Wireless LAN Gear

[iMc]

Gonna be ordering the above soon. Need ADSL modem/router combo and pci/laptop cards. Preferably 54/108mbps (802.11g).

Need good signal strength as it is going to be installed downstairs and 4 computers upstairs need to connect.

What do you guys recommend? Any comments on ease of use, setting up, compatibility etc would be great.

Money isnt really a problem although cheap as poss is great!

[Jonny M]

http://www.3com.com/prod/en_UK_EMEA/...=3CRWE754G72-A

Looks nice. Reviews mention good range.

[jsterling]

i have all netgear stuff (DG834 & WG511), it all works flawlessly and well ofver distance.

[El Gordo]

I looked at both the netgear and the 3com before getting the USRobotics USR019106 (and free laptop card)for £103.40 + P&P from http://www.nickknows.com/.

The netgear has got the looks and is a bit cheaper (£93.33 amazon.co.uk)but has firmware issues and only a single antenna. The 3com (£89.99 simply.co.uk)on the other hand has dual antennas but according to reviews has signal strength problems but you do get the free laptop card like the USR model.

One of the big magazines did a head-to-head a couple of issues ago but I can't remember what one. What I can remember is that out of all the hardware reviewed the USR device came out on top for speed and signal strength/range. The only thing is that it was the wireless AP/router in the same model range as the one I bought. So not exactly the same device but it would be logical to assume that the USR9106 would give the same performance.

Another good thing is that the router practically sets itself up on its own. The time taken from taking it out of the box, running the install CD and inputting a few details to getting online was around 10-15 minutes!

You can guess I quite like my new router

[iMc]

sounds great, thanks for the input keep it coming!

[Angus]

http://www.3com.com/prod/en_UK_EMEA...u=3CRWE754G72-A

Looks nice. Reviews mention good range.

I've got this - no probs with it whatsoever.

We haven't got a garden, so I go about 100metres down the road and sit in the church yard when it's sunny. I get a low signal, but normally still at 11MBps (if I go any further it'll drop to 5.0 and then 1.0, my laptop has WiFi built in and will only go up to 11 - I Haven't tried it with the 54MBps card). Indoors the signal will go through at least three walls (one of which is brick) I get at least very good signal anywhere I use it at home.

To be honest I don't know if there's anyway you can find out the actual ranges of the routers, I wouldn't believe everything you read on the manufacturer's websites.

Also got a PCMCIA card bundled with it (54MBps)

[iMc]

can u use a pci card from one manufacturer with a router from another? are compatibility probs a high possibility?

[Angus]

Yes, they should all use the same standard. Make sure you go for 802b (11Mbps) or 802g(54Mbps) and not 802a though. b and g are backwardly compatible, whereas a is on a different frequency iirc.

[iMc]

yeh. cool thanks for ur help. gonna get the 3com one most likely.

[wberg]

I would like to say 3com. They have quite great accesspoints. I have bad experience with both D-Link and Netgear, better go for 3com

Good luck! Return to this forum if you need help setting up anything

[Moonshade]

3com, seems to be quite nice of what I've heard! I know alot of people using D-Link though and some of them have experienced bad stuff, but some have a good experience of it ! So I really don't know, it seems like D-link is a quite shakey alternative. Neatgear, I must admit I don't know so much about it..but if I were you I would go for 3com, I would if I had any use of it. Since I've got no laptop (yet ) I don't feel like I need to have an accesspoint atm

I wish you the best of luck, and like Wberg said above, return to this forum if you need further help. Like setting it all up or anything like that

[DsW]

yeh. cool thanks for ur help. gonna get the 3com one most likely.

Looks like Amazon have them for £59.99 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...019600-2109256

I think thats the right one?!

cheers,
dave

[iMc]

cheers. ill take a look. think ebuyer is 57.99.

[Jonny M]

Angus, can you take some screenshots of the web interface of that router?

Thanks

[Jonny M]

cheers. ill take a look. think ebuyer is 57.99.

You can get free delivery with Amazon though. And I'd rather order from Amazon than eBuyer

[Angus]

Angus, can you take some screenshots of the web interface of that router?

Thanks

Yeah,

but I haven't any space to upload it to.