Setting up a Home Wireless Lan

ghostrider4385 · 27th April 2007, 15:29

I faced problems with my netgear router. It used to suddenly lose connection. Got damn annoying. I luckily got myself an airport express and an airport extreme base station. No problems with them so far (crossing my fingers).

Vid6639 · 27th April 2007, 15:43

Netgear WGR614. It's cheaper than the linksys IIRC. I've been using it for more than 2yrs with absoultely no problems.

But I'm not happy with the linksys which is at my office. Several times it needs to be restarted as it just doesnt allow any comps to connect.

The netgear will cost around Rs.2K.

reignofchaos · 27th April 2007, 15:47

^^I use the same netgear too but it has serious issues with packet forwarding in case you wish to run home servers that you wanna access from outside. I'm planning to dump it and get something better. I guess the thread creator is better off with the tried and tested Linksys WRT54G.

Sam Kapasi · 27th April 2007, 15:55

We used to use a Netgear at the office. After 2 years it was busted and we got a new linksys.
The setting problems we had were insane. It would not automatically configure and assign an IP address to each comp. We would enter the IP addresses manually and sometimes it would still not connect.

We finally replaced it with a new netgear and everything works just fine.

Su-47 · 27th April 2007, 15:56

I've used Belkin for the last 2.5 years and it works very well. I think 802.11g routers have become commodities and any of the well known brands would perform well (Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, Buffalo). So, buy whatever is available at a cheap price...

Getting a 100m range under normal operating conditions looks far fetched though. By normal conditions, I mean indoor usage with concrete structures, 2.4G cordless-phones, neighbours WiFi etc. interfering with the signal.

Configuring a router is not exactly plug and play, but its not complex either. I recommend that you configure security also. WPA is recommended, if it is supported by your PDA.

tsk1979 · 27th April 2007, 16:16

I recommend LinksysWRT54GL or WRT54GS, stay away from WRT54G
Extremely good community support, runs Linux so infinitively hackable, tweakable.

rapideffect · 27th April 2007, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

We used to use a Netgear at the office. After 2 years it was busted and we got a new linksys.
The setting problems we had were insane. It would not automatically configure and assign an IP address to each comp. We would enter the IP addresses manually and sometimes it would still not connect.

We finally replaced it with a new netgear and everything works just fine.

Infact I had the same problem with my linksys wirless g router but got it rectified after making a few changes at Airtel's (service provider) end. Airtel provided modem had a setup which was not allowing the router to be configured as a DHCP server to assign IP address to each comp. Later with the assistance of Airtel I have changed the DNS setup as given by Airtel to comply with Wireless G. Initially the Airtel guys were hesistant to help as they sell wireless router and services. But later when threatened of discountinuing their service they came forward to help us.

Steeroid · 27th April 2007, 17:13

Carry your wireless network in your pocket - do yourself a favour and get an Apple Airport Express. Plug in to a power socket, connect to your Ethernet model using RJ45 and you're on! Wherever you are!

unknown · 27th April 2007, 17:22

How much does LinksysWRT54GL costs ?

Sam Kapasi · 27th April 2007, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Carry your wireless network in your pocket - do yourself a favour and get an Apple Airport Express. Plug in to a power socket, connect to your Ethernet model using RJ45 and you're on! Wherever you are!

This is a good idea. I use an Airport Express myself.

It is linked to my Mac and password protected with an 7 digit alphanumeric code. Any mac that enters the area, needs this 7 digit code to connect.
Then we stream music and share internet and share a USB printer too.

However if a PC tries to connect to this apple network, the WEP equivalent password is a 128 bit encryption which is HUGE and quite annoying to put in.

vivekiny2k · 27th April 2007, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by unknown

Range ? 100 m or Above more than that is available ?

any communication is a two way process. you can increase the range if you add boosters/dish antennae etc on BOTH sides (router and the laptop). not sure how that would look though

Jaggu · 27th April 2007, 19:08

if you request airtel they will replace your existing modem with a wifi one and this will solve all headaches in one go, and cost is also minimal if you convince them to do a swap between the old and the new one

for price reference, they charge 5 k for complete connection from scratch when i last checked

tsk1979 · 27th April 2007, 19:12

With few obstacles or line of sight and updated non official firmware GL and GS from linksys can do 100mts without antennas. Put in a simple directional antenna and you are talking line of sight upto 20kms.

unknown · 28th April 2007, 19:49

Hi ,
I've bought Linksys Wrt54gs Today for 4k , & My Desktop won't support Wifi yet i've Not installed Pci card , So i can't use wifi With My Phone ? I've Switched On the Router , Plug the Ethernet cable in it , My phone have detected the Wifi But i can't Browse Web ?

unknown · 29th April 2007, 17:58

Bump

.....................

