Wi-Fi Hardware Suggestions

[iMav]

first up this is what i want to do:

an existing wired lan to be made wireless consists about 6-7 machines and then an airtel broadband to be shared over this network ... all wirelessly

now i went seraching and decided to go for dlink desktop adapters cosing around 1300/- a peice now the router is what im not able to decide ... a salesguy told me that normal routers can handle upto only 4 machines which im not cerain of ....

i want to know the hardware reqs and specific models would be lovely .... brand - dlink or linksys

[[xubz]]

Linksys WRT54G, I Always suggest that

AFAIK, It supports 4 Wired LAN Clients and nearly 'unlimited' Wireless Clients. So no need to worry!

The Router can normally share internet by just connecting your pre-configured DSL Router to one of the LAN Ports of the WiFi Router.

OR configure the DSL Router to Bridge Mode and let your WiFi Router dial using PPPoE. (It has a separate 'Broadband' port for that)

If you can get the Linksys WRT54GL (L stands for Linux, it runs opensource firmware), You can mod it to your heart's content!

[iMav]

i think iv sen this ... so unlimited wireless conx can be supported right?

[infra_red_dude]

yeah it can be. anyways, even if you don't get the L version even the normal wrt54g has many many modded firmwares

if you use the ppoe mode in the wireless router, you get to use full 4 wired connections.

[Sukhdeep Singh]

How much is Linksys WRT54G router ??

[ashu_dps]

It was for 2600, two months ago in NP

[Sukhdeep Singh]

I can find it on Ebay for 2400 so i think it must be little cheaper in MArket. Will check out soon

[iMav]

@infra .... wired 4 is ok .... wireless i was told by a representative also has a limit of 4 and also wat does oconnecting a comp to the router thru a wire do other than net sharing it does not make the comp accessible thru a wireless netwrok

[infra_red_dude]

no, as such many wireless connections can be handled. only things is simultaneous access may be a problem say for eg. more than 8 connections. the router is a mini computer. it has its own processor and ram. so there are some constraints regarding the number of simultaneous connections.

yes, you can haf a mixed connection of wired and wireless and share the net, files, stream media, play games and do everything that you can in a pure wired or wireless network.

btw, wrt54g should be available in the market for less than 2.4k now. dunno about the cost of dlink router now.

[iMav]

ok now this is what i got from 2 different representatives ... and im not really sure as to how to put it in simple words ...

for example ....

i have a wired network of 4 comps which are connected to the router via a hub and have a broadband conx .... now i want all the 4 comps to be accessible over lan wirelessly and sharing the net also .... having achieved that say i carry in 2 wireless lappies into the network they should be able to transfer files with the four comps and also be able to share the internet ....

[infra_red_dude]

ok forget what they said. don't confuse urself. i'll put it down again.

you haf 3 desktops. all 4 are connected to wrt54g thru rj45 cable (wired, 100mbps). you haf 4 laptops, all of them connect to wrt45g in 802.11g mode (wireless, 54mbps). all are on the same workgroup. you haf the broadband modem connected to the wrt54g via rj45 cable.

the modem has the ip address say 192.168.1.1, the wrt54g has 192.168.1.2, the desktops haf ip addresses from 192.168.1.3 thru 192.168.1.5. the laptops haf from 192.168.1.6 thru 192.168.1.10. all haf the same subnet mask and all the computers haf the modem's ip address as the gateway. in this way all can access the net thru the modem, can see each other on the network, can share files, stream, can be used to play a multi-player games and the router can easily handle all the 7 devices.

i think i've tried to be as clear as possible by explaining in layman's terms. if you still haf any queries/doubts. they are welcome

[iMav]

i was saying the same bloody thing that once connected with wire to the outer i can access the network with my lappy wireless (inother words i made my wired network wireless) and they said no ... 3 different shop guys told me that .... fcuk them

ok so now 2 more questions before i go to buy the whole setup ... if my comps are connected to each other via a hub and i connect just 1 wire bettween the hub and wi-fi router - net sharing amongst and data transfer can still take place with a wireless lappy?

and the difference of cost between a n and g router is of 6k .... i will be able to convince my dad of the charges so i was thinking of going with the n std router and g std cards for some desktops ... fair enough?

