[melkimx]

i just moved into an apartment where the only cable outlet comes out of a narrow wall space where there's no room for my desk. right now i've opted to put the modem next to the TV and stretch out a very long cat-6 ethernet cable to my computer. but this is a pain in the rear end because i'm constantly almost tripping over the cable. so the cable guy suggested that i buy a wireless router and because my computer is a little old, a USB wireless adapter -- he said i could get the whole setup from fry's for about $70, but i thought i could probably go to the bay area craigslist and buy them off there for much cheaper. i don't know computer stuff at all. can anyone tell me what exactly i should look out for? brands, types, lingo, prices? thanks!

also, let me know if something about my post just didn't make sense. as i said, i don't know computer stuff, so it's possible i just wrote something that makes techies go o_O

[hanpil]

Give me those hearts under my username and "Friend of Soompi" title after I answer your question.

You will want to get a wireless router from a trusted company. Linksys and D-link are very popular routers. Most routers you see on the net and in stores are Wireless 802.11b/g combination routers, buy those.

There are 802.11b, 802.11g. They are listed like this because they have a 2.4 gigahertz frequency signal transfers.

-802.11b will get a max data rate transfer speed of ~11Megabits/second and ~30 meters of range.
-802.11g will get a max data rate transfer speed of ~54Megabits/second and ~50 meters range.

Note: 802.11n will be coming out in the future. But what I've read the max data transfer of 700Megabits/second and ~70 meters of range. That is more than an average home user will use (For now..).

I recommend a Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router or a D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G

-I prefer Linksys hands down.

[DKYang]

The popular one's are Linksys, Netgear, and D-link. Right now I'm using a Linksys WRT54G and haven't faced any problems so far. So, go for that one if it's the cheapest in your selection.

I don't know much about the wireless USB adapters, but if it was me, I would just get the same brand as the wireless router.

[system]

Also a Linksys WRT54G user here.
Had few problems when it first came out of the box,
but it all got better after updating the firmware.
Still using and satisfied with it.

[melkimx]

thanks guys... i'm going to keep an eye out for that linksys router. what is firmware and where can i get it?

also, do you know anything about wireless USB adapters? those seem a bit harder to find than the router.

[DKYang]

DD-WRT is what I used and I'm pretty sure other Linksys users use this also if they updated it.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

I don't know about in stores, but I found some on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.as...reless-Adapters

I would just go by reviews and it seems like one of the D-link adapters is the best out of their selection: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16833127151.

[melkimx]

thanks for your advice. i have another concern now after running this past my friend who helped me choose my computer. he says i can either buy a USB or PCI adapter (i don't know what PCI is), BUT that he doesn't recommend wireless at all because it drops internet speed. it's true that i really don't want slow internet anymore, which is why i switched from DSL to cable. but i also don't want to trip over ethernet cables or run tape and mats all across the carpet to prevent this. how much slower would wireless be?

[GO!zilla]

if i may, let me give a alternative suggestion.

dont compromise speed and go wireless.

if ur only problem is tripping over the cables, try to get these things from home depot or something.
i know its not pretty but for me, its worth the speed haha sorry if the pics aint too good, i just took it right now in a hurry.




when i use my wireless on laptop, i get max 250kb/s . when i use desktop my max is 1.2mb/s [i have 9mbit down 1mbit up if u needed to know this]

[DKYang]

^
I was thinking the same after reading her latest post.

You can always put a "pretty" rug over it.

[badboy yardy]

i use AT&T DSL, which is considered slower than (i'm assuming you have comcast) cable, and i'm able to go wireless on my laptop just fine. I watch youtube, play online games, and download large files without any lag. I don't need to download gigs and gigs of files, so I'm content with my 'slow' connection.

the router that i use is the Linksys Wireless G-Router, which I love to death. It's slightly larger than a digital camera.

If i had a non-wireless ready computer and needed a USB adapter. I'd use this Linksys Wireless-G USB Adapter

PCI is better than USB, but you'd have to be somewhat of a computer geek to get it right.

[melkimx]

if i may, let me give a alternative suggestion.

dont compromise speed and go wireless.

if ur only problem is tripping over the cables, try to get these things from home depot or something.
i know its not pretty but for me, its worth the speed haha sorry if the pics aint too good, i just took it right now in a hurry.
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7063/72561869yn1.jpg[/img]
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9448/24326104uc2.jpg[/img]
when i use my wireless on laptop, i get max 250kb/s . when i use desktop my max is 1.2mb/s [i have 9mbit down 1mbit up if u needed to know this]

hm, what is that? does it hold multiple cables together, or anchor the cable to the carpet? i wish it looked better, but i'd consider it, because the wireless sounds like quite a decrease in speed, not that i would really know. currently the cable spans two doorways and a closet. it's ridiculous. also i doubt i'd be able to install a PCI thing myself. turns out my friend has a new linksys router so i'd just have to buy the adapter.

i'm not a speed freak, but what i was dealing with in my last place was the slowest possible DSL available and i hated it. maybe something a bit slower than what i have now would be acceptable, i don't know. i don't dl lots of stuff anyway. i just like to surf the web.

[GO!zilla]

o if u dont dl much, i guess wireless really wont hurt you. if you game, it'll hurt

another alternative u can do... is... buy a 100 feet cable from newegg for like $10-20... on the doorway, instead of just resting it in the ground... go around it.

