSK is stronger, but WEP is often fine from what I hear)
2) enable MAC filtering (basically, only allow computers with specific MAC addresses to log into your wireless network)
3) disable SSID broadcast (i.e., don't advertise what your network name is, thus potentially slowing down someone's attempt to get in).

#5 Post by **JaneL** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:26 pm

>but the reason I went with it is because you don't need to install software to configure it. Instead, you use your browser.
>

You use your browser to configure the Linksys routers as well.

I have two Linksys routers in different houses - the WRT54G and the venerable BEFW11S4. They both work equally well.

Unless you just can't afford the difference in price, buy one that supports 802.11g. It will be backwards compatible to 802.11b.

corleone · #6 Post by **corleone** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:58 pm

Thank you all for your prompt responses... it was EXACTLY the info i was looking for!

C.

oyajikun · #7 Post by **oyajikun** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:22 pm

The WRT54G has some cool third party firmwares to play around with.

CChoi83 · #8 Post by **CChoi83** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:37 am

If you're looking to buy a good wireless router/AP and don't want to spend no more than $150 the Linksys ones are great. I had the WRV54G for a short bit and it worked fine (fyi, haven't tried the VPN portion so don't ask me about it). If you have the money to burn and want enterprise quality, get a Cisco or Proxim/Orinoco. Just got my Cisco 1230 AP and outfitted it with the G card module. One word: AMAZING.

For those of you who are wondering, "Why the hell does this guy need a Cisco AP in his house?!", please don't ask.

#9 Post by **BillMorrow** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:44 am

linkysy..

with the atheros chip..

and get the ibm wifi card using the same atheros chip..

#10 Post by **carbon_unit** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:54 am

With the Linksys WRT54G you get removable antennae with a standard connector so you can add higher gain antennea if you need more range. Also with the third party software you can increase the transmittting power to incease your range.
Here is a quick link: http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?s ... dcaid=1688

wireless router query.

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