Wireless setup suggestion...

T

trancehead

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Hi,

I am about to buy the Billion 7202G Wireless 802.11g router. I need a pci wireless card for my pc.

I have heard that speeds vary depending on the "compatibility" of the router and the wireless card i.e. both should be from the same manufacturer.

Does anybody have any suggestions for a wireless card for the above router?
 
If you do not move your PC around, I think you should rather try to connect it to the router via a LAN cable. WiFi often gives hassles. For example, four of my neighbours seems to have gotten wireless in the last month, so I am starting to see connection problems in the evenings. I wonder if one of them is running a nasty booster or something.

If Billion does not make wireless PCI cards, then something from SMC, D-Link, CNet or Gigabyte should probably be fine. Maybe try to get one where the antenna is attached by a wire, instead of directly to the card, so that you can play around with the antenna position for better reception, without having to move the PC.
 
My phone connection is in the kitchen and my desk about 5m from that. The cable would have to go across the front door to reach the desk. I rent so I can't glue cables to the roof and run them over the door.

In the next month I will be getting a laptop from work which will also need to connect, my flatmate also has a wireless enabled laptop which will need to connect, so cables will be cumbersome.

I am buying the router from digital-planet so will probably get the card there as well. I have never bought from them before and would also like to know if they are any good or are there alternate options? I live in Cape Town so if I could find a place around here (online) that would deliver it quickly I would considr them as well.
 
I ordered something from Digital Planet a couple of weeks ago and was pretty surprised when the courier knocked on the door the next morning. Another time it took about a week, so something I could not get anywhere else, so I am happy with them.

Wireless is certainly more convenient. Just make sure you enable WPA with a good long password, otherwise other people will also find your internet access convenient for their use.
 
Obviously, you also have to keep in mind that one benefit of a shop is that if it breaks, it is easier to take it back. Not sure how easy it is to get a Billion from a shop here in CT however. (Have not seen it yet, but have not looked recently.) But you should be able to get a similar SMC one pretty easily.
 
I kinda have to do it online as all the shops are normally closed by the time I get home in the evenings.
 
ive heard the linksys WRT54G Modem/Router is good for wireless.
Whatever you do, dont get Netgear.
 
Linksys is owned by Cicso now.. You have the option of loading custom software on the accesspoint as it runs a trimmed Linux OS. Have a google about "Open WRT"
 
I am on the edge with my Signal. Router is in the Dining Room (with Primary machine on UTP) and 2nd machine with wireless is in a spare bedroom. As the crow flies, the signal is going through 5 brick walls and a distance of ten Metres.

Router is LinkSys WAG54G (ADSL, 4 x UTP and Wireless) - excellent router - setup and has been running for approx 2 months without a reboot, restart etc etc. - I am actually considering moving the router to my Ceiling or adding a custom antenna on the end of a long cable in Cieling, and running both machines off wireless.

Wireless card is 3COM 3CRDAG675 - This card has an external arieal on the end of a cable approx 1 metre long, which helps with finding good signal.

I work in IT and our Procurement department handled the purchase.

When you set, also use MAC address filtering, besides WEP, SSID renaming etc etc.
 
On the matter of wireless network cards. Which card is best, in your opinion, for use with Linux (Gentoo)? At the moment I'm using a Mecer wireless card that uses the TI chipset, and no driver for Linux.
 
Toby said:
When you set, also use MAC address filtering, besides WEP, SSID renaming etc etc.
Click to expand...

Do not use WEP, it is a waste of time. Use WPA with a nice long password.

MAC filtering also has only very limited value, since an attacker can easily use the same MAC as one of your machines to bypass it. Personally, I do not bother with it.
 
Nod said:
On the matter of wireless network cards. Which card is best, in your opinion, for use with Linux (Gentoo)? At the moment I'm using a Mecer wireless card that uses the TI chipset, and no driver for Linux.
Click to expand...

See:
http://www.linux-wlan.org/docs/wlan_adapters.html.gz

Probably also a good idea to check on the vendor web site for drivers before you buy a device.
 
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