Author Topic: Wireless network. (Read 302 times)

BBBB · « **on:** May 30, 2007, 05:31:22 AM »

Hey guys, I need a wireless network package for my mom. I don't know that much about the system so any help or advice would be great. She wants a set up for the two PCs in the house and her laptop which has a built in wifi card. So I am guessing she needs two PCI wifi cards for the PCs and a wireless router. But which one to buy? And do they sell them in a package?

-Sp0t

The Fugitive · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2007, 06:32:24 AM »

I use linksys. I've also used Belkin, but found the Linksys more stable, and lasted longer. Even so , I havn't gotten a router to last longer than 18 months before needing to be replaced.

Setup is a breeze. Configuring is standard in the linksys, and mine didn't need any tweaking. When the kids are home from school, I can have up to 3 wired computers, and 5 wireless ones running at the same time

Darn kids !

BBBB · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2007, 07:16:10 AM »

OK, but which one to buy? Do you have a model number? And what about PCI wifi cards? Which ones should I be looking at?

-Sp0t

The Fugitive · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2007, 09:20:27 AM »

THIS IS THE ROUTER I use, and THIS CARD is the one I use on one of the computers. All the lappys have built in wifi so they didn't need anything.

BBBB · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2007, 12:54:51 PM »

Cant you get these cheaper at places like pricewatch.com?
Also is there anything wrong with this card http://www.chiefpick.com/product_p/nw-enlwi-g2.htm I see they are way cheaper. Why is that?

-Sp0t

The Fugitive · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2007, 01:56:14 PM »

I'm sure you can find them cheaper. I just used those link because they were the easiest to bring up. That other card doesn't look bad to me either, but I find when you buy cheap products, thats what you get

I'll spend a few dollars more to get a good brand name with good reviews instead of going cheap, and having to work my way though the hassles if something goes wrong.

Of course, your milage may vary!

Vulcan · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2007, 04:09:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by The Fugitive
Even so , I havn't gotten a router to last longer than 18 months before needing to be replaced.

Invest in a UPS. They're not that expensive these days.

Tigger29 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2007, 09:12:05 PM »

One thing to consider.. if you have DSL you may have wireless built into the modem. I bought some stuff for my father in law... at the time he had three desktops and didn't want to run wires just so his new step-kids could browse the internet.

I purchased a cheap D-link wireless router and two el-cheapo chinese PCI wireless cards (his computer was going to be hard wired).. as you can tell he was on a tight budget.

He finally got DSL all set up and all that so I went over to his house and low-and-behold I saw a SSID and encryption code printed on the housing of his DSL modem. Plugged that information into the wireless cards and voila! Everything works. I took his D-link router as payment for my services and am still using it today.

Is it a GOOD wireless router? Probably not, but it seems to be holding up pretty well (been using it almost 3 years now)... I get a good lag-free connection to AH and only see two or three discos a month, of which I'm not even sure is due to the wireless connection. But also keep in mind the router is less than 10 feet away from my computer.. it's just on the other side of the floor (in the basement).

As far as configuration options on the DSL wireless modem... well they are very limited. You cannot change the SSID or the encryption code, but it does auto assign IP's and all that.. I just don't know how secure it is... but if you're not worried about that sort of thing...

Anyways.. might be something worth looking at, if it applies to your situation.