I am using a wired LAN now and want to convert to wireless so my
children can use my network from their laptops when they visit. This
seems to be something they really want to be able to do so they can do
business here as they do at home. New world for me.

Anyway, I would like to know:

1) Should I get a 'Wireless G' or 'Wireless N' router? Which
brand/model has proven the best?

2) My two desktops will need a network card. Which brand/model has
proven the best? Should they be the SAME company as the router so as
to eliminate problems?

3) I have a HP network-capable 7280 AIO. It is connected to my
present router via CAT5. How would I connect it to a wireless router?
4) My present router connects to my external modem via CAT5. How
would I connect that modem to a wireless router?

5) Maybe wireless routers have cat5 ports? That would solver
questions 3 & 4. For that matter, I then could do what I can do now -
connect up additional desktops (that are not wireless), when needed.

Please over-look my dumb questions. I would try to google for all
this, but I am too sick to stay at my desktop for very long periods
and have to remove myself to a hospital repeatedly right now. So I am
hoping someone can give me some answers so that in a few weeks when I
am supposed to recover, I can make some moves.

I will be eternally grateful.

-GECKO

gecko wrote:
> I am using a wired LAN now and want to convert to wireless so my
> children can use my network from their laptops when they visit. This
> seems to be something they really want to be able to do so they can do
> business here as they do at home. New world for me.
>
> Anyway, I would like to know:
>
> 1) Should I get a 'Wireless G' or 'Wireless N' router? Which
> brand/model has proven the best?
G is more compatible right now.
>
> 2) My two desktops will need a network card. Which brand/model has
> proven the best? Should they be the SAME company as the router so as
> to eliminate problems?
Leave them wired. You can mix.
>
> 3) I have a HP network-capable 7280 AIO. It is connected to my
> present router via CAT5. How would I connect it to a wireless router?
Again, leave it alone.

> 4) My present router connects to my external modem via CAT5. How
> would I connect that modem to a wireless router?
You don't say, but if you just have a wired router, just replace it with
a wireless router. Most Wireless routers allow at least 4 wired devices.
>
> 5) Maybe wireless routers have cat5 ports? That would solver
> questions 3 & 4. For that matter, I then could do what I can do now -
> connect up additional desktops (that are not wireless), when needed.
You got it.
>
> Please over-look my dumb questions. I would try to google for all
> this, but I am too sick to stay at my desktop for very long periods
> and have to remove myself to a hospital repeatedly right now. So I am
> hoping someone can give me some answers so that in a few weeks when I
> am supposed to recover, I can make some moves.
>
> I will be eternally grateful.
>
> -GECKO

gecko wrote:
>
> I am using a wired LAN now and want to convert to wireless so my
> children can use my network from their laptops when they visit. This
> seems to be something they really want to be able to do so they can do
> business here as they do at home. New world for me.
>
> Anyway, I would like to know:
>
> 1) Should I get a 'Wireless G' or 'Wireless N' router? Which
> brand/model has proven the best?

You don't need wireless N. Even wireless B is fast enough for internet access.
My first home router was a D-Link, which was so bad that I replaced it with a Buffalo router. The Buffalo router has worked flawlessly, but they are no longer sold in the US. My second choice is Linksys.

> 2) My two desktops will need a network card. Which brand/model has
> proven the best? Should they be the SAME company as the router so as
> to eliminate problems?

You can mix different brands. The only compatibility problems I have had is getting WPA encryption to work. I have set up several wireless networks with 64 bit WEP encryptions so that they will work with any laptop.

> 3) I have a HP network-capable 7280 AIO. It is connected to my
> present router via CAT5. How would I connect it to a wireless router?
> 4) My present router connects to my external modem via CAT5. How
> would I connect that modem to a wireless router?
>
> 5) Maybe wireless routers have cat5 ports? That would solver
> questions 3 & 4. For that matter, I then could do what I can do now -
> connect up additional desktops (that are not wireless), when needed.

Almost all routers designed for home or small business use have a switch with four CAT5 ports.

