What kind of network setup would I need?

[xbox_earth]

I would like to have the following in my network:

- 1 pc, wireless or wired, within 10 metres (already have setup for wired)
- 1 laptop, wireless, within 10 metres
- 1 xbox 360, wireless, within 10 metres
- 1 pc, setup wired but will get wireless, within 20 metres

I've got a modem thats not wireless, looking to get a 5mb line.

1) What network setup would I need? If possible recommend me a Router, etc.

2) Will I be getting 5mb in every pc, xbox 360, and laptop? or 1.25mb each?

3) Which wireless card would you recommend for the pc?

Thankyou very much :)

[johnny_quest]

It's best to stick with wired if at all possible. It's more secure, reliable, and faster (100mbps). Wireless "G" series hardware will only get you 54mbps Not that you'll ever really come close to using that sort of speen though, maybe if you're transfering files from pc to pc, but it's not a big deal. Again, for me at least, it's the reliability and security of having a hard line and the convenience of not messing with passwords and encryption. It's cheaper as well to avoid wireless hardware. I'd only use it if you had no way of running a cable.

Any "G" series wireless router will work fine for you. Wireless access point for the xbox, wireless access cards or USB access cards for the PCs. Belkin, Netgear, just get whatever is on sale. I've never had problems with all my netgear stuff, even my cheap ebay china no-name hardware has been working for years without problems...

You're kind of right about sharing your connection speed... It isn't "divided equally at 1.25" but rather, shared like a supply pipe... what one person uses takes away from the "pool" of bandwidth... so unless every computer is streaming an HD movie at the same time... you'll never have a problem, expecially at 5mbps....

[jlreich]

I agree wired is the way to go if you can. Wired for any desktop that will not move, wireless for laptops and for the xbox.

If you do plan on sharing files there is a major difference in speed over a wired network. Even though you may have 54Mbps wireless network you will never reach those speeds because of overhead and interference.

If you think you will be doing a lot of file sharing I would recommend getting a Gbit switch (1000Mbps) as well, and making sure all of your wired machines have a Gbit NIC. Attach the switch to the router and have all your wired machines attached to the switch and that will give you great throughput on your wired machines. It won't make any of your wireless machine faster but it will greatly improve the speed of file sharing on the wired machines.

But, if you don't want or can't run the cables then wireless will work just fine. You are going to want to have wireless for the laptop at the very least anyway.

I would recommend Linksys routers (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2052810145+50001413&Configurator=&Subcategory=145&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=). Any of the WRT54G series are good. I just bought the GL a few weeks ago myself and am very happy with it. This is after having various problems with a D-Link wireless router over the last year or so. The biggest problem was I kept losing the wireless connection. With the new Linksys I have not lost the connection even once. I had originally thought the problem was with my cheap USB wireless dongle, but when my wife got her new laptop recently she had the same problems.

If you decide to go with N routers you need to make sure any wireless machine have N wireless adapters.

[xbox_earth]

In the Linksys WRT54G series, I could only find "WRT54G-CA" and "WRT54GS-CA", which of the two would be fit for what I am looking for?

Also if I'm running through a modem and router, will this decrease my speeds?

[jlreich]

"CA" is the country code. I take it you are in Canada? You can pick either one. The S in GS stands for speed boost.

If you have a modem/router combo already you can just turn off DHCP on the new router and it will effectively become a wireless access point. There are a couple other settings you would have to change but nothing too awful.

Or you can also turn off DHCP on the modem/router. Either way one of them will need to have DHCP turned off.

will this decrease my speeds?
No not really.

[xbox_earth]

I've also been researching a little, and seen that with DD-WRT in WRT54G, you can make it like the GS and more.

Anybody has experience with DD-WRT in WRT54G?

[jlreich]

I have the GL version which is highly based on DD_WRT already with some Linksys modifications. But I haven't bothered to install DD_WRT itself.

If you google it you can find oodles of info on it including the actual website for DD_WRT.

[PrntRhd]

Going to DD-WRT makes the router have more features and can increase things like transmit power, BUT:
Do be aware that flashing to DD-WRT firmware has some risks including bricking the device if procedures and warnings are not heeded, and the flash for the WRT54GS model is irreversible once the conversion to DD-WRT is performed, at least until a reversion firmware and procedure is made available.
All warranties and support by Linksys is no longer in effect, do not send your router to them for repair or RMA.
More info (advanced users only):
http://www.bitsum.com/openwiking/owbase/ow.asp?WRT54G5_CFE