Wireless Router?

Drakon · Feb 22, 2006, 06:55 PM

I'd like to get a wireless router so my mom can share my comcast internet connection. My pc is on the 2nd floor and her's is on the 1st. Can anyone recommend a good router and pci adapters? I'm guessing a router with a long range would be needed...

Judas · Feb 22, 2006, 07:00 PM

Dlink makes a damn fine and easy to setup router... get the AG series....... fast and powerful.....

Yousaif · Feb 22, 2006, 08:53 PM

You don't need an extended range unit. Mine is in my basement and works fine on both of the machines on the floor 2 floors up.

niceguyrichy · Feb 22, 2006, 09:02 PM

my netgear dg series works throughout 3 stories without too much trouble

Drakon · Feb 22, 2006, 10:27 PM

Hmmm, do you have any specific models?

Tipstaff · Feb 22, 2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakon

Hmmm, do you have any specific models?

The DG834PN is the newest addition to Netgear. It's designed to extend the connection range. It's not cheap, and will cost you about $110-130 US ($130-150 CAN).

I normally sell the WPN824 at my store. One of the best routers in my opinion, and I definitly recommend it. It's very similar to the DG834PN in design, and includes the RangeMax too. I set one of these in a customers place one time, and was able to use a laptop in his basement with a full connection.. 3 floors straight down. Great router. Usually you can grab these for about $85 US ($100 CAN).

Drakon · Feb 22, 2006, 11:08 PM

Thanks tipstaff

Which wireless adapter would you recommend? The WPN111, WPN311, or WPN511? Also, I'm a little concerned about the system requirements for the WPN824:

Quote:

System Requirements:
· Broadband (cable, DSL) Internet service and modem with Ethernet connection
· 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g wireless adapter. Alternatively, an Ethernet adapter and cable for each computer
· Windows® 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, Mac® OS, NetWare®, UNIX®, or Linux®
· Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape® 4.7 or higher
· We Recommend using this product with the WPN111, WPN311, or WPN511 RangeMax Wireless Adapters

My cable modem connects through a USB port, not the ethernet, so how would I go about connecting the router and modem if I bought it?

riles9262 · Feb 23, 2006, 12:52 AM

Which cable modem do you use drakon? You would have to connect the modem to the router with a cat5 cable for sure...and i'm not aware of a cable modem out there these days that lacks a cat5 connection. You will be just fine with the 'system requirements' of a router, don't worry

As for the adapters, their specs are really similar (same even?), it's just the interface that's different. I'd say wherever you have the most room in your pc would be the deciding factor; if you have plenty of usb ports, go for the 111, or use the 311 if you'd rather use a pci slot. I think the 511 is a card bus, or pcmcia interface, mainly for laptops.

Drakon · Feb 23, 2006, 01:03 AM

The cable modem I use is a RCA DCM425. Guess I'll have to go for the WPN111 adapter for mine and maybe the WPN311 for my mom's pc.

Tipstaff · Feb 23, 2006, 01:05 AM

There was a time where some DSL/Cable modems came with USB only. Providers were trying to find a cheap way to support customers that didn't have room for, or that didn't have sufficeint knowledge on how to install an Ethernet card.

Unfortunatly, as far as I know there are no wireless routers that support USB modems. From what I can remember the ones that do are all wired. I know D-Link has one, the DSL-302G, however it's for DSL only as is Netgears DG632. Linksys sells has one, the BEFCMU10, and funny enough, only support Cable modems.

Edit: just saw your above post. The RCA DCM425 modem DOES support both USB and Ethernet connections. So, count yourself lucky, D.

As for the cards, I've yet to try the USB adapter from them, however I've never had much luck with USB ones to date. As for the 311 and 511, both are very good cards. The wizard they come with makes installation a snap, and takes you through everything from installing, to WEP/WPA setup, and so fourth.

