Help Buying Wireless Router

[Erman_94]

Hey guys, im getting wireless internet to go online with bd live and play ps3 online...just a few things i need to ask first.

1) should i get a g router or n router?

2) what speed should i be looking for?

3) my cpu does not have a wireless card...can it be installed easily?


i know many of you on here are tech/computer savvy but i am not, so can you guys try and keep your answers simple for the uneducated like myself

thanks in advance!

[rpneuss]

First off, I don't have a wireless card in my PC and i'm hooked up wirelessly to my PS3. My Linksys router has wireless built in and it works great.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by rpneuss

First off, I don't have a wireless card in my PC and i'm hooked up wirelessly to my PS3. My Linksys router has wireless built in and it works great.

do all wireless routers have "wireless built in" like that or is it just certain models? if so...could you send a link to the one you have

[rpneuss]

For the record I have a G router. Got it from Wal-Mart.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by rpneuss

For the record I have a G router. Got it from Wal-Mart.

do you know the make/model?

[rpneuss]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3910279

Here you go bro. It works fine for me.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by rpneuss

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3910279

Here you go bro. It works fine for me.

thanks a lot...i always thought you had to have a wireless card

[rpneuss]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

thanks a lot...i always thought you had to have a wireless card

I think you only need a wireless card if you don't want to buy a router that has one built in. Maybe people already had a card in their computer and already had a router without wireless so it would be easier that way. I don't know anybody that doesn't just have a wireless router nowdays though. Its super easy if I can set it up. If you're gonna use a laptop it will need a wireless card in it however.

[Tru2theBlu]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

Hey guys, im getting wireless internet to go online with bd live and play ps3 online...just a few things i need to ask first.

1) should i get a g router or n router?

2) what speed should i be looking for?

3) my cpu does not have a wireless card...can it be installed easily?


i know many of you on here are tech/computer savvy but i am not, so can you guys try and keep your answers simple for the uneducated like myself

thanks in advance!

I do the same things that you do, so:

1) Get a Linksys N router, here. I own it, and its awesome. VERY fast internet! I am at my in-laws house right now, and there is a big difference. (they own a netgear G)

2) Not Sure

3)Yes, just don't buy one from BB, get your stuff from Amazon.

[9Nails]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

Hey guys, im getting wireless internet to go online with bd live and play ps3 online...just a few things i need to ask first.

1) should i get a g router or n router?

2) what speed should i be looking for?

3) my cpu does not have a wireless card...can it be installed easily?


i know many of you on here are tech/computer savvy but i am not, so can you guys try and keep your answers simple for the uneducated like myself

thanks in advance!

Get a Wireless N router if:
1) You will have a distance over 100 feet or more than 3 interior walls between you and the access point.

2) You will need to transfer large amounts of data between your networked devices regularly. (DVD's, etc)

3) Have excess Holiday cash to spend.

Or get a Wireless B/G router if:
1) Price is a consideration.

2) Distance will be minimal (under 100 feet with very few interior walls between you and the access point.)

3) You're primary connection will be to get information from the Internet, and you won't need to transfer large files (photo's & music are considered as tiny files) regularly between your home networked computers.

If speed is a concern, consider a wired network and not using wireless. (You should plan to take advantage of some of the wired ports on your new router for both security and performance.) Wireless networks can only send or receive data, but not both simultaneously. Keep the total number of wireless devices below 5 for a fairly fast network. Maximum devices on your wireless network should be kept below 20. Wireless networks also share the speed with all other devices connected, and can be interfered with by other devices that transmit in the frequency ranges. (Fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc...) And the slowest device connected in a B/G network determines the speed. Your Internet will most likely be the slowest point on your network so a minimum of 802.11 G will give you more than enough speed for your devices.

It's fairly trivial to install a wireless card in a CPU if your computer is Windows 2000 or newer. The process consists of turning the power off, removing a few screws, installing the