Advice on wireless network N card

Hectic Glenn

Hectic Glenn

Site Director
Staff member
Joined
Aug 8, 2004
Messages
12,233
Reaction score
241
Just installed my new N draft router, and I've got a couple machines in my house running wirelessly, one of which is a gaming computer which needs some dedicated speed to it. The router unfortunately can't be hardwired to it because of another 2 machines in the house connected directly to the router.

THUS! I'm looking for a good / great N capable wireless device (PCI card or USB). I've had some AWFUL experiences with Belkin, so recommendations on other brands people have found to be good would be appreciated, as well as any products which they do.
 
As I am sure you well know, the transfer speed of wireless devices varies.

The typical data rate transer speed of 54Mbps is good for basic usage, but obviously not the best choice if you plan to game online over wireless. Of course faster adapters will cost more, but again, for obvious reasons. What is the make/model of your wireless N router & who is your ISP or rather how fast is your internet service.

Please note that the Data Rate of the adapters I link to below are a mix of 108Mbps & 300Mbps. Each of which is faster than the standard 54 mbps that I mention above. If you see a model you like, make sure it will be compatable with your current wireless router. Not all wireless adapters will work with every wireless router. Those I list below are not necessary the best. I link to them as an examble. Once you have an idea as to what you want, i'll do more research as to the best for the price you want to spend. You'll also see that there are several different configurations you can choose from. such as via USB, small stand alone antenna or PCI+Antenna. To a point, you'll also get what you paid for. Buy a cheap product & you "may" have cheap performance. Also keep an eye out for the security features if that interests you.

108Mbps
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122134
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833150014

150Mbps
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164030

300Mbps
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833314032 - Belkin I know, but used as an example of design.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833314027
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833180052

Give us more info as to your budget & the units make & model.

-MRG
 
i might add one of those 300mbps ones to my list

A belkin will work with a linksys router, correct?
 
Barney Trouble said:
I have the WRT54G model.

That first one looks unreal, I might actually get that
Click to expand...

With that model, do you have the Tomato Firmware installed? While I do not have that unit myself, EVERYONE I have ever talked to that does, swears that the Tomato firmware update is excellent.

Tomato Firmware
http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato

As for the compatability, I would honestly contact the makers of the adapter & ask them to see if it would work with your wireless router. However, keep in mind that your router, while a quality & dependable unit, only transfers data wirelessly @ 54 Mbps & so if you were to get the Hawking Wireless Adapter Dish I link to, you'll not be able to fully utilize it's capabilities until you upgraded to a faster wireless router.

However, if you are still interested in that adapter, then here is the customer service #. I looked it up for you. Give them a call & ask them if it'll work with your current router.

Hawking Technologies, Inc (USA)
15281A Barranca Parkway
Irvine, CA 92618
Main Phone: 949-790-0800
Main Fax: 949-790-0880
Main Email: [email protected]

Sales and Product Information
Phone: 888-662-8828
Phone: 949-790-0800
Fax: 949-790-0880
Email: [email protected]

Public Relations
Email: [email protected]

Technical Support
Toll Free (US & Canada): 888-202-3344
International Calls: 949.790.0810
Fax: 949-790-0880
Email: [email protected]

Hope this helps.

-MRG
 
Cheers for the advice MRG. The router I'm now using is from an ISP here in the UK called BT, they have a router called the homehub which also includes a VOIP phone which is pretty useful. BT have just brought out the homehub 2, which I've upgraded to (and binned my belkin router), as this router supports N draft.

So you probably won't know much about it and it's compatability. I can tell you it supports WPA2 security, standard DCHP features and the usual stuff. You can see a bit about it here and here

Notably, you'll see it's maximum data rate is 130 mbps, making any 300mbps adapters fairly pointless, and the 150mbps range my primary target. I've used wireless PCI cards in the past with some interference issues with my metal desk I believe, so I'm seriously considering a USB adapter to sit on my desk or slightly away from it! The hawking dish you linked to seems ideal, if I can find it in the UK, and if you think it's any good? Would you recommend the brand? Thoughts on Linksys / Netgear?
 
