802.11b and 802.11g, big difference?

[Bullman]

From what I have seen, the main difference between the two wireless units is the g can handle 54mb and the b can handle 11mb. I want to know if it is worth spending the extra money on the g model. My DSL connection will be around 640/256 kbps. The b would easily be able to handle that. When sharing files, would I be able to even get anywhere near the 54mb range? I dont know if the g model would be overkill for what I have. If the b model would handle my needs now and in the not so near future, it would be more in my price range.

I have read up a little about WEP. It seems to have a few flaws in it, but it also seems that it would also help out for a wireless setup. I figure that if someone is driving around trying to get into a wireless system, if they see the WEP enabled they would hopefully move onto one that has WEP disabled. I see that a wireless system can be used as long as some security is applied during the process.

I looked around at Best Buy and Wal-mart and seen several different brands to choose from. If you guys could steer me away from any that are known to be on the shady side. Lynksis, D-Link, Blitzz, Netgear, and Microsoft are a few of the ones I looked at. The Microsoft setup I found at Sams club had the wireless router that comes along with a card for a Laptop for the same price as some of the others. I do not have a laptop, but would it be worth it to buy it anyway?

I know I have alot of questions that are long winded, but there is so much to setting these things up that I have never thought of before. I want to get the setup that will work best for me and not against me. Thanks again for all your help. Who knows what I would have ended up with without it.

[PrntRhd]

Bullman,

I think the g will be better to share files between your PCs, it also has longer range. They are 30 bucks more expensive for each device than the b though if that is a factor. No difference for Internet speed however.
:)

[saphalline]

First of all, you'll never see network speed at the full 11/54Mbps. Very few networks can sustain speeds over 95%. Even so, 802.11b and its 11Mbps would do just fine for you, and it has a longer range than 802.11g.

Also, both use the 2.4GHz range, so there's actually a possibility of getting b now and using g later. They have such hybrid routers now but they're not very good. Wait a couple years and they'll be of much higher quality.

D-Link has some decent nice b equipment that's capable of 22Mbps. The only thing is you have to use only this special D-Link equipment over your whole network. I don't mind using D-Link because they are a good manufacturer, but it's something to keep in mind. The 22 D-Link stuff is a bit more expensive, but no where near g prices. I recommend that.

EDIT - Hmmm, I thought b had a longer range. Can anyone confirm this? I'm off to Google now...

[PrntRhd]

The mfg packaging showed g with longer range 2 weeks ago when I was looking to see about wireless. ??

[saphalline]

I guess I somehow got the wrong idea. Looks like b and g have the same range, primarily because they both operate at 2.4GHz frequency. Silly me! Not a selling point then! :p

[Bullman]

Another question to add to my list: :rolleyes:

I noticed the Linksys Routers have two Antennas attached to them. Most of the others I looked at had only one. Is this to give it better and clearer signal, or does the Linksys have more features than most other Routers?

[Budfred]

I suspect it is mainly a design feature and it is possible one of the antennae may not even be hooked up. Since it would be easy to hook it up, it probably is, but I doubt it makes any difference to the function or range of the device...

[PrntRhd]

I don't know about the dual antenna but I do know they are Cisco approved, they make a big thing of that.

[classicsoftware]

Be wary of the 2.4 ghz range if you have other cordless devices, like phones in the house. I had a client who tried to figure out why her connection was lost at intermitent times. It seems each time her daughter picked up the 2.4 ghz cordless phone in her bedroom, the internet connection got cut off. Just a consideration. Unless you are doing heavy duty file sharing (not transfers) I would get the less expensive one.... I have great experience with Linksys. Their support is top drawer....

[Whyzman]

Originally posted by classicsoftware
Be wary of the 2.4 ghz range if you have other cordless devicesMy antennae went up when I saw the 2.4 ghz also...

I suspect that the transmission frequencies of devices is going to become more and more of a concern as we keep adding wireless devices to our inventories...

I have a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse and I'm getting random interference with my Sennheiser wireless headsets...

I've a neighbor who has 2.4 phones that cannot get into close proximity with his microwave...

If the only wireless choice for your computer is 2.4 you might need to look into 5.8 for your phones...

This seems to be getting more expensive as we go... :(

[Bullman]

Originally posted by classicsoftware
Unless you are doing heavy duty file sharing (not transfers) I would get the less expensive one....

What would be some examples of heavy duty file sharing and transfers. I do not have much of an idea what kind of files I might want to share. I saw that the routers had that option, so I will probably eventually want to use it. Would'nt all file sharing and transfers be at the same speed? What items besides the router would affect the speed of transfer. I think all PC's that I have have the 10/100 Lan connection, but since it would be wireless through either USB or PCI cards, what else could affect it. I am going to have to some searches on file sharing and transfers. If you know of any informative links that would be great.

[saphalline]

What would be some examples of heavy duty file sharing and transfers.If you plan on transferring 300MB or more per day, I would classify that as "heavy duty". File sharing is pretty nice if you have more than one avid computer user in your home, but any network is fine for occassional stuff.

Would'nt all file sharing and transfers be at the same speed?Not necessarily. It also depends on the performance of the systems involved and the media you are transferring from. Old hard drives are especially guilty of this as they are often 1/3 to 1/6 as fast as modern hard drives, and some don't like being interrupted. Your network will only be as fast as the slowest part, but this will most likely be the wireless portion most of the time.