(google images ftw)


use a staple gun and it comes out pretty neat imo. If ur walls are white, get a white cable



i do not know what those are called. i'll have to ask my dad tomorrow. but u see all those cables, i can put them all inside there.

[aznfishyfart]

or u can be really nice to me and i can get u some stuff u might need haha
my dad has a telecommunications company and we do cabling
we have these little sticky hook things that u stick on the door frame so u dont have to use stables to keep them up
ill post pics later xP

[awdark]

I only use wireless for laptops/pdas battery powered stuff and wired for everything else.

I have never tried it but maybe powerline ethernet http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage...oduct_Id=152644 (quick googled example I know they have cheaper ones)

Limitations might be speed but for internet use it will be fine... When you transfer files from PC to PC you can benefit from higher speeds. Your cable, dsl whatever will at most use 5 mbit (okay if your nuts you might have 10 *cough cough*)
EHh visual aide O <- thats a pipe 100mbit.. your dsl -> .

The other limit is you wont be able to expand your network for more computers as easily... so I guess router is the way to go.

Ohh and yeah it does work well to route a cable along the doors and walls... I bought a 100' cable and just followed the wall and put blobs of hotglue along the way lol

If you're lazy just get the USB wifi. A pci version would usually have a shorter range without an external antenna anyways.
As long as you can get good reception you really shouldn't run into issues with speed. Whats the max speed of your internet anyways? My laptop's internal wireless lets me transfer up to 1mb/second. Not as fast as wired 8mb... but hey its wireless!

I am using a Dlink DIR-625 router, internal wirelss on laptop... I can even say the old old 802.11B router with a cheapie linksys card got me my 150k/s after a bit of cussing out the card.

[badboy yardy]

o if u dont dl much, i guess wireless really wont hurt you. if you game, it'll hurt

another alternative u can do... is... buy a 100 feet cable from newegg for like $10-20... on the doorway, instead of just resting it in the ground... go around it.

(google images ftw)


use a staple gun and it comes out pretty neat imo. If ur walls are white, get a white cable
i do not know what those are called. i'll have to ask my dad tomorrow. but u see all those cables, i can put them all inside there.

lol I did this while i was living at my parents house.

yea, it's not bad at all. also instead of using a staple gun, i'd manually install these u-nails



you can find them in home depot / wal-mart and they can easily go through carpet, and walls if you do it right.

[melkimx]

augh i knew i should've spent $10 more on the 50 ft cable rather than try to save money with the 25 ft which barely stretches across the two walls as is.

i wonder... i know computer experts would advise me not to go wireless, but maybe i wouldn't notice the difference. yeah, i don't game. i just like to dl the occasional mp3 and surf soompi. but i doubt i could even configure the stupid network so for that reason alone i'd probably consider just going around the doors and walls. can you post pictures of those sticky hook things? i don't think i want to permanently glue or nail or tack anything all over the walls... i mean they're not my walls, since i rent.

thanks for your advice, very helpful

[awdark]

Were you already supplied with a wireless router?

You CAN just go for the wireless and if you want to try, get the same brands and hope they don't hate each other. I have had many cases where the wireless devices simply HATED my router. It would connect fine, transfer fine.. but every oh... 25 minutes or so it would kick me off.
My laptop was the worse, it was like they weren't in sync with each other it actually DID slow my internet down. Downloads maxed out at like 70k/s when my normal max was 150k/s. Got frusterated enough to buy a new router.. anyways...


O_o don't you want to return that cable for the 50' one then? Better to be a little mean to the store than suffer with a short cable.
Personally I used those tacks and hammered them into the door frames... im not sure if hot glue will do the trick for network cables, but I know it held up well for thinner cables for survalence cameras.

[GO!zilla]

albert i had that problem as well but i found out it was compatibility issue between either the modem and the router OR compatibility with the card and windows wireless thing. what i did when i had that issue was access the system controls thingy and disabled windows wireless and used the dlink software. when it was between modem and the router, i changed my router ip from 192.168.0.1 to 172.16.0.1.

i love this thread haha i had fun posting in it.

o yea melkimx can you take off the warn from last year? bad joke but just a joke indeed.

[melkimx]

i think i'll try buying a 100-ft white cable and wrapping it around the doors, since the idea of setting up a wireless network only to have it be really slow doesn't appeal to me. cables are cheap on newegg. geez though, i have so many cat-6 cables of various lengths lying around. i thought about craigslisting them for $1 apiece but that's so dumb. i remember this plastic hook from 3M that i bought to hang up a lightweight frame without nails... i think it can be used to keep a cable in place too.

o yea melkimx can you take off the warn from last year? bad joke but just a joke indeed.

ok but for future reference i actually kinda dislike when people use threads as a way to ask me to do this or that. it's like i'm reading just getting into whatever the topic is and then "melkimx, can you lower my warning/close my thread/ban this member"? i'm just kidding. it's not a big deal.

[aznfishyfart]

ill post some pics when i get home of the hook things im talking about
its specifically for ethernet cable and we use that at work so go around doorframes
also, try looking for wholesalers for ur ethernet cables, cuz basically stores would be ripping u off...
we get 1000ft of cable for 50$, which is like 5 cents a foot....so yea ill be back to post pics