Hectic Glenn said:
Cheers for the advice MRG. The router I'm now using is from an ISP here in the UK called BT, they have a router called the homehub which also includes a VOIP phone which is pretty useful. BT have just brought out the homehub 2, which I've upgraded to (and binned my belkin router), as this router supports N draft.

So you probably won't know much about it and it's compatability. I can tell you it supports WPA2 security, standard DCHP features and the usual stuff. You can see a bit about it here and here

Notably, you'll see it's maximum data rate is 130 mbps, making any 300mbps adapters fairly pointless, and the 150mbps range my primary target. I've used wireless PCI cards in the past with some interference issues with my metal desk I believe, so I'm seriously considering a USB adapter to sit on my desk or slightly away from it! The hawking dish you linked to seems ideal, if I can find it in the UK, and if you think it's any good? Would you recommend the brand? Thoughts on Linksys / Netgear?
Click to expand...

You also might want to think about getting a faster router or if you are "forced" to use the router supplied by your ISP, remember that you can have a router plugged into another router. So if your current router limits wireless to 54 Mbps, simply (if possible) buy a faster wireless router, wire it directly to your current router via a Cat5 or Cat6 cable (or other type if your plugs are different) & use it's faster speeds which will be fully utilized with an adapter that supports up to 300 Mbps. In my area, the local ISP/phone/VOIP company installed Fiber Optic & so an account manager was contacting all those in my area & after talking to him extensivly, he explained that as part of the new Fiber Optic service, it came with a dedicated router that had to be professionally installed. I mentioned that our household had a brand new & high performance wireless router & thats when he explained that a router can easily be directly connected to another router & it's faster signal could be used instead.

I'm sure you know your area better than me, but if it'll help, give me a general idea as to your location, so that I can find retailers servicing your area. Also if you like a product, such as that Wireless Dish adapter from Hawking, you could call their toll free # or e-mail them and ask them which local retaillers carry their products.

Let me know if your calls or e-mails result in satisfactory answers.

-MRG
 
I've used similiar arrangements in the past using wireless access points, or routers hardwired to each other. In this case, my previous routers have all been 54mbps but my new one is 130mbps, do you not think this is satisfactory for what I need it for?

There is one large ISP here in the UK starting to provide fiber optics but 1) It's expensive & ties you into a long contract, 2) My ISP is pretty good for my area and the new router they've provided is an upgrade of the original homehub which I've already paid for. Because I was 'upgrading' I got it for half price of it's 90 pounds ($167) price tag. Also I'm tied into a contract with them too, at a good monthly price so I'm not going to be looking at changing my ISP, I'm looking purely for something to receive the 130mbps the router puts out.

I like the hawkings, I researched it last night and it's really scarce in the UK, so I've emailed Hawking's sales as you said asking for known retailers / e-tailers.

In your experience MRG, is it worth even looking at the high end products from Linksys / Netgear / Belkin? I have NO idea to who is superior or more reliable. I'd buy a Sony TV over a LG one, but with these companies, who is top dog and what are their best tricks?
 
Hectic Glenn said:
I've used similiar arrangements in the past using wireless access points, or routers hardwired to each other. In this case, my previous routers have all been 54mbps but my new one is 130mbps, do you not think this is satisfactory for what I need it for?

There is one large ISP here in the UK starting to provide fiber optics but 1) It's expensive & ties you into a long contract, 2) My ISP is pretty good for my area and the new router they've provided is an upgrade of the original homehub which I've already paid for. Because I was 'upgrading' I got it for half price of it's 90 pounds ($167) price tag. Also I'm tied into a contract with them too, at a good monthly price so I'm not going to be looking at changing my ISP, I'm looking purely for something to receive the 130mbps the router puts out.

