Wireless advice

[mofish]

OK guys, I generally know my stuff with networks, but the last time I was actually employed as any sort of Tech, wireless was just starting to take off.

Anyway, at BestBuy right now, they have a huge rebate on some NetGear wireless equipment. Im thinking about picking up the discounted router and a couple of USB WiFi NICs. Couple of questions :

1. Will USB NICs affect the throughput or bandwidth in any conceivable way? Any reason at all I should buy the PCI versions?

2. The discounted equipment is 54 Mbps. Will this be adequate? I notice there is 108 Mbps stuff out now. Any real difference? Ill mostly be using it for relatively small file transfers, surfing, and online gaming.

Thanks for any advice guys!

router : http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGR614.php

[TStorm]

OK guys, I generally know my stuff with networks, but the last time I was actually employed as any sort of Tech, wireless was just starting to take off.

Anyway, at BestBuy right now, they have a huge rebate on some NetGear wireless equipment. Im thinking about picking up the discounted router and a couple of USB WiFi NICs. Couple of questions :

1. Will USB NICs affect the throughput or bandwidth in any conceivable way? Any reason at all I should buy the PCI versions?

2. The discounted equipment is 54 Mbps. Will this be adequate? I notice there is 108 Mbps stuff out now. Any real difference? Ill mostly be using it for relatively small file transfers, surfing, and online gaming.

Thanks for any advice guys!

router : http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGR614.php

That's a very nice model. In fact I recommend the Netgear 54g models to all our remote employees at the company I'm employed at.

Usb, Pci, Pcmcia will all give you the same performance. The wireless card itself has a max speed slower than all those interfaces. You will want to be sure you setup an encryption key once you plug everything in. 128-bit wep is preferred.

Once you have the router plugged in and your wireless card installed you can download a utility called Netstumbler.

http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

This will check your power and signal strength. You will need to position the antenna's on the wireless router properly so it bounces the signal around your house. With this you can walk around and see how good/bad your signal strength is.

-T

[mofish]

Thanks Tstorm. After rebates, the router and two USB NICs will only cost about $90 total. The trick is waiting for the damn rebate checks. I figured USB would be fine, but I have horror stories to tell about attempting to install first generation USB ADSL modems, still have nightmares

[Tikker]

Hook me up with a cheap wireless G router mofish!



I actually just want a WAP but they're generally more expensive than a router, so....



hoox me up with cheap router!

[mofish]

No BestBuys in Canada Tikker? Check there if you have them.

[Tikker]

for some reason when I read your original post, I came to the conclusion you were working at best buy and would be able to provide insider discounts!

[Captain Insano]

OK guys, I generally know my stuff with networks, but the last time I was actually employed as any sort of Tech, wireless was just starting to take off.

Anyway, at BestBuy right now, they have a huge rebate on some NetGear wireless equipment. Im thinking about picking up the discounted router and a couple of USB WiFi NICs. Couple of questions :

1. Will USB NICs affect the throughput or bandwidth in any conceivable way? Any reason at all I should buy the PCI versions?

2. The discounted equipment is 54 Mbps. Will this be adequate? I notice there is 108 Mbps stuff out now. Any real difference? Ill mostly be using it for relatively small file transfers, surfing, and online gaming.

Thanks for any advice guys!

router : http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGR614.php

DON'T DO IT! 802.11b and g WIFI sucks ASS. Its burstly and drops connection all the fucking time regardless of brand.

Spend the extra money and get a NEW Belkin Pre-N Wireless Router and Belking Pre-N wireless cards.

3 times the range and twice the speed. I have it at my home and office. The old shit can't even come close to how much this stuff kicks ass.

[Lyion]

DON'T DO IT! 802.11b and g WIFI sucks ASS. Its burstly and drops connection all the fucking time regardless of brand.

Spend the extra money and get a NEW Belkin Pre-N Wireless Router and Belking Pre-N wireless cards.

3 times the range and twice the speed. I have it at my home and office. The old shit can't even come close to how much this stuff kicks ass.

Except that's bullshit. 11g is fine for a home network and is not at all bursty or connection dropping.

In my 3500 square foot home I have yet to get 'bursty' reception anywhere and my router has been rock solid. It's been excellent for the last year.

The PRE N is faster, but not at all noticeable unless you are doing an assload of things on your LAN.

[Tikker]

G is good enough to stream video on without it making a noticable dent on the network

[Gidan]

OK guys, I generally know my stuff with networks, but the last time I was actually employed as any sort of Tech, wireless was just starting to take off.

Anyway, at BestBuy right now, they have a huge rebate on some NetGear wireless equipment. Im thinking about picking up the discounted router and a couple of USB WiFi NICs. Couple of questions :

1. Will USB NICs affect the throughput or bandwidth in any conceivable way? Any reason at all I should buy the PCI versions?

2. The discounted equipment is 54 Mbps. Will this be adequate? I notice there is 108 Mbps stuff out now. Any real difference? Ill mostly be using it for relatively small file transfers, surfing, and online gaming.

Thanks for any advice guys!

router : http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGR614.php

DON'T DO IT! 802.11b and g WIFI sucks ASS. Its burstly and drops connection all the fucking time regardless of brand.

Spend the extra money and get a NEW Belkin Pre-N Wireless Router and Belking Pre-N wireless cards.

3 times the range and twice the speed. I have it at my home and office. The old shit can't even come close to how much this stuff kicks ass.

I use 11g at home and the office I worked at used it over the entire office. Worked flawlessly. We never once had a problem in the office, nor do I have any problems at home.

[Captain Insano]

DON'T DO IT! 802.11b and g WIFI sucks ASS. Its burstly and drops connection all the fucking time regardless of brand.

Spend the extra money and get a NEW Belkin Pre-N Wireless Router and Belking Pre-N wireless cards.

3 times the range and twice the speed. I have it at my home and office. The old shit can't even come close to how much this stuff kicks ass.

Except that's bullshit. 11g is fine for a home network and is not at all bursty or connection dropping.

In my 3500 square foot home I have yet to get 'bursty' reception anywhere and my router has been rock solid. It's been excellent for the last year.

The PRE N is faster, but not at all noticeable unless you are doing an assload of things on your LAN.

Its like night and day the difference in the speed and range, not to mention ease of setup.

I think wireless G is shit. Spend the extra hundred bucks on Pre N.

[TStorm]

OK guys, I generally know my stuff with networks, but the last time I was actually employed as any sort of Tech, wireless was just starting to take off.

Anyway, at BestBuy right now, they have a huge rebate on some NetGear wireless equipment. Im thinking about picking up the discounted router and a couple of USB WiFi NICs. Couple of questions :

1. Will USB NICs affect the throughput or bandwidth in any conceivable way? Any reason at all I should buy the PCI versions?

2. The discounted equipment is 54 Mbps. Will this be adequate? I notice there is 108 Mbps stuff out now. Any real difference? Ill mostly be using it for relatively small file transfers, surfing, and online gaming.

Thanks for any advice guys!

router : http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGR614.php

DON'T DO IT! 802.11b and g WIFI sucks ASS. Its burstly and drops connection all the fucking time regardless of brand.

Spend the extra money and get a NEW Belkin Pre-N Wireless Router and Belking Pre-N wireless cards.

3 times the range and twice the speed. I have it at my home and office. The old shit can't even come close to how much this stuff kicks ass.

We have a full B and G network running through 2 floors of our office building with no problems. Granted we have the $800 cisco access points that penetrate 4 feet of concrete but no one talks about the details...