> Please over-look my dumb questions. I would try to google for all
> this, but I am too sick to stay at my desktop for very long periods
> and have to remove myself to a hospital repeatedly right now. So I am
> hoping someone can give me some answers so that in a few weeks when I
> am supposed to recover, I can make some moves.
>
> I will be eternally grateful.
>
> -GECKO

--
Mike Walsh

On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:40:13 -0400, Mike Walsh
>My first home router was a D-Link, which was so bad that I replaced it with a Buffalo router. The Buffalo router has worked flawlessly, but they are no longer sold in the US. My second choice is Linksys.

The router seems to be under litigation currently.

-GECKO

On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:01:26 GMT, gecko <alpha@olympus.net>
wrote:

>I am using a wired LAN now and want to convert to wireless so my
>children can use my network from their laptops when they visit. This
>seems to be something they really want to be able to do so they can do
>business here as they do at home. New world for me.
>
>Anyway, I would like to know:
>
>1) Should I get a 'Wireless G' or 'Wireless N' router? Which
>brand/model has proven the best?

There are too many new N models for most of us to know what
is inherantly "best", though you might read some customer
reviews of the models offered at Newegg.com.

If you already have a router you don't necessarily need a
wifi router, you can just add an access point to your
existing network. A router would work too, you can even
configure many routers to work in access point mode which
can make sense if you are happy with your present router
otherwise, and since wifi routers are often no more
expensive, sometimes even cheaper after a rebate. Let the
budget decide if you want to invest in future compatibility
and performance of 802.11n, but most people are still using
802.11g or some even .11b and the 11n is backwards
compatible as is 11g.

If you have a fairly high speed broadband internet service,
you might find that 11b does bottleneck it a little bit but
it would still be quite usable for typical internet browsing
type activities, but not so great for filesharing or
multimedia use on the lan.



>
>2) My two desktops will need a network card. Which brand/model has
>proven the best? Should they be the SAME company as the router so as
>to eliminate problems?

If your desktops are already connected by ethernet cable,
why change them? It is more secure, more reliable,
faster... plus if something works and there's no benefit to
changing it, why do so? As with the routers, you can read
Newegg's customer reviews of products having the features
and price-point you decide upon.


>
>3) I have a HP network-capable 7280 AIO. It is connected to my
>present router via CAT5. How would I connect it to a wireless router?

Why try to convert this over to wireless too? Look at
wireless as a new feature, but not a replacement feature.
You could get a wifi bridge, or router that operates in
bridge mode, but unless the ethernet cable is in the way you
are as well off continuing to use it.


>4) My present router connects to my external modem via CAT5. How
>would I connect that modem to a wireless router?

Same way. Remove old router, put new router in it's place.
Another option is leave old router where it is, still doing
your routing, and just plug in the new wifi router to one of
the lan ports so it acts as an access point.


>
>5) Maybe wireless routers have cat5 ports? That would solver
>questions 3 & 4.

Yes, wireless routers normally have CAT5, RJ45 ethernet
jacks. The typical consumer grade models that are most
popular have 4 or 5 LAN plus one WAN port. In other words,
it's a combo device comprised of router + multiport switch +
radio for wifi.


> For that matter, I then could do what I can do now -
>connect up additional desktops (that are not wireless), when needed.
>
>Please over-look my dumb questions. I would try to google for all
>this, but I am too sick to stay at my desktop for very long periods
>and have to remove myself to a hospital repeatedly right now. So I am
>hoping someone can give me some answers so that in a few weeks when I
>am supposed to recover, I can make some moves.
>
>I will be eternally grateful.
>
>-GECKO

The easiest way to do it is leave your lan like it is, just
plug the router into an unused ethernet jack somewhere (need
not be directly connected to the current router, elsewhere
located in a central location would usually be better for
wifi reception purposes whether that means it's connected
through a switch located elsewhere or you'd string some
ethernet cable to it from the router or whatever. Then
again I wrote easiest, which that isn't. The easiest is
just put it right next to the current router and see if the
signal is strong enough, reception is good enough wherever
they might want to use the laptops.

