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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:56 am Post subject: Wireless reccomendations

I'm looking to see if anyone has any reccomendations for me on wireless access points, or router, etc. The house I am in is older, meaning alot of plaster, so I can not get a wireless signal throughout the entire house with the wireless router I have now. I've run an ethernet cable from the basement to the third floor attic, through an unused chimney, and plan to setup two wireless devices and just run all wireless throughout the house.

Since I will need to get a new device, posibly two, to broadcast throughout the house, I was wondering if anyone had reccomendations on what to get for this type of setup? I'm only looking at using 802.11g right now.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:11 am Post subject:

I likes my wrt56g linksys... but then I have one of the older versions that you can load dd-wrt on.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:11 am Post subject:

Netgear's wgt624 has worked well for me. Linksys has not done right by me in the past.

My $0.02 worth.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:55 am Post subject:

the taz man wrote:
Netgear's wgt624 has worked well for me. Linksys has not done right by me in the past.

My $0.02 worth.

I guess its a YMMV thing. I've burned up two netgears, not doing anything crazy just regular use.

So pretty much any access point will do, with a wireless bridge that should suit your needs.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:58 am Post subject:

If you go with the Linksys WRT54G, just make sure you get a version that you can load DD-WRT on it (not all can). I Know the WRT54GL lets you.

Once you install DD-WRT, boost the signal strength from 28 to about 70mW. That should help you get through some of those walls.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

gregw wrote:
If you go with the Linksys WRT54G, just make sure you get a version that you can load DD-WRT on it (not all can). I Know the WRT54GL lets you.

Once you install DD-WRT, boost the signal strength from 28 to about 70mW. That should help you get through some of those walls.

I am only vaguelly familiar with DD-WRT, would I be able to get two WRT54G routers, and bridge them together creating a single network, so that I would walk with my laptop from downstairs to upstairs and not loose internet connectivity, and not have to switch to another network?

Newegg has them for $45 each right now with free shipping so that looks rather attractive. The Linksys Access Points start at $65.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

Pakiii wrote:
I am only vaguelly familiar with DD-WRT, would I be able to get two WRT54G routers, and bridge them together creating a single network, so that I would walk with my laptop from downstairs to upstairs and not loose internet connectivity, and not have to switch to another network?

Newegg has them for $45 each right now with free shipping so that looks rather attractive. The Linksys Access Points start at $65.

Yes, you can setup a bridge in dd-wrt, though I have no experience doing so. Check out the DD-WRT website for more info. Be careful with the $45 version. I don't think it has the full mem capabilities as the GL version, so you can't flash the full dd-wrt on it, only the micro version.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:25 am Post subject:

Pakiii wrote:
gregw wrote:
If you go with the Linksys WRT54G, just make sure you get a version that you can load DD-WRT on it (not all can). I Know the WRT54GL lets you.

Once you install DD-WRT, boost the signal strength from 28 to about 70mW. That should help you get through some of those walls.

I am only vaguelly familiar with DD-WRT, would I be able to get two WRT54G routers, and bridge them together creating a single network, so that I would walk with my laptop from downstairs to upstairs and not loose internet connectivity, and not have to switch to another network?

Newegg has them for $45 each right now with free shipping so that looks rather attractive. The Linksys Access Points start at $65.

DD-WRT is merely a custom firmware with more features than the average "home" user would need. It's aimed at geeks and professionals. It's not that hard to use - I run it on my WRT54GL at home - and is plenty adequate for my needs. Heck, I don't use anywhere near what it's capable of.

If you fancy playing with it, you'll be looking at the $54 models, not the $45 models. The $45 models are the WRT54G, not WRT54GL, so have closed firmware (Linksys learned its lesson after the GL debacle). http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190 are the ones you can play with should you so desire.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

Thanks,

I've ordered one of the WRT54GL from Newegg, and will play around with that and see what I can get to go. The DD-WRT looks pretty slick, and that sold me on it. A chance to tinker Very Happy

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject:

fear_nothing wrote:
the taz man wrote:
Netgear's wgt624 has worked well for me. Linksys has not done right by me in the past.

My $0.02 worth.

I guess its a YMMV thing. I've burned up two netgears, not doing anything crazy just regular use.

So pretty much any access point will do, with a wireless bridge that should suit your needs.

That's what happened with the 2 linksys units I had. normal use and both died within a year and a half.

/me shrugs!

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

I have to agree with the Linksys recommendation and DD-WRT (The latest RC6 and now RC7 isn't so stable, so check out RC4 or RC5).

I have two Linksys units, 1 at my neighbors house about 200-300 feet away setup normally, and then my unit set up as a repeater (Our LAN Addresses and access are still separate).

DD-WRT also allows you to create virtual wireless networks which I love for those devices that don't support the latest and greatest... E.G.
Wireless = WPA2 Encryption (Used by all my laptops and my DVR Wireless Bridge)
Wireless-WPA = WPA Encryption (Used by my Xbox360)
Wireless-WEP = WEP Encryption (Used by a HP Wireless printer)

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject:

easiest way to chain wireless routers together is to run a cable between the lan ports (my linksys wrt54g auto-crosses and accepts this type of connection) and then disable all the dhcp and wan stuff on the second router. This basically makes it an access point controlled by the main router. all you have to do is set the wireless settings to be identical to the other router except maybe channel and run with it.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:17 pm Post subject:

you could always setup some of these:

Wireless router (also works as a wireless repeater)

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:22 am Post subject:

Slymer wrote:
easiest way to chain wireless routers together is to run a cable between the lan ports (my linksys wrt54g auto-crosses and accepts this type of connection) and then disable all the dhcp and wan stuff on the second router. This basically makes it an access point controlled by the main router. all you have to do is set the wireless settings to be identical to the other router except maybe channel and run with it.

That's a good idea, I will have to try that with the router I have currently. It is a cheapo D-link router, that doesn't have great range, but may work for the attic. I wouldn't have bought it, except I managed to get the router and a USB wireless NIC for $5, so I felt obligated. Very Happy