wireless network @ home

[wires]

Already have a pc hooked to BB using Belkin wireless modem/router and have just finished building a second pc which I want to add to the connection and need help with certain issues.

1. Which is better a wireless PCI adaptor or a wireless USB network adaptor.

2. Do I get a Belkin brand or does it not make any difference which make I get.

Thanks.

[nichomach]

1. Wireless PCI; wireless USB can be limited by the speed of your USB port (hence you can plug a 54Mbps wireless USB adapter into a 12Mbps USB 1.1 port; it'll work, but, there's an obvious bottleneck).

2. You should be able to use any brand but you may have to do some stuff manually, like enter encryption keys and that sort of stuff. For instance, I have a few wirless LANs w/Linksys access points that talk to some machines with Linksys cards and some with built-in wireless (basically, Centrino-y type laptops). The Linksys machines generally you only need to type in a passphrase rather than the hex key to set up encryption, the machines with built-in wireless need the actual encryption key entered in full. Not difficult, though.

[wires]

Think I shall be going for the Belkin wireless pci adaptor, any comments on that?

[nichomach]

Belkin kit is usually reliable, but may be more expensive than alternatives; I can't comment on that card specifically since I haven't used it myself but I'd expect it to work fine and perhaps be easier to deal with on the WEP/WPA front when talking to other Belkin kit than a 3rd party card would be.

[Tifosi]

Yeah but most 54mbs USB products are USB2.0. 'cos USB1.1 would be stupid wouldn't it now eh!

Advantage of USB is that you can sawp it from machines easily and more importantly get better reception since you can place the antennae much more if that makes sense.

As for make Proxim Orinoco are the best but they are rare and £££!

[nichomach]

Yeah but most 54mbs USB products are USB2.0. 'cos USB1.1 would be stupid wouldn't it now eh!

Advantage of USB is that you can sawp it from machines easily and more importantly get better reception since you can place the antennae much more if that makes sense.

As for make Proxim Orinoco are the best but they are rare and £££!

Yes, but the motherboard might well not be? As in there's still a fair few on sale that aren't. Also, bluntly, I'd rather have the USB ports available for something like controllers, cameras storage devices all that sort of stuff.