Networking...

Lt. Dan · Post by **Lt. Dan** » 2004-07-13 04:23pm

Here's the deal. I got a new(er) PC and I want to network it to the cable modem we have in the living room. I think linking it with a cat 5 or cat 6 is out because I doubt that my family will let me drill holes it the walls or have cables running down the hall.(My comp is in my room.)

Now, I would like to go wireless. What would you guys recommend, what will I need, and about how much will it cost?

Thanks.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-07-13 04:26pm

Some people here like D-Link's WLAN equipment. Get equipment that will support 802.11g.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-07-13 05:14pm

Wireless. Definitely.

Lt. Dan · Post by **Lt. Dan** » 2004-07-13 06:04pm

phongn wrote:Some people here like D-Link's WLAN equipment. Get equipment that will support 802.11g.

Noted.

Is there a problem with lag on a wireless network?(Games with lag=no fun.)

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-07-13 08:59pm

Yeah, since it can be disrupted by other things, your ping will jump up and down and all over the place on games.

However, most wireless routers allow you to also plug things into it. So plug your gaming computer DIRECTLY into the wireless router, and the non-gaming (or the weaker gaming) computers connect via wireless.

That way your best gaming PC gets the best bandiwidth.

Wireless is (relatively) slow. 802.11g has a max speed of 54, realistic max of 25 mbps...older ethernet is 10 mbps, normal is 100 mbps, some of the better PC's have gigabit eithernet (1000 mbps).

802.11b is only 11 mbps max, 4.5 realisticly max, which is deathly slow for a network.

However, your internet speed is generally less than 3 mbps unless you have T1, so 802.11g will work fine for internet, just won't go as fast for network file transfers.

Lt. Dan · Post by **Lt. Dan** » 2004-07-13 10:22pm

Another thing. My dad has radios in the room next to mine.(He's an amateur radio opperater.) Would that effect the network? He uses 80m., 40m., 30m, 20m., 15m., 10m., 2m., and 70cm wave lengths.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-07-13 10:24pm

I'm fairly certain you won't have any trouble with amateur radio interfering with the wireless network.

My biggest problem with my dad doing amateur radio is RFI in unshielded cables, like speaker cables on my computer. It's somewhat irritating hearing his heavily distorted voice come across when I'm listening to music.

Lt. Dan · Post by **Lt. Dan** » 2004-07-13 10:41pm

Ok cool. I know what you talking about. Very strang when that voice comes throught the TV and radio.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-07-13 10:54pm

Lt. Dan wrote:Ok cool. I know what you talking about. Very strang when that voice comes throught the TV and radio.

Yeah, the solution is to use shielded A/V cables. The only problem is that they're usually more expensive.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-07-13 11:51pm

They're more expensive, but places like Blue Jeans Cable offers them for more reasonable prices than, say, Monster Cable.

If your cable is acting like an antenna, cut it's length and it might help.

802.11b &g run on the 2.4GHz band, BTW.