What items besides the router would affect the speed of transfer.Like what the others said. Microwaves, cordless phones, walls, distance, and anything else that produces a conflicting electro-magnetic field. :rolleyes:

One thing that can kill any signal is a wire mesh. Not that you're likely to have one sitting around :p but that's important in large buildings where re-bar is used extensively.

This is all just general info, but there are many of us here on the forums who have used or own a wireless network. If you give us specifics about your home's environment we can help much more. For instance, you still haven't told us if you have a 2.4GHz cordless phone, or exactly how far away everything will be.

[PrntRhd]

More info on the Linksys:

All-in-one Internet-sharing Router, 4-port Switch, and Wireless-G (draft 802.11g) Access Point
Wireless data rates up to 54Mbps -- 5 times faster than Wireless-B (802.11b)
Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired and Wireless-G clients

Advanced wireless security with 128-bit WEP encryption, MAC or IP address filtering
This means you can set it up with static/MAC addresses so it only responds to IP addresses/MAC addresses you authorize.

[Mark Miller]

I am running a "b" network and the file sharing is fine. As said unless your doing 100's of mb at a time. As far as the internet you don't have a connection that will use even the 11mb that 'b" has.
I have a microwave 2.4g phones, every kind of hook up in the world, and only once in 2 months has anything interfered with the network. That was when the phone rang in the middle of a connection, otherwise it's been fine.
"g" is fine for future proofing, but even the mags say it's overkill for a simple HOME network of a couple of machines.
Mark

[classicsoftware]

What I mrean by file sharing is something I doubt you use at home. If you are sharing a large database file that you would both access at the same time. Let's say you want to have the last 20 years of Quicken data in one file and want to access it from both computers. If you are talking about sharing samll word processsing or spread sheets documents. I would go with 80211.B

[Bullman]

I just checked my phones and I have two 2.4ghz phones. I have a microwave about 15 feet away from my main PC. It will not be inbetween the wireless connection. The other pc's will not be very far away, one is just on the other side of the wall from me about 10ft. The third will be in a straight line past the second for the furthes length of probably 30ft. Mainly all there will be between the pc's are drywall and the framing.

I am pretty sure I will not be using the file sharing that much. I might mainly do it just to figure out how to set it up and see how it works. The most I might do right now is send a song or two across, maybe a product update or two. I guess I will not know until I see how well it performs. I guess I can alway upgrade later, i'm sure the b should be sufficient for what I need.

Originally posted by PrntRhd
This means you can set it up with static/MAC addresses so it only responds to IP addresses/MAC addresses you authorize.

Would I have to pay extra to my isp for other static IP's, or is this something I can do with a regular Router? There is alot to learn about connecting these PC's together. Hopefully with all the help I have gained here, it should be a safe, stable one. Thanks!

[Mark Miller]

Depending where you live and whether you neighbers have a wireless network setup, if you just follow whatever router you get instructions, you won't have much of a problem. The router will tell you [in the instructions] what kind of security you can set up. Just follow all the safe computing you would with a stand alone computer and you'll be fine.
Mark:)

[bassman]

The "Static IP's" you are talking about would cost extra, but I think you are confusing that with what PrntRhd is talking about.
Your router receives an IP address from your ISP whenever you connect. This is called "Dynamic" and it can be different each connection. A static IP is one that is issued to you and each connect is on that same IP address. This would be needed if you were hosting your own site(s).
What PrntRhd is talking about is the IP address your machines get from your router. They too can be dynamic or static but this is functionaly different then what is happening with your router and ISP.
You can set static IP's for each machine you have and filter out the rest in your range helping to prevent drive-bys or neighbors from access.

I think you get the picture on "11-B" and "11-G". Unless you are setting up a very large network doing constant file sharing, 54mb is not necessary. Save the bucks and buy yourself a nice lunch ;)

I have a Linksys "B" setup with one laptop on wireless, one desktop on wireless, and one desktop wired. I had a problem with an older wireless phone (not sure which brand) bought a new phone and no more problems.
The way I understand it, different brands conflict. It's trial and error so be sure you can exchange whatever you buy.

I have never taken my router apart so I have no idea if both antenna are connected (but I'm sure they are). What you can do with this setup is, leave one antenna on the router, unscrew second antenna, attach coax to that point, run a coax to your roof, set the other antenna there. Now you have a 1000 foot range and can share your connection with whomever has a wireless card in this range(for a fee if you like) ;)

Good luck
Frank

[reason]

Originally posted by PrntRhd
I don't know about the dual antenna but I do know they are Cisco approved, they make a big thing of that.

Cisco owns Linksys now so that's probably why they are approved.

[Whyzman]

Originally posted by bassman
Now you have a 1000 foot range and can share your connection with whomever has a wireless card in this rangeWhere was that you said you lived?? :p Originally posted by reason
Cisco owns Linksys now so that's probably why they are approved.No conflict of interest there! :D

By the way reason, Welcome to the http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif Forums!

[bassman]

:D heheheeee, more than 1000 feet from you my friend. But if you were here, I would share;)