Wireless 802.11b question, not looking to spend a lot of money.

[dxkj]

My options are

1) Buy a netgear router for 45-20=$25 and then buy a netgear PCMCIA Card for 40 or 50

2) Buy a netgear router and then a cheapass PCMCIA card and PCI card from Tiger direct


Will a cheap (read 10-20) wireless PCMCIA card work well for apartment usage? Is it mostly the router that matters, or just as much the pcmcia card? I like buying name brand when it comes to long term purchases like this, but if it doesnt really matter I could use the extra money to buy a PCI card as well.


Thanks, and please dont waste your time on me If I am just being stupid, and there is a detailed website or thread out there that I somehow missed just link me up

 

[JackMDS]

Link: Barricade 11Mbps Wireless Cable/DSL Broadband Router with 4 Port. $29.99 (after rebate).

Link: EZ Connect 802.11b Wireless PCMCIA Network Adapter. $9.99 (after rebate).

 

[dxkj]

Would you recommend this router over the Netgear MR814 wireless router?


Thanks again

 

[IceNineJon]

I have the MR814 which you can find for around $30 after rebate and I love it...no problems. Can't comment on the one posted above...never used it.

Also, I'd stay away from TigerDirect...I've heard horror stories about them from friends.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: dxkj
Would you recommend this router over the Netgear MR814 wireless router?


Thanks again

Look ad the Data Spec. of both. If you see a feature that you need in one of them, get it. Otherwise they will perform similarly.

 

[dxkj]

Aye, thanks I did. Looked over both and decided with the barricade thanks for the links. Going to be $57 after tax for the card and Router after Rebate. I also talked with them on the phone and they guaranteed me the rebate even if they didnt ship in time, so that sealed it.


Thanks. Now to find a deal on a PCI or USB wireless solution for my pc.

 

[dxkj]

Nevermind, they gave me a ship date of 3 weeks from now so i canceled... going to look elsewhere i suppose.

 

[HJB417]

make sure your access point as detachable antennae. don't make the same mistake i did.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: HJB417
make sure your access point as detachable antennae. don't make the same mistake i did.

what AP did you mistakingly buy?

 

[HJB417]

one with a non-detachable antannae. My bro was getting almost no signal upstairs. WHat I did right now though was get a really long ethernet cable and relocated the access point. Everyone is getting good signal now, but the only way to get rid of the ethernet cable is to buy another access point. Detachable antennaes are only a partial fix, because, yes it will extend the broadcast signal and sensitivity, but it won't help with the signal strength of the wireless clients, so instead of buying everyone new antennae, I'm just gonna buy 1 or 2 more access points. I bought this -> http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10333144&loc=101&sp=1
It's the cheapest solution I could find.

 

[Pudgygiant]

The linksys router and pci card sold at wally world are pretty good, I get decent signal (between 60-80, but it's running at 5.5mbps because it's around 75 feet between 'em).

 

[hcarlson]

For $70 on the forums I got a linksys wireless router and microsoft notebook wireless card. Just keep your eyes open around here if there isn't anything good online in stores or whatever.

 

[Yo2]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: dxkj
Would you recommend this router over the Netgear MR814 wireless router?


Thanks again

Look ad the Data Spec. of both. If you see a feature that you need in one of them, get it. Otherwise they will perform similarly.

Featurewise they may be similar, and the SMC may have actually better range, but I have heard many stories of the SMC crapping out after a week or so and having to be reset often. The Netgear for $25 is great, reliable and sufficient range for an appartment.

Yo

 

[wyvrn]

If you have a few extra bucks, splurge on the Orinoco Silver / Lucent / Dell Truemobile 1150 client cards. They use the best chipset in my experience, you get better range and througput. Don't skimp so much that your network is crap and doesn't work at all.