Wireless networking cards....

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22-12-2003, 12:19 AM
clipse

Wireless networking cards....

Ok

I live in an old house with THICK (i.e 2ft) solid core walls between rooms. We want to extend our wireless network.

We already have a Netgear NIC and a Buffalo wireless access point, but we need to get some more. They need to have very good signal strength and be reasonably priced.... Any suggestions?

Are the cheap ones on ebuyer any good?

As a guide, our existing nic connects into our wired network via the Buffalo NIC, and only goes thru 1 wall an up one storey and only gets about 33- 60% signal strength....
22-12-2003, 12:41 AM
nichomach

Just a thought, but if you've got fading signal strength have you thought about bunging in a repeater bridge? Basically, give yourself an access point on each floor? Buffalo do 'em in 802.11b & g flavours:

http://www.buffalotech.com/wireless/...n/WLAL11G.html

Bear in mind it isn't just the NICs signal strength you need to worry about...upping the coverage might actually sort your problem.
22-12-2003, 01:20 AM
clipse

Quote:

Originally posted by nichomach
Just a thought, but if you've got fading signal strength have you thought about bunging in a repeater bridge? Basically, give yourself an access point on each floor? Buffalo do 'em in 802.11b & g flavours:

http://www.buffalotech.com/wireless/...n/WLAL11G.html

Bear in mind it isn't just the NICs signal strength you need to worry about...upping the coverage might actually sort your problem.

Trying to keep this el cheapo ;)
22-12-2003, 02:02 AM
Jiff Lemon

Get yourself and Omnidirectional aerial for the buffalo - boosted my signal so much I've had to drop the output down now! Think they're about £30

linkage
22-12-2003, 04:46 PM
clipse

Quote:

Originally posted by Jiff Lemon
Get yourself and Omnidirectional aerial for the buffalo - boosted my signal so much I've had to drop the output down now! Think they're about £30

linkage

I have seen these on OCUK and ebuyer but do they attach to the air station or the back of the PCI cards?

Thanks
22-12-2003, 08:31 PM
Jiff Lemon

They can plug in either (well, they can on the PCMCIA card - not got any PCI cards). At the top of the airstation, there's a little cover - see if the same connector is on the back of the card.

Mines in the back of the air station at the mo.
22-12-2003, 09:07 PM
Twigman

Have you considered converting some of your stuff to wired? You will get much better performance, and it will be relatively cheap as well.
23-12-2003, 03:03 PM
clipse

Quote:

Originally posted by Twigman
Have you considered converting some of your stuff to wired? You will get much better performance, and it will be relatively cheap as well.

Yes we use wired on the middle floor of our 3 storey house but the 2ft thick solid core walls and the flagstone floors on the ground floor halls causes 1 or 2 problems :P

Oh and my mum said she would rather pay for wireless than waste time trying to hide cables etc anyway so...
24-12-2003, 12:58 AM
clipse

Anyway linkage to decent cheap cards would be appreciated :D