Wireless Home Network: Your suggestions?

[Ergolad]

Hi, I'm a pretty classic case: Want to set up a small wired/wireless LAN for WIN98SE desktop, WIN98SE laptop + PACBELL SBC PPPoE DSL.

I'm going to wire the desktop and use the laptop wireless. Don't intend on doing anything crazy, just basic surfing and access to files via the laptop. The desktop is a basic home machine; may do a little gaming on that one.

The products I've been looking at are the SMC7004AWBR, Linksys- BEFW11S4, Siemens SpeedStream & ORINOCO GOLD-PC Card- 128RC4. I've read so many pro/con reviews, that I'm glazing over a bit. I'm hoping that some experienced users might be able to narrow the field for me.

PracticallyNetworked.com got me thinking about the SMC Barricade. It seems like a good solution. I don't think I'm going to use the print server as I intend on buying an HP multi-function printer soon and I understand that won't really work with routers with built in print servers. Though it would be nice to not have to have the desktop on to print from the laptop. The favorable reviews on the Orinoco Card, particularly on range and speed, steered me in that direction.

The Linksys is pretty popular out there. W/out the print server, it may be my answer. But I've read a lot of negatives. Indicative of it's popularity? Inexperienced users going with a popular product and then bitching because they aren't really savvy enough to set it up??

The Siemens came out of left field. Cnet seems to think it's the cat's pajamas. It looks pretty cool, similar to the SBC. But without much feedback on it, I'm hesitant.

What are your thoughts? Am I looking in the right direction? Other equipment I should consider? Thanks for any help you can give!

[Bob Carrick]

Nexland WaveBase. I've got one and it comes with an Orinoco wireless card as it's access point and an integrated 4 port hub with it's regular routing capabilities and VPN patents. The Orinco card with no external antennas was able to give me my full 1 meg DSL speed, up the stairs, out the door to my side walk. More info on my findings here:
http://www.carricksolutions.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=3c855bab116f01aa;act=ST;f=16;t=118

[Ergolad]

Wow, the WaveBase looks sweet and the few reviews I found out there all seemed positive. Anybody eles have experience with this unit? Is it really worth the extra $$?

I figured I could pull off say the SMC + and Orinoco for just about $220. The Wavebase + Orinoco would bring me close to $500. I can't find the Wavebase for less. Nexland seems to only sell it direct at 400 beans.

Thanks for wetting my appetite!

I guess that's what you get for asking. ;)

Hoping more of you out there might have some thoughts on the lower cost units. Or maybe somebody might have a line on a Wavebase for less?? :D

[CBurcik]

I set up the Linksys for a friend of mine...

He loves it, range is great.......


that is the only unit I have experience with........


I have heard a lot of the complaints you have but didn't experience any problems myself.

[Kay N]

Ergolad,

I have been lurking on this forum for a few months now because I was basically in a similar situation in which you now find yourself.

Last week I finally broke down and invested in two Netgear products, based on some recommendations from some members of this forum.

I bought the Netgear MR314 wireless router which is hard wired to my cable modem and desktop PC. For the laptop, I bought the Netgear 802.11b Wireless PC Card. The desktop Internet connection is just as fast as ever (about 1200 kbps) and the laptop gets a respectable throughput of 500 kbps. You can test your throughput by clicking here (http://www.midsouth.rr.com/local/speedtests/).

So based on my own limited experience, I would recommend -- and would like to thank others on this board who have recommended --Netgear. The product worked right out of the box. (And that's a good thing because I am not technologically literate.)

All I had to do is connect this into that and that into this and in half an hour my laptop was surfing the net at an awesome speed (compared to dial up). The system has been up and running for a week now without problems or crashes.

As for the cost? I was able to buy both items for about $313 including sales tax.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Bob Carrick]

I am aorried as to why your Laptop can not get the same speed as your desktop. 802.11b is a maximum of 11mbps so you should be able to get the 1200 k, my mac was able to get the full 1 meg off my dsl modem with no issues, even outside on the side walk.

[Kay N]

Bob,

Thank you for your posting. I am not sure why my laptop has a throughput of only 500 kbps. Some additional info: the throughput remains the same whether I am in the same room with the wireless router or at the other end of the house separated by five walls. This is my first experience at setting up and using a home network. For all I knew it was perfectly normal and seemed plausible that the wireless connection might be slower than the wired connection.

Maybe my laptop has a slower throughput because it is old and has a slow microprocessor of 466 MHz. Also it is lacking in memory. It currently has 32 MB SDRAM but is expandable to 160 MB. Maybe I should expand the memory. :confused:

Another possible reason is that maybe I need to adjust a setting or something. Since the Netgear products worked as soon as I plugged them in and I've been having so much fun, I really haven't delved into the admin functions yet. Maybe its the wireless encryption or some such.

[Bob Carrick]

There could be a "throtal" set on the wireless connection, you may want to tweak the Laptop, RWIN etc also. Run the anylizer on this site and see what it says.

[Kay N]

Bob,

Thanks but when I click on the TCP/IP Analyzer link all I get is a page that says "Error retrieving Options."
:(

I guess I'll try again later.

[JackMDS]

Conventional Wisdom claims that the combination Orinoco Gold (About $90) SMC Wireless Router (About $150) yield the best results.

This link:

ORiNOCO PC Card - Gold. (http://www.practicallynetworked.com/reviews/orinoco_pc_gold.asp)

There are no real big differences between the entry level Routers.

As can be seen in this link:

Wireless Routers Compared. (http://www.practicallynetworked.com/pg/router_details.asp?ProdID=BEFW11S4&ProdID=SMC7004AWBR&ProdID=MR314)

========================================
When it comes to Wireless your mileage may varied, there are too many environmental variables that are unique to each individual setting.
========================================

[Bob Carrick]

Nice report but only 3 routers listed. And I would never buy anything Linksys, but that is just me.

[Ergolad]

Does anyone have any feedback on particular software compatability issues with these routers? How do these units handle IM progs, like ICQ, Trillian, AOL IM or the like? I use Trillian, but WE use AOLIM and ICQ here a lot too. I've seen complaints regarding getting certain things to work behind these units, i.e. the MSN IM, file transfer features of some IM progs & video chat. Any other program issues that you've encountered with your wireless network? Firewall issues: NIS, ZA? If so, what was the probelm and how, if you could, were you able to resolve it?

How did the Wavebase fare Bob? How about gaming on one of these, or at least a wired system? BTW spoke with the guys over at Nexland, gave 'em a chance to sell me on the Wavebase. They were pretty cool.

I was looking over your Wavebase install directions on your site. I assume one would uninstall their current PPPoE client (I use RASPPPoE) & let the Wavebase handle the PPPoE? Also, do you think I would run into any network binding issues?I've currently got everything bound to NETBUI as recommended by www.GRC.com.

Right now I'm on the fence between the SMC & the Wavebase. I'm concerned that the Wavebase may be overkill for a home environment, since it seems geared towards the corporate end. But if it means less headaches in the long run, I don't care if it's intended to run in the frigg'n Pentagon!

I really appreciate all the input you've been giving folks!

[Bob Carrick]

I only use regular IM features behind my Wavebase, I have not tried file transfering and have no one to file transfer to on it anyway.

You need TCP/IP bound to your adapter to use a router as it works as a DHCP server. I tested this firewall and it listed every port as stealth so if paranoied you should be just fine.

Yes you can get rid of your PPPoE software and let the router do it, actually you have to, as the router would block the PPPoE request if you did try to use it when plugged in to your router.