12-10-2003, 10:43 AM
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#1 |
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Lieutenant Junior Grade
 Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 89
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802.11g hardware (Long questions...)
I'm finally going to give up my dialup connection and go to DSL! I will get a wireless DSL router/access point which will connect to the first phone jack coming into the house so I won't have to mess with filters (which won't have a phone plugged in). There will not be a PC hooked up to the router. (sound ok so far?)
questions: 1) If a PC has only USB 1.1 an 802.11g USB card doesn't make sense, because the USB 1.1 will limit bandwidth. True? 2)Are the built in hardware firewalls worth it? Are they better/worse than Zonealarm pro (or similar software firewalls)? 3) Is Netgear the best way to go? one more note. PC's will be up to 30 feet from the router, with lots of plaster walls in the way. |
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12-10-2003, 12:41 PM
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#2 |
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Old Skooler Numba 1
  
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Diego
Posts: 10,063
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Before it gets to the router from your phone jack it will go through a modem, which your DSL company will provide(just so you know). Most routers have sufficient firewalls for the average user. However if you are planning on running a web or ftp server then it will take some configuration to open the ports necessary. If you configure the wireless router so that it is tight(so that only your laptops can have access to it) then you shouldn't have worry about an additional software router. Just make sure you have an antivirus program to block from Trojans and you should be good to go.
Netgear is good, but so is Dlink and Linksys. I have had great results with Linksys personally. Also USB is much faster than wireless so it's not an issue. You will also not notice any difference in 802.11g and 802.11b unless you are file sharing among your home network. Reason being your DSL most likely wont be faster than 10 mb/s(802.11b speed) and so your internet connection speed will be maxed out regardless of which router you choose.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 days ~ Willie Nelson 3 days I dread to see arrive 3 days I hate to be alive 3 days filled with tears and sorrow yesterday today and tomorrow Last edited by eSDee : 12-10-2003 at 12:41 PM. |
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12-10-2003, 01:26 PM
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#3 |
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Lieutenant Junior Grade
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 89
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Right -- it would be no fun without the dsl modem!
I was considering the "G" instead of "B" from what i read in a PC Magazine article last summer, before the 802.11g standard was official. It said that G has better range than B -- better at penetrating walls, but that the best B router was better than the worst G wireless routers (Buffalo + Microsoft. see http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,4148,1227431,00.asp I don't have to do file sharing so perhaps the best B would be fine. I have a prewar house with very solid plaster walls, and the signal has to travel 3 floors. Thanks for the reply! Last edited by delmore : 12-10-2003 at 03:15 PM. |
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12-10-2003, 10:16 PM
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What's Da Pho*?
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SoCal (714)
Posts: 13,296
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If you only use the internet, get the "B" for now. Wait until an official standard comes out and get it in the the future. I am using "B" for my laptop and if I need to transfer large files, I connect to my LAN.
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