Going Wireless - Makes? Models?

[ellyssian]

We're moving Justin's school computer up into his room, and Deb called the cable company as they had said explicitly that more than one computer could not share the connection. They advised her to save the money on a second modem and get a router.

So.

Because of the distance, we need a wireless router. Any ideas on specific makes/models, as well as devices to allow both Mac OSX and Winblows PCs to do their part and connect to the wireless? And keep the whole thing secure from any bear, deer, or squirrels that might want to hack into it.

Comments

[wyyknot.livejournal.com]

I use a cable modem with one computer actually connected to it, and the rest of us - 3 other computers - running off a wireless router. I have an older, relatively cheap LinkSys router. When oldest son moved to the back bedroom - as in opposite end of the house, and 3 thick and solid sheetrock walls between him and the router - he found the signal unreliable. He bought a set of 14 inch antennas for it, replacing the 5 or 6 inch ones it came with, and we've had no trouble ever since. In fact, until I figured out how to secure it, someone in the neighborhood was also using my wireless!!

That said - we all have Windows computers, and I have NO idea about the feasibility of Mac usage. When son was investigating the choices to get good wireless in the back room, he talked to the folks at Comp USA. They told him buy the rabbit ears, not a bigger router. They were about a quarter of the cost of a bigger router.

Good luck!

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I did a quick search on wireless routers, and LinkSys were the only ones that came up on the first page. Prices were pretty decent, but varied across models with similar descriptions.

[dangerdean.livejournal.com]

It doesn't matter what system you're running, the signal is the signal. I have a Mac and morag_gunn has a PC and we both connect to the same router with no problem.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I clarified a bit on blackbyrd2's reply - I'm looking for make & model recommendations of the transmitter cards/boxes. I understand the theory behind it, I'm just looking to take shortcuts in the hardware selection process. =)

[blackbyrd2.livejournal.com]

What dangerdean said. All internet communication is via TCP/IP, which means it's all the same data packets. The OS is just the individual interface between you and your programs.

Most routers will include instructions for creating secure connections, (WEP), eliminating outside users, or requiring a username/password to log on.
You can also change the IP address, and the range of usable IPs on your network, although it probably isn't necessary.
I will say that most routers have a preset username and password, which doesn't vary. That should be changed, and written on a piece of tape and stuck on the router for future use.
(linksys is usually no username and admin for the password, for instance.)
Anyone who knows your router's username/password can log in and make changes, I believe. Natch you can always change it back, but that defeats the purpose of securing the network.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

The OS is just the individual interface between you and your programs.

The OS isn't the issue in this case: the hardware is. I suppose I wasn't clear enough by bringing up OSX and Winblows itself... =)

Although my laptop already has wireless networking built in, the Mac G5 sitting on the floor in one room (which, truth to tell, might just get plugged directly into the network as they're currently located side-by-side) and the school-owned Windows platform located on a different floor don't speakee de wireless.

I'd need either a card or a sit-outside-the-box transmitter for the desktop units. Unfortunately, the latter is more likely, as I'm not sure I'm allowed to open up the case on the one that needs the most help with connectivity.

Basically, I'm looking for names and part numbers. =)

[opakele.livejournal.com]

I have a Netgear. I got Netgear to work and, I believe, support is in the US.

I originally bought a Linksys and couldn't get it to work. I called support and got a scripted call center. I admitted my failure when Nightsky was talking about buying a router for Raymond, and gave him the Linksys I never got around to returning. He tried...and bought a new router.

But, we might be old and slow.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Funny enough, I have a Netgear switch sitting here at work, so, as soon as I fetch me a couple of extra cables, I can get the desktop that's been sitting here, brand new, never used, for months *and* the laptop connected.

I'm debating using two keyboards, one for each hand, as a Rick Wakeman kind of setup... =)

As an aside, I'm amused that one of the key selling points on the Netgear switch is that it "Features a sleek new white design."

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

The only new non-Verizon-branded router I've worked with in recent times that I've disliked has been the Buffalo wireless router we bought for my sister when she got back from Iraq. Its automatic setup didn't work and I had a lot of trouble convincing it to stay set up the way I wanted it. I use a lot of Linksys and Netgear routers and they normally all work well. The setup programs that come with routers normally do a good job at automatically detecting the existing connection, so it is usually fairly easy to set up the router if you already have a working broadband connection. (The router that opakale mentioned having problems with was an older one and may not have had a good setup program. Setting up a router on your own without knowing how is problematic at best. I have it, but haven't gotten around to testing it to see if it actually works or not.)

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Coolness. How about wireless NIC cards or other transmitters? Is there a wide range of choices?

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

There are quite a few choices for wireless "cards". Not all of them are cards at all. Some of them are USB devices. Unless you have a good reason to want USB, I'd avoid the USB devices. (I'm pretty sure you're not afraid to open the computer, so that wouldn't be a good reason in your case.) The difference between cards that you want to be concerned about is the antenna. Some claim to be better at receiving signals than others. Some have antennas that screw on and off. If you get one of those, and you find that your signal strength is not good enough, you can unscrew the antenna and replace it with something that works better. As for brands, I've actually been using a lot of Dynex brand networking adapters lately. Dynex is one of Best Buy's house brands and unlike their "Geek Squad" branded stuff, I've found Dynex products to have a good quality to price ratio. I can't remember if I've actually used any of the wireless cards for desktop computers or not, but given my experience with their other products, I'd say they are worth looking at if you're after an inexpensive wireless card. If you're after one of the higher-powered ones, I'll take a look at what's available and let you know. I've used one that works quite nicely in bad signal situations, but I can't remember exactly what it was without looking at them.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

As Justin's system is school-owned, I'm not sure I'm allowed to break open the case, so I'll likely have to go with the USB (or some other external) transmitter.

At this point, I don't need one for the Mac, but I'll probably look into it so we can move it around without worrying about active cable connections.

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

IIRC, the USB wireless adapters I've used have been LinkSys. They work well enough although they may be a little lower on signal strength than they could be. That's hard to tell without seeing what a different adapter would do in the same location though.