Wireless routers

Colette · Post by **Colette** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:48 pm

Does anyone have any experience using a wireless router? Do they work well and if so, which ones are better? Am thinking of getting one.

Thanks

Lainie · Post by **Lainie** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:50 pm

YEap we use one and find it very good. I know noting about them so can't even tell ya the one we use sorry

Will get Tones to do that

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:55 pm

a wireless router is good....
should have 4 ports ..at least
and being wireless...no cables to string to the PCs

brands??? Dlink are good
others...???
maybe checkout http://www.ht.com.au
or your local PC place
OfficeWorks and Harvey Norman have them to sell
but don't expect them to advise you

hth

cheers

Lainie · Post by **Lainie** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:59 pm

Harvey Norman

Hardly Normal always give advise don't they?
To the most expensive one cause it will work better..

javaman · Post by **javaman** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:06 pm

They're nice if you secure it properly, otherwise the neighbors will get free internet

Buy the "802.11g" type (the faster one) and the wireless card on the PC/notebook should match.

Many brands and types. I have one so small it fits in the pocket.

Colette · Post by **Colette** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:28 pm

Thanks all, that advice helps

Andi, my laptop has an Intel Pro/Wireless Lan 2100 3A Mini PCI Adapter - is that suitable? I connect to Optus DSL.

javaman · Post by **javaman** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:38 pm

Apparently that is an 802.11b type, which is slower.

But buy the 802.11g anyway since they are compatible, and allow future upgrade. There won't be price difference I think...

Avoid 801.11a like plaque.

99coconuts · Post by **99coconuts** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:38 pm

most likely a wireless b card on the lappy, not wireless g. you can get access points that do both however, shop around a little. by the sounds of things, its just for internet on the lappy? cheep and cheerful should do the trick in that case

a while back i got a dlink router/firewall/4 port hub/access point for $100 from hardly normal, i cant imagine they would have gone up. did the trick, but the range was pretty poor, i had some extra stuff here at work so i pinched that and i'm using that at home now, can sit at the end of the street with my lappy if i need to (cos thats SOOOO fekking useful

).

but yeah, a little cheapy like i mentioned above should be all you need

Barrabob · Post by **Barrabob** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:39 pm

I bought a dlink 4port wireless router and adsl modem the other day cost 190 bucks its a dlink 54g one so it suports the 802.11g protocol would check to see whats in the notebook in hardware properties it will say whether its a 11b card in the notebook or whethere it is a g card.

Big files like bigger than 350 meg you probably want a 802.11g or web surfing at home a b card is fine.

Had a belkin before that same thing but it always ran really hot like fry eggs on it hot and the power supply died on it so needed working internet so whole new router but if i hunt for a bit i am sure i can get a power supply....dlink is a better thing though.

anything that suports the later protocol will do the earlier ones as well.

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:53 pm

javaman wrote:...

Avoid 801.11a like plaque.

yup....

kellz · Post by **kellz** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:28 pm

only ever use dthe one on my old lap top at uni, woudlnt kwno what it was though, the lap top was a hp so it was pretty good.

loved teh wrieless though, could pick up teh signal fro about 500m-1km away and still ahev good bandwidth and strength

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:55 pm

Get a "g" - it's backwards compatible with "b" anyway

If you already have a modem with an inbuilt switch, you don't actually need a router, only an access point.

DLink or Netgear are ok for home use. As Beryl said, Belkins don't like heat 'cos they run hot to start with.

Tones · Post by **Tones** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:10 pm

We use a Dlink. It can be a help to get the same brand router and card to help with compatibility. As already mentioned there is a "g" format as well as a few others. Some are old formats. If you get a "g" it incorporates the older formats as well. What that means is the "g" is fastest, but some of the older ones have better range, but are slower for example. The "g" ones can work on the fast speed, but if their are probs it can drop down to another format that may be slower. The later model cordless phones operate on teh same frequency as the "g" format so they can interfer. Hence the router may be able to go to another format whilst there is interference for example. The Dlink is very easy to set up and the default settings can get you running very easily. Their is also a need for security of your wireless network, not only from hacking your pc, but your net connection as well. The "g" format allows a pretty high level of security and there are different ways and levels of configuration. We went the Dlink coz of ease of setup. We have had no probs to speak of and the modem speed is faster than our net connection (optus ADSL 512/256).

Hope the info helps

cheers

rtyuiop · Post by **rtyuiop** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:24 pm

Ive had no problems with a bunch of Netgears, a few DLinks and a Netcomm or two. All depends on what's going cheapesr at the time if you ask me!

Danny

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:28 pm

I am getting my friends "old" Dlink + Pcmcia card for $75...hehehe...

He has moved to the sticks and has isdn now...