[Charan]

offtopic: Whats is the maximum recomended length of LAN cable for setting up as cross crimped connction. I hope I put the question correctly.

[iMav]

nothing as such .... if ur data seems to lag use repeaters

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/...c/introlan.htm

[Charan]

^^ Thanks

[infra_red_dude]

@charah
widout repeaters a rule of thumb sayz its 100m

@imav
why do you need a separate hub? the wifi router usually has a wired hub builtin too. i'm not fully sure about it but if the network goes down one more step you may be required to do some more changes to the ip address. not sure about it, as i said. but i don't see the need of a hub if you don't haf more than 4 wired connections.

regarding the n standard. i don't think you'll buy 802.11n wifi cards again for ur laptops. in case of desktops as you said you are already connecting it thru wires. so why do you need an 802.11n router, immediatly?

[Charan]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

widout repeaters a rule of thumb sayz its 100m

Yea correct.. just checked it

[[xubz]]

Um. WiFi router works just like a Normal LAN Switch.. Except that WiFi (also called Wireless LAN) is Wireless

If you configure the router and Lan Properties correctly then it'll work the same as connecting your laptops using cables and switch.

[iMav]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

@imav
why do you need a separate hub? the wifi router usually has a wired hub builtin too. i'm not fully sure about it but if the network goes down one more step you may be required to do some more changes to the ip address. not sure about it, as i said. but i don't see the need of a hub if you don't haf more than 4 wired connections.

thats coz a wired network already exists so just need to connect 1 wire from the hub to the router and as the hub is in a closed closet and the wi-fi router will be placed in an open area somewhere at the top taking individual wires wont bepossible in the office

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

regarding the n standard. i don't think you'll buy 802.11n wifi cards again for ur laptops. in case of desktops as you said you are already connecting it thru wires. so why do you need an 802.11n router, immediatly?

im not buyin n std cards for anything but as the office has been made into 2 floors in manner dificulkt to explain i think that n will give me better connectivity

[bikdel]

bit off topic but i have 802.11b inbuilt in my laptop...... i wanna share files n internet just with 1 desktop........

in wired network, we could use cross crimped cables to network 2 PCs, is that possible in wireless too.......

If i buy a 802.11b card for my desktop will it be enough?? or do i have to go for a router?....

pls help

[Sukhdeep Singh]

Router aswell

[infra_red_dude]

@ bikdel
yes, you can do that via a wireless adhoc connection. you'll be able to share files.

@imav
i was just reading an article on wrt54g somwhere it said that this router can handle upto 70 wireless connections simultaneously. so i guess this can take the load at ur place.

regarding hub, yes you can do that. connect it to one of the lan ports of the wifi-cum-wired router. however, do you hafta configure anything for the hub as yet? coz i think in this way the network topology will differ and you may hafta follow a slightly different procedure.

[iMav]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

i was just reading an article on wrt54g somwhere it said that this router can handle upto 70 wireless connections simultaneously. so i guess this can take the load at ur place.

thanx for the confimration

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

regarding hub, yes you can do that. connect it to one of the lan ports of the wifi-cum-wired router. however, do you hafta configure anything for the hub as yet? coz i think in this way the network topology will differ and you may hafta follow a slightly different procedure.

may be some changes need to be made but i dont think any would be required coz its just plug and play (sort of)

[infra_red_dude]

then i guess you can go ahead wid the setup

[bikdel]

@infra

i could play games, share internet with my wired connection......

wont i be able to do that without a router for my 1 desktop - 1 laptop setup using 802.11g protocol?

U said just sharing files is possible......

i dint get the point?? what that "adhoc" connection???

[infra_red_dude]

adhoc is a one to one connection. its jus like connection of 2 computers via a cross crimped lan connection.

read more here:
setup adhoc on windows: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx
limitations of adhoc: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/w...limitation.htm
setup adhoc on vista: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...18e561033.mspx

[iMav]

i visited a dlink stall at an ongoing exhibition and talked to the guys there and asked them and they said it can be done ... 1 wire between a wireless router and a hub connects both the networks

and as far as no. of conx is concerned he said u can go upto 128 on the n std router

[infra_red_dude]

fine, then what are you waiting for??

[iMav]

the money

[infra_red_dude]

^^^ lolz... then sorry i can't help!!