27th April 2007, 15:29	#31
ghostrider4385 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 389 Thanked: 12 Times	I faced problems with my netgear router. It used to suddenly lose connection. Got damn annoying. I luckily got myself an airport express and an airport extreme base station. No problems with them so far (crossing my fingers).
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 15:43	#32
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,711 Thanked: 44,147 Times View My Garage	Netgear WGR614. It's cheaper than the linksys IIRC. I've been using it for more than 2yrs with absoultely no problems. But I'm not happy with the linksys which is at my office. Several times it needs to be restarted as it just doesnt allow any comps to connect. The netgear will cost around Rs.2K.
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 15:47	#33
reignofchaos Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,558 Thanked: 2,527 Times View My Garage	^^I use the same netgear too but it has serious issues with packet forwarding in case you wish to run home servers that you wanna access from outside. I'm planning to dump it and get something better. I guess the thread creator is better off with the tried and tested Linksys WRT54G.
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 15:55	#34
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,939 Thanked: 2,479 Times View My Garage	We used to use a Netgear at the office. After 2 years it was busted and we got a new linksys. The setting problems we had were insane. It would not automatically configure and assign an IP address to each comp. We would enter the IP addresses manually and sometimes it would still not connect. We finally replaced it with a new netgear and everything works just fine.
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 15:56	#35
Su-47 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 693 Thanked: 364 Times	I've used Belkin for the last 2.5 years and it works very well. I think 802.11g routers have become commodities and any of the well known brands would perform well (Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, Buffalo). So, buy whatever is available at a cheap price... Getting a 100m range under normal operating conditions looks far fetched though. By normal conditions, I mean indoor usage with concrete structures, 2.4G cordless-phones, neighbours WiFi etc. interfering with the signal. Configuring a router is not exactly plug and play, but its not complex either. I recommend that you configure security also. WPA is recommended, if it is supported by your PDA. Last edited by Su-47 : 27th April 2007 at 16:09.
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 16:16	#36
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,697 Thanked: 23,487 Times View My Garage	I recommend LinksysWRT54GL or WRT54GS, stay away from WRT54G Extremely good community support, runs Linux so infinitively hackable, tweakable.
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 17:13	#38
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,026 Thanked: 2,757 Times	Carry your wireless network in your pocket - do yourself a favour and get an Apple Airport Express. Plug in to a power socket, connect to your Ethernet model using RJ45 and you're on! Wherever you are!
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 17:22	#39
unknown BANNED Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 439 Thanked: 23 Times	How much does LinksysWRT54GL costs ?
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 19:08	#42
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,384 Thanked: 17,299 Times	if you request airtel they will replace your existing modem with a wifi one and this will solve all headaches in one go, and cost is also minimal if you convince them to do a swap between the old and the new one for price reference, they charge 5 k for complete connection from scratch when i last checked
	() Thanks

27th April 2007, 19:12	#43
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,697 Thanked: 23,487 Times View My Garage	With few obstacles or line of sight and updated non official firmware GL and GS from linksys can do 100mts without antennas. Put in a simple directional antenna and you are talking line of sight upto 20kms.
	() Thanks

28th April 2007, 19:49	#44
unknown BANNED Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 439 Thanked: 23 Times	Hi , I've bought Linksys Wrt54gs Today for 4k , & My Desktop won't support Wifi yet i've Not installed Pci card , So i can't use wifi With My Phone ? I've Switched On the Router , Plug the Ethernet cable in it , My phone have detected the Wifi But i can't Browse Web ? Last edited by unknown : 28th April 2007 at 19:51.
	() Thanks

29th April 2007, 17:58	#45
unknown BANNED Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 439 Thanked: 23 Times	Bump .....................
	() Thanks