I like the hawkings, I researched it last night and it's really scarce in the UK, so I've emailed Hawking's sales as you said asking for known retailers / e-tailers.

In your experience MRG, is it worth even looking at the high end products from Linksys / Netgear / Belkin? I have NO idea to who is superior or more reliable. I'd buy a Sony TV over a LG one, but with these companies, who is top dog and what are their best tricks?
Click to expand...

First off, you'll have to please forgive me if i'm ignorant, but I couldn't stop reading the section where you mention that you had to pay 1/2 the price of the router. I was suprised to read that your ISP didn't value you as a customer & thus GIVE you the upgraded router as a way of saying thanks for your business. I'm sad to read that your ISP options were limited. I like Netgear, because the few items of their I have used over the years have all been reliable. Belkin I find is a middle quality aftermarket company that carries a wide variety of electronics. Everything from mobile phone accessories to PC parts. I would not say that their products are bad by any means, only that they are not providers of excellent products either. At least from my experience. I'm sure others will agree/disagree with me.

To answer your question who is top dog, is a hard one. What one "official reviewer" says is excellent, another will say is crap. The same for us end users. For example, Some people swear by D-Link routers, while others say they are total junk. There is a new high-end D-Link router in our household & it's extremely fast with a huge range of security features & other options. So far, it's been great. It did overheat once & so needed to be restarted, but that was my fault & so since then, there have been no issues. Bottom line, everyone here will have a different opinion, so in light of that, it's hard to "answer" your question in a manner that will satisfy you.

As for your question about the data transfer rate of your router being up to 130Mbps & if that was good enough, that is entirely up to you. Of course a greater amount of Data being transfered is IMO, always a good thing, but you may find that your current setup works just fine. Of course you know to keep in mind that even if you had the best router with the fastest ISP, that alone will not guarentee that you will "always" have peak performance with the lowest ping. Again, I am not sure what you consider to be good & what you consider to be bad.

Is there a reason why you don't want to upgrade to a faster router? Whats your current upload & download speeds? I have the "fastest" DSL that is available in my area, which is 6mbit down & 756kb up. Via my D-Link DIR-655 router, 650Kbps is a common speed for me to have when downloading files over wireless or surfing the web. However, I have moved along at a crawl as well depending on the sites I visited. Then again my router transfers up to 300Mbps.

Have you thought about perhaps daisy-chaining a switch to your router which would bypass your wired connection altogether? That way, you would not have to worry about loss of signal or an outside "interference" causing you to have poor or lower wireless connectivity.

Sorry for rambling on & not really saying anything. :eek:

-MRG
 
Heh, no it's very helpful hearing all the possibilities open to me, and giving them some serious consideration.

I'm pretty content with the speed the router is providing currently, as it's hardwired to my PC in the time being (as the other two computers aren't being used this week). It's proven to be reliable connected via ethernet and when connected wireless on 54g. (However gaming became an issue frequently). I'd rather not invest any further in this avenue as I've already spent quite a lot D:

You recommended a switch also, which I know nothing about or how they are used. Perhaps you could fit it into the equation of my home network. 2 computers on my ground floor right next to each other (media PC and work PC). 1st floor my gaming PC, 2nd floor my sister's PC wirelessly connected.

The two computers on the ground floor need to be hardwired really, so signals don't drop out on the wireless (as they are used for work), thus more important than my PC really. My sister's PC is fine, however mine will be more demanding hence need for the N draft adapter. Do you think a switch could help me here? What would it do?
 
Hectic Glenn said:
You recommended a switch also, which I know nothing about or how they are used. Perhaps you could fit it into the equation of my home network. 2 computers on my ground floor right next to each other (media PC and work PC). 1st floor my gaming PC, 2nd floor my sister's PC wirelessly connected.

