Thinking of going wireless...

[fray_bentos]

What do you think of this?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...uct&sku=943014

Am i likely to see a difference in the speed (if i'm sending files over the link as well as using it for internet) from 54 to 125Mbps?

I haven't used wireless before so any advice as to whether this is a good package would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Moby-Dick]

what is your driving force for wireless connectivity ?

Its fine for occasional surfing in the garden , but not for everyday use imo.

[fray_bentos]

I recently bought a laptop and want to be able to access the internet from anywhere in my flat but i'd also like to be able to access the media i have on my desktop (which i plan to have wired to the router).

The speed is what appealed to me about this 125Mbps router, but if i wouldn't actually see the real world benefits then its not worth it, if it cant stream media then it may not be what i'm after.

[Moby-Dick]

If its the only device on the WLAN then its not so bad - Wirelss bandwidth isn't switched like on a wired network. You are also unlikely to get the full theoretical bandwidth - metallic objects and microwaves etc tend to effect the signall too much.

If its just for occasianal browsing then a regular 802.1 g access point will be fine - try and use the same manufacturer for your cards and AP.

[Tobeman]

WRT54GS with Sveasoft hacked firmware

I owned a Netgear WRT624v2 or something router for just over a year, had nothing but trouble with that, was one of those 108mbps ones that locked two channels into one. even at 54mbps still had troubles with it.

Some guy brought one in at work, completely different model, ADSL, same problems as me, and my friends ethernet ports died on his.

I was skint and needed the router, and after reading good stuff of the WRT54GS, I went for it, an absolute bargain I must say. £54 from a local seller I purchased the Sveasoft hacked firmware too, as I heard many good things about it, and the forums for it are great and especially helpful

HyperWRT on the other hand is also hacked firmware, this is free, with less performance but improved range and a few tweaked features from the original

My friend has a Belkin wireless router, kinda old, the web interface was awful

[Moby-Dick]

what do the hacked firmwares offer ?

I wonder how much havoc they create for other WLANS in the area ?

sounds like trying to use a burner on a CB radio - you'd take out a couple of channels either side of you if you boosted the power too far.

[fray_bentos]

Ah well i bought one, only a few pound more than from dabs so not a bad deal, plus i got to pick it up and take it away then.

[Paul Adams]

what do the hacked firmwares offer ?

Found this, as I was interested too: http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/62719

I wonder how much havoc they create for other WLANS in the area ?

sounds like trying to use a burner on a CB radio - you'd take out a couple of channels either side of you if you boosted the power too far.

That would be my concern too - I saw how bad the interference was at my parents' place in San Jose last week with 3 WLANs (only 1 secured, of course).
1 of them used non-standard methods to provide extra bandwidth and it had a huge impact on the other channels when it was turned on.

That's why I stuck with a regular 802.11g router, as the "108Mbps" APs I have played with caused issues with speed, connectivity and WPA.