802.11g Wireless Router Reccomendation

[Vampiel]

Ive recently added a new computer to my network and would like to upgrade to a wireless 802.11g router. I also would like to upgrade to gigabit etherenet. Ive looked around and am having a hard time finding this combination. Is their such an animal?

[Midknyte]

Gigabit and 802.11G in the same unit? haven't seen it yet.

If anything, you would need to get a gigabit switch for your gigabit clients. plug that into the back of the 802.11G router of your choice. It wouldn't make a diff for your internet speeds since they aren't even close to 10baseT speeds yet.

The Dlink and Netgear SuperGs are pretty good.

Linksys just came out with their response. Kinda late if you asked me.
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Reviews-142-ProdID-WRT54GS.php

[tantone]

No one has anything out like that. But it sure as hell sounds awesome!! Better yet, SuperG and Gigabit! I'd buy that in a heartbeat!

[Vampiel]

OK here is the situation. The new computer I added will be about 35-40 feet away from the access point (going through floors). I wanted a gigabit router but I guess I can just hold off on that b/c it's not that important. I allready have a linksys 5 port router so what would you recommend that I do? I would like 802.11g wireless capability that wont lose alot of bandwidth with distance.

I also want all of the computers to be on the same network. Only the one new computer is not on my current router.

I have a total of 4 things plugged into the router right now, plus the cable modem plugged into it.

[tantone]

Replace your current router with a Wireless G router with built-in 4-port FastEthernet switch. Buy a wireless G card for the new computer. That will get all of your computers on.

If you ever decide to go gigabit for your LAN, follow Midknyte's advice and just hang the gigabit switch off the back of the G router's switch.

[Midknyte]

It doesn't sound like you can just add an access point to your current router if you don't have any open ports. The 5th port is your uplink port.

You could get a Netgear or DLink SuperG router and just replace your existing one. going through floors will degrade the signal no matter what brand you choose. One good think about Linksys is that you can upgrade/change their antennae. If you want better performance, you can look at the Orinoco products.

[Vampiel]

Any recommendations? I usually like Linksys, but I noticed in that review that Midknyte posted it loses alot of bandwidth with distance. This computer is going to be 35-40 feet away and going through 2 floors, I would like to get one that doesnt have a bad signal degration with distance.

From my experience with wireless routers, 40feet through walls will cause alot of signal loss.

[Midknyte]

40ft is a very short distance. It is the interference caused by the floors/walls that will kill the signal.

[cat5e]

Router is a combo of few Devices.

The Giga might pertain only to the Switch, and not related to the Wireless.

Putting a Giga Switch in an Entry Level Router will add about $60 to the price.

In addition the outcome of current Giga installed into Home/SOHO systems is dismal.

Giga, as the number implies, should yield 10 times I.e. 1000% more the 100Mb/sec.

Using two computers with WinXP Pro, Giga Cards, and Giga Switch improves File Transfer by 25%, may be 50% if you have fast system and Luck.

In other words if your current File transfer is 10MB/sec. it will go up to 12.5 - 15MB/sec.

I would suggest for the time being to follow Midknyte advice as stated above.


If you are using Win2003 as a server it might be worthwhile to use Giga because Win2003 is already Tuned for Giga and Pushes out the Signal faster. The gain would be from Win2003 out but not from a peripheral WinXP Pro back to Win2003.

However if you use Win2003 you do not need Entry Level Cable/DSL Router. Win2003 can do the Routing, DHCP, etc.

As a frame of reference, the fastest Giga performance reported is 800Mb/sec. Pushing a signal into fiber by 8 CPUs Solaris Computer.

:t

[AdamST]

I use a linksys wireless G go to through 2 floors and about 50 feet. works perfict all the time

[Midknyte]

It depends on what the floors are made of. You have a better chance if it's wood versus concrete. There may be other things in the floor like power conduits or water pipes that can affect the signal.

[cat5e]

Every thing else equal.

The D-Link/Netgear Super should provide about 160% more bandwitdh than the Linksys.

[Vampiel]

After reading multiple reviews, I decided to go with the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster (WRT54GS) even though it says it has "Poor throughput vs. distance performance" it also says it has "Up to 50% best-case throughput improvement" as well as upgradable antenna's.

None of the reviews I read said WOW this is just so much better than the rest, so ill stick with the name brand I have come to know.

[Midknyte]

I think you are comparing the SuperG to the old 802.11G Linksys routers.

The WRT54GS uses the same Broadcom Afterburner chipset as the Buffa****** WHR2-G54.

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article67-page4.php

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1553643,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=610

[Vampiel]

Are you talking to cat5e or me? Should I get the Linksys, or does it really make a difference?

[Midknyte]

I was talking to cat5e. sorry. you must have posted while I was typing.

read the links I posted too. I think any of those should be ok as long as your adapters are the same brand.