Recommendations for wireless network(802.11g)-NIC PC & Router

[robgee]

I need your help in choosing which products to purchase for a wireless network I'm setting up for a friend of mine.

The last time I did this, based on the practicallynetworked.com's recommendations and the input of the user community of this forum, I was guided in purchasing the SMC 7004AWBR Wireless Broadband Router/Firewall/Print Server and the Orionoco Gold pcmcia wireless nic. At the time, these 2 products were being recommended with respects to their distance and reliability.

For my friends network I would like to build a wireless network with the same principles in mind. (Wireless Broadband Router/Firewall/Print Server of course distance and reliability is still as important as ever).

Your help and input will be most appreciated.

[EricB]

I would go for either smc or linksys. Advantage of linksys over smc is, that linksys has wireless extenders available for the 802.11g standard. (I expect SMC to come shortly with one as well) I hear and have great experiences with linksys. (www.linksys.com) Note, I am not committed to Linksys:D

[Haydn]

Router: D Link DI-624 Router (get the DI-624+, which is the revision C version with single ariel should now be available in UK).

NIC: D Link DWL-G520(+)

I have this pair and the router also works with an 8021.11b Intel Mini PCI adaptor in my laptop and an old Belkin 802.11b USB adaptor connected to an even older PC.

If your starting from scratch you can run in all 54G mode and if you get the DI-624+ (i.e. Revision C) then you can upgrade the firmware to run a 108Mb/s with the latest version of the NIC (DWL-G520+).

So make sure you buy the very latest versions. Mine for instance is only the B version of the DI-624, so can't have a firmware upgrade to run at 108 Mbs. This less of a problem because I need to maintain compatibility with the 802.11g 11Mbs adaptors. You may not be so constrained.

One thing you can guarantee is that in a month or so's time there will be something "better". But what I'm suggesting is currently on the cutting edge for 802.11g available in the UK.

Good luck, let us know what you choose and how you get on.

[JackMDS]

Link: 802.11a/b/g SOHO Routers & Access Points: Performance. (http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/reviews/CD/article.php/1585191)

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[robgee]

Guys,

Thank you all for your input. It's allowing me to
formulate this decision.

JackMDS,

You must have read my mind. I was going to research the diff between 11a and 11g (namely because some of the routers/nics have compatibility with 11a/b/g). Your link tells me to stay away from 11a and go with 11g.

Would you happen to know if there is a doc associated with this graph? The shades of red are very similar. Is the graph showing the Wistron or the Netgear having a pretty stable (high) throughput in the range of the displayed distances?

[robgee]

Anyone have any thoughts on Belkin's wireless products?

[JackMDS]

Quote: Would you happen to know if there is a doc associated with this graph?

I think that all of the Hardware showing in the graph was reviewed by the site.

Search the site for terms link Linksys Belkin etc. and you probably will find it.