I want a wireless router recommendation. I also want to add it to my existing network. [mini pci wireless] [wireless router]
Q: At this moment I have a Linksys router BEFSR41v2 and have 2 PCs and a PS2 connected. Now I will be getting a Dell Inspiron 8200 soon and would like to know what a good wireless router to add to this network, which also would work with the Dell mini-PCI wireless integrated network card.
Thanks for your help.
Best Answer: There are plenty of sites online that do it for free.
Google is your best friend pal.
Re:Here's my wireless experience –
I have a Linksys WAP11 v2.2 access point connected to my SMC 7004BR router/switch. The access point sits on top of my server's case at about knee height. The room where the AP is located is on the second floor of my house and in the extreme northeast corner. So basically violating every guideline about how an AP should be located (i.e., high and central to the desired coverage area).
One wirelessly networked PC is a desktop unit also located on the second floor but in the extreme southeast corner of the house, which is about 30 feet away from the AP and through 2 walls. It has a D-Link DWL-520+ PCI client card with a swivel antenna. It gets a rock-solid connection to the AP and transfers data at about 5 Mbps with 128 bit WEP enabled.
My other wireless PC is an IBM laptop with a Netgear MA-401 16-bit PCMCIA card client. It gets a good signal anywhere in my house, including the basement, and also out on the deck in the back yard. Although by the time I get to the farthest part of my yard the transfer speed drops to about 1 Mbps with 128 bit WEP.
Overall I am extremely happy with this setup. I got the WAP11 for $70 :Q, the DWL-520+ for $50, and the MA-401 for $40. Not too bad.
Don't forget security! The WAP11 lets you disable SSID broadcasting, use 128 bit WEP, and also use MAC filtering. One of my neighbors has a Philips SpeedStream access point. How do I know? Because I can see (and connect to!!!) their network from mine. They have no security enabled.
Which leads to the only problem I've had – my wireless network was working perfectly, but when my neighbors network started showing up then my desktop PC would not connect to my network – it would connect for a second, then drop the connection, connect, drop, connect, drop, and so on, whenever the neighbors access point was turned on. Changing channels didn't help, reorienting antennas didn't help. However, downloading the latest drivers for the D-Link card fixed the problem right away.
Good luck!
Re:Sure, multiple laptops can all use a single AP. The bandwidth will be shared so at some point you might notice a drop in performance, but I doubt it is a big deal for most home users.
Re:Thanks man.
I would also like to know if I can use more than one wireless laptop with a single Access Point. Could I use several laptops with the two that you mentioned, or do I have to get another kind of Access Point? I will only have one laptop hooked up to the Access Point for now, but I would like to be able to put several of them on it later on.
Re:Originally posted by: guyI get about 3mbps cable internet access and transfer files from PC to PC extremely fast.It is hard to know. It depends on the nature of the walls, the obstruction etc.
As a general yardstick.
I installed an Access point on a beam that support Catheral Ceiling. It is about 9? from the floor, and 4? from the top of the ceiling, situatated in the middle of large living room. I designed the house and the environment is a very open all wood. Client cards are functional in a radius of 50? around with one or two walls in between. It dies at the 60? point.
The maximum bandwidth is 7Mb/sec. goes down to 5Mb/sec. behind a wall, and get down 2-3Mb/sec. before it is gone. Most points beyond 30? have two walls in between.
2-3 Mb/sec. is good for Internet file transfer is a pain.
Re:Thanks for your response.
I want to be able to go online wirelessly anywhere in my house. I plan to put the AP in my bedroom, in the second floor of my house. I hope to use this on the first floor, the basement, and maybe outside in the yard. I am guessing the most I'll be away from the AP is about 30 feet, probably less, with walls and floors in between. At these distances, with several obstructions, like how fast will I be able to go? Right now, on my wired PC's, I get about 3mbps cable internet access and transfer files from PC to PC extremely fast.
Re:Since you already have a Router, you do not need a second one, get an Access Point.
Actually you are better off this way…
Wireless Cable/DSL Router will end up with few cables attached; it is hard to put it in a good high place (With 4-6 cables hanging around). As a result the distance and level of communication "Sux".
A WAP has only one CAT5 that goes to the Router, and a Power supply cord, easy to place high out of the way of obstructions. Good WAPs can also be configured as a Bridge (none of the Wireless Routers does it). A lot of WAPs can be equipped with good external Antenna. You have a Router; you don?t need a second one.
If the Wireless hardware is in one room, any hardware will work well.
If your projected environment is one or two walls, and 20-50' in distance most of the Entry Level Wireless Cable/DSL Routers will work.
Anything beyond, has to be tried. If people are short of money. I would suggest buying and returning if it does not work. I usually do not approve of a casual return approach. However when t comes to Wireless, most of the manufactures manipulate the way they claim distance. So if it does not work within the claimed distance (and it never does) I don't see any reason not to return.
Good mid price entry level APs are the Linksys WAP11 and the D-Link 900AP+.
The Orinoco line is very good at the Entry level, but cost more.
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Tags: mini pci wireless, wireless router