The two computers on the ground floor need to be hardwired really, so signals don't drop out on the wireless (as they are used for work), thus more important than my PC really. My sister's PC is fine, however mine will be more demanding hence need for the N draft adapter. Do you think a switch could help me here? What would it do?
Click to expand...

Ok, before I get myself in over my head, please remember that I am no Networking Guru & so some of what I say may not be a technical fact, instead it is coming from my own experiences.

What I meant about daisy-chaining a switch to your rounter, was that if your router had say 4 ports in the back, but you wanted or needed more ports, for say extra computers, or game consoles, you could then simply connect a switch to one of the router ports in the back to thus give you extra ports. Kinda the same principle as a USB hub. A device that plugged into a free USB port in the back (or front or side) of your computer, that then enabled 4 or more USB devices to be connected. You could even add a switch to a wireless adapter so you could have an internet access point for a device to plug into almost anywhere in your house or even outside, though this of course would be redundant as you could simply connect a wireless device via a USB port. I only mention this because a client of mine had an old PC out in his garage/workshed that had alot of machinery & so having a wireless connection would be a poor choice as the signal was always getting interupted. I simply added a switch to his router (to add more ports) & then ran a length of Cat5 between the switch & his old PC, which I also set up to be used as a online music playing device, which would have worked better with a wired connection over a wireless.

Hectic Glenn said:
The two computers on the ground floor need to be hardwired really, so signals don't drop out on the wireless (as they are used for work), thus more important than my PC really. My sister's PC is fine, however mine will be more demanding hence need for the N draft adapter. Do you think a switch could help me here? What would it do?
Click to expand...

Provided there were not alot of other devices connected & all using up bandwidth, connected to a switch would eliminate any problems a wireless signal may encounter. You would have a dedicated connection @ a stable speed.

Keep in mind that any electronic device between the wireless router & the PC/PDA/Console, can cause poor connection speeds. Even on/with a fast ISP & Wireless router. Electronic devices like microwave ovens (Older ones are really bad) or some entertainment systems, ( more so with ones that are wireless themselves) even fridges can cause connection problems. It all depends on what is in between the device & the wireless router.

Don't laugh, but you could even boost your signal with a tinfoil Deflector. Ok.. ok stop laughing, you really can. Click on the below link to get an idea as to what I mean. I have had need from time to time to use it on a clients setup over the years & it did wonders each time.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqnHz75dmQY

-MRG
 
Bumppppage

Just to let you know MRG, I had to put this on hold but today I got my new wireless N draft device! I've successfully moved my router downstairs to work with the other two computers and I'm wireless again upstairs running on N draft. The speeds are fantastic, can't believe it's working so well. But you may ask, what did I buy?
MRG said:
A few units with good reviews.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164029 - 4 THOUSAND foot range!!
-MRG
Click to expand...
I actually bought this, it costs a little bit more but wow it does the job well! I contacted Hawking who provided me with some etailers, and the HWDN2 isn't available here, just the HWDN1 so I just went for it. So many thanks for your help, I'm getting 'Very Good' on my connection strength, and 20 or so pings for TF2. Perfect :)
 
You didn't consdier LAN over power cable adapters? A friend of mine swears by them, more reliable than wlan.
 
EOP is very expensive too, and I've heard about reliability issues, especially with older wiring. It wasn't a risk I was willing to take.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

PimpinPenguin
Vista no longer recognizes my wireless network
Replies
4
Views
436
Combine_Advisor
Combine_Advisor
elrasho
Need advice on wireless setup
Replies
5
Views
539
3ssence
3ssence
Crispy
Me modem newb. You tech guru. Together we make internet love!
Replies
4
Views
645
Solaris
Solaris
MRG
MRG's Guide To PC Updates & Drivers
Replies
4
Views
2K
Asus
Asus
the_lone_wolf
AAArgh BSOD!!!
Replies
4
Views
593
the_lone_wolf
the_lone_wolf
Back
Top