Drakon · Feb 23, 2006, 01:24 AM

Well thanks for all the help, guys. I'll look around to see who has the lowest prices for the hardware.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Feb 23, 2006, 09:29 AM

Why not just wire your house with Cat-5E? I did it, not that hard nor messy or expensive. You also get gigabit and 110% good signal. That and making your own network cables adds +10 to manlyness

Drakon · Feb 23, 2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

Why not just wire your house with Cat-5E? I did it, not that hard nor messy or expensive. You also get gigabit and 110% good signal. That and making your own network cables adds +10 to manlyness

Mainly because I plan on getting a laptop in the future. I won't be able to hardwire that...

g35x · Feb 23, 2006, 10:07 AM

i would stay away from a d-link had one before my current router and hated it i have a linksys and it was the easyest thing i ever setup got it like 30$ on sale

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

Why not just wire your house with Cat-5E? I did it, not that hard nor messy or expensive. You also get gigabit and 110% good signal. That and making your own network cables adds +10 to manlyness

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakon

Mainly because I plan on getting a laptop in the future. I won't be able to hardwire that...

so get a wireless router,hardwire your and your moms computers,and then use the wireless for the lappy lol

Tipstaff · Feb 23, 2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g35x

so get a wireless router,hardwire your and your moms computers,and then use the wireless for the lappy lol

Was gonna suggest the same thing. The more wired computers you can do, the better. Mainly it's for speed, connection stability, and you will need to wire at least one machine so you can get the wireless setup, and just incase the wireless fails, or needs to be tweaked. One thing is for sure, make sure you have at least one machine wired just for those reasons.

Drakon · Feb 23, 2006, 12:31 PM

I believe I can wire my machine, but running the wire downstairs is going to be a problem. Drilling a hole through the floor or wall is definitely out. I appreciate all the suggestions, but I believe I'll stick with the wireless router/adapters.

g35x · Feb 23, 2006, 01:16 PM

well im just gona tell you.....my room is only 1 wall away from my moms.....her sony vaio the cable modem and the router are in her room with a cable running thru the wall and into my room and when she gets pissed (which happens quite often) she unplugs my internet.....and she dosent realize the router is wireless.....so i got myself a usb adapter (the up of wireless and the down of wired =) but i find the wireless is ALOT slower (the up of wired and the down of wireless) so if i find the wireless slow and im only 1 room away and ur a whole story away............

Drakon · Feb 23, 2006, 05:41 PM

Hey Tip, silly question: If I got the Rangemax router, would I also need to get the WPN511 NIC for my laptop (whenever I get it) or would the internal wireless adapter be enough?

Edit: The cheapest I found the router for is $100, and the WPN311 adapters cost $80 a piece

Judas · Feb 23, 2006, 07:25 PM

dlink allows the ability to configured a wireless computer without phyisically having it wired....

updating firmware however requires a wired conneciton

if anyone has issues with a dlink.. take it back emediately.

linksys is garbage... enless you spend big bucks.. your linksys router is probably not doing a good or any job related to being a firewall.... setup is also a pain in the ass...

netgear and dlink imo are best..

enless you really wanna pound out a sweet router and have ultimate connection speeds and reliability not to mention firewall... could wait a few months as xincom is dishing out there twin wan GB 702/703 and 705 is a wireless variation that suspected of showing up....

Judas · Feb 23, 2006, 07:26 PM

most laptops share the same standard for wireless connections.. you shouldn't require adding a card to it....

g35x · Feb 24, 2006, 09:48 AM

no my linksys dosent have a firewall,i have DMZ enabled....the D-link i had was a pain in my ass and wouldent let me play some games the linksys was a snap to setup

Judas · Feb 24, 2006, 12:29 PM

the linksys isn't a router ... it's a hub...... routers have some form of protection....

get a 604..... ;p

g35x · Feb 24, 2006, 12:52 PM

no it's a router......says router on the box.....anyway for me its a good thing theres no firewall or anything.....i hate em....im pretty sure mine has a firewall but i have DMZ enabled for my computer so im not sure

Tipstaff · Feb 24, 2006, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakon

Hey Tip, silly question: If I got the Rangemax router, would I also need to get the WPN511 NIC for my laptop (whenever I get it) or would the internal wireless adapter be enough?

Edit: The cheapest I found the router for is $100, and the WPN311 adapters cost $80 a piece

You don'