On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:14:32 GMT, gecko <alpha@olympus.net>
wrote:

>On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:40:13 -0400, Mike Walsh
>>My first home router was a D-Link, which was so bad that I replaced it with a Buffalo router. The Buffalo router has worked flawlessly, but they are no longer sold in the US. My second choice is Linksys.
>
>The router seems to be under litigation currently.
>
>-GECKO

The Linksys WRT54GL is functionally equivalent to the
Buffalo you're probably referring to, especially so if
comparing both of them running DD-WRT 3rd party firmware,
though one of the Buffalos had a signal amp in it that
seemed to improve range a bit.

Some routers seem to have problems due to overheating, esp.
in warmer ambient conditions or where they are stuffed
somewhere that they don't get much passive airflow
(especially in a stack of other heat producing gear). In
those cases, if it can't be returned for a refund you might
take the cover off and put a few vent holes in, or in the
worst conditions cut a fan hole and add a fan making sure
the fan has low enough current draw that it can run from the
original PSU for convenience sake and lower current tends to
mean lower RPM, lower noise.

"Mike Walsh" <spam_sucks@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:48ADB68D.8D42902D@bellsouth.net...
>
>
> gecko wrote:
>>
>> I am using a wired LAN now and want to convert to wireless so my
>> children can use my network from their laptops when they visit. This
>> seems to be something they really want to be able to do so they can do
>> business here as they do at home. New world for me.
>>
>> Anyway, I would like to know:
>>
>> 1) Should I get a 'Wireless G' or 'Wireless N' router? Which
>> brand/model has proven the best?
>
> You don't need wireless N. Even wireless B is fast enough for internet
> access.

That isn't stricktly true - rather depends on your internet connection. I
have 'B' here and my laptop download speed is about half of my wired desktop
PC. That is over a 5Mb (max 8) broadband connection. So I would say that 'B'
is only fast enough for about 2Mb internet. Perhaps that would be ok
though - personal choice.

"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:2qtra4t74mp3arof8djhhgvcsgjbn9hn1k@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:01:26 GMT, gecko <alpha@olympus.net>
> wrote:
>
>>I am using a wired LAN now and want to convert to wireless so my
>>children can use my network from their laptops when they visit. This
>>seems to be something they really want to be able to do so they can do
>>business here as they do at home. New world for me.
>>
>>Anyway, I would like to know:
>>
>>1) Should I get a 'Wireless G' or 'Wireless N' router? Which
>>brand/model has proven the best?
>
> There are too many new N models for most of us to know what
> is inherantly "best", though you might read some customer
> reviews of the models offered at Newegg.com.

Although the new Centrino 2 setup requires one of 4 types of 'N' wireless,
so I would tend to pick one of those if going for N. Also - make sure the
router and card are from the same company or even in the same bundle for
maximum compatability.

On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:55:27 +0100, "GT"
<ContactGT_rem_ove_this_@hotmail.com> wrote:

>"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
>news:2qtra4t74mp3arof8djhhgvcsgjbn9hn1k@4ax.com.. .

>> There are too many new N models for most of us to know what
>> is inherantly "best", though you might read some customer
>> reviews of the models offered at Newegg.com.
>
>Although the new Centrino 2 setup requires one of 4 types of 'N' wireless,
>so I would tend to pick one of those if going for N. Also - make sure the
>router and card are from the same company or even in the same bundle for
>maximum compatability.
>


Thanks for all the information guys. I read all, and need to decide
exactly what to do/buy.

I am returning to the hospital now - for a week or so. Hope I can
implement some of your ideas then.

Sayonara.

-GECKO

GT wrote:
>
> "Mike Walsh" <spam_sucks@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
> news:48ADB68D.8D42902D@bellsouth.net...
> >
> > You don't need wireless N. Even wireless B is fast enough for internet
> > access.
>
> That isn't stricktly true - rather depends on your internet connection. I
> have 'B' here and my laptop download speed is about half of my wired desktop
> PC. That is over a 5Mb (max 8) broadband connection. So I would say that 'B'
> is only fast enough for about 2Mb internet. Perhaps that would be ok
> though - personal choice.

With a good wireless B connection you should get about 5 Mb/sec. That is about twice the speed you will get from a single server with the ISPs in my area, so even a mediocre B connection is adequate here.

--
Mike Walsh