Advice on what wireless router + cards to buy.

-Neil-

-Neil-

-Neil-

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Afternoon all, I'm after a few suggestions on what to buy/replace to get my network at home finally sorted out.

Currently, my computer(PC1) and my brothers(PC2) connect to the internet through my dads(PC3).

PC1>Hub>PC3>ADSL Modem>WWW

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As you can see from the above picture, PC3 has to be turned on and connected to the internet so that PC1 and PC2 can go on the net.

I take it this is the best way to go about the new solution, to buy a wireless router/adsl modem and wireless network cards for the three PC's.

newzd5.jpg



Two of the computers are running XP Pro and mine is running Windows x64, so the wireless network card for mine would need to have x64 drivers available for me.

So guys and gals, I'm open to suggestions on a wireless router/modem and three wireless network cards.

Budget is around £50-80 for the router and ~£20 per network card.
Or is there another way to do this that I've missed?
The ISP is Pipex and the current adsl modem is one of those Alcatel jobbies.

Thanks in advance,

Neil.
 
Ok, having read about a bit I've chosen a few things but need a bit of reasurring.

1X Speedtouch 585i
3X Netgear WG311 Wireless PCI Cards

Total = £145.82

Or the Rangemax route;

1X Netgear DG834N
3X Netgear WPN311 Wireless PCI Cards

Total = £289.76

What do you guys think to those components for general internet use/bittorrent/etc?
Is the rangemax stuff worth the extra cost?

Any thoughts? Please share them :)

Neil.
 
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If you already have a wired network in place i would save yourself a whole bundle of cash and just get a wired router/modem and just connect that to the ethernet cable coming from the hub (that used to go into PC3), then connect PC3 via a separate ethernet cable, and connect the modem/router to the phone line.

So total cost shouldn't be more than £60

Alternatively you could get a wireless modem/router, but not have all the PCs connected wirelessly - I assume PC3 is near a phone line, so you could easily put the wireless router there and connect PC3 via ethernet cable - so you would only need 2 wireless cards.

edit: I have been using the Speedtouch 585i for a couple of months, and it has worked fine - no downtime, easy to set up, but perhaps lacking a bit in features. Personally I would buy the Netgear DG834G if you go wireless - had one back home for 18 months or so with no problems, good coverage and features and 100% uptime :) (i got the speedtouch free, which i why i am using that atm)
 
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Cheers for the reply.

Yes you're correct in that PC3 is next to the phone line.
Preferably I'd like to make the whole lot wireless for ease and in that PC3 could be replaced soon by a laptop.

The hub/switch is quite old, we were given it a number of years ago, I might also be moving out in a month or so.

Best news of all, is that because it's an upgrade for the home I've been told all costs will be reimbursed to me :D

I'll probably buy the DG834N, the two Rangemax wireless cards and connect PC3 directly to the DG834N.

Neil.
 
Wireless is not the best way to go at all.

1. Youre moving out soon so why bother spending so much?
2. You've already got the wires in place

Which means it would be far easier to just by a modem with an ethernet output and a cheap ass 4port rotuer. Or an all in one modem and router.

Job done for probably less than £40 i would imagine. Which means you'll save loads, won't have to buy all wireless carp for allthe PC's etc... Jobs done?

If you want to add wireless capabilities for a laptop later on thats just as easy to add a Wireless access point, or just put a wireless card in one of the PC's that will always be switched on and Internet connection share.

//Edit: In fact looking at that, it would be even easier to just buy a modem that has an ethernet output and use the hub you've got already, but if it is actually a hub and not a switch. Scrap it buy a 4 port switch.

Still a router is a better bet over a standard switch for internet sharing.
 
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-Neil- said:
I'll probably buy the DG834N, the two Rangemax wireless cards and connect PC3 directly to the DG834N.
Click to expand...
That's what I would advise, especially if PC3 is going to be replaced. I don't blame you wanting to go wireless, can be relatively little difference in cost between wired and wireless routers, so worth the upgrade (especially if you are planning on adding a lappy to the system).

Just in case you didn't know, the Netgear DG834N (and all "pre-N" equipment), is based on the draft 802.11n wireless specification which has not yet been ratified by the IEEE - so it is possible that there could be changes to the software, or even hardware, specification before it is ratified), which *may* result in you having a piece of equipment which becomes obsolete once the specification is ratified.
 
-Neil- said:
j00ni, would what this chap said here be relevant?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7572075&postcount=28

Neil.
Click to expand...
Sort of.

The speed claims are probably accurate (ish), so you will get better speed and range than with 802.11g networks.

However there is no way of knowing what the ratified N spcification will incorporate. The liklihood is that there will be little more than software chages (so the router will be able to be flashed as he says). However there is the possibility that there will be changes to the hardware spec, in which case a bios flash would not bring it up to standard.

However, if you are happy to accept the limitations of the pre-N spec, there is no reason to not get it, but just be warned that if there are major changes in the ratified N spec, your product will most likely lose support, and new ratified N products will likely not be compatible
 
My point is the wires are there, it's very possible you could take a performance hit over wireless instead of gain, or what happens if once you've installed it all you find something random interfering, granted i'm not totally clued up, but i've heard microwaves are a nightmare no?

If you are really interested in speed, look into gigabit networking it really isn't the expensive option it used to be. In my situation now if i was starting over again thats where i'd go.

Sorry if i sound like i'm just against wireless, but i've never been fussed on it unfortunately, for me wired > wireless if wired is possible. I can see the appeal of wireless if you don't want to wire your house up. But you are ready and waiting!
 
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j00ni said:
Sort of.

The speed claims are probably accurate (ish), so you will get better speed and range than with 802.11g networks.

However there is no way of knowing what the ratified N spcification will incorporate. The liklihood is that there will be little more than software chages (so the router will be able to be flashed as he says). However there is the possibility that there will be changes to the hardware spec, in which case a bios flash would not bring it up to standard.

However, if you are happy to accept the limitations of the pre-N spec, there is no reason to not get it, but just be warned that if there are major changes in the ratified N spec, your product will most likely lose support, and new ratified N products will likely not be compatible
Click to expand...
Cheers for that, to be honest my family doesn't know the meaning of upgrading when it comes to computers, my dads computer is a 1.7Ghz Celeron with 512Mb of ram :p

I'll check this thread tomorrow morning once more and place my order then.

Neil.
 
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Ordered the 2 wireless Rangemax cards and the Rangemax Router/Modem, I'll let you know how it performs when I get it :)


Neil.
 
Got the stuff, installation was simple but had to change some settings manually.

One question for users of this Rangemax stuff, what speed does it say when you hover above the wireless icon?

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Had some trouble finding drivers for Windows x64, used some off Planetamd64.

The only problem is that the 'Netgear Wireless Assistant' never works for me. Not a problem as I use the Windows built in thing.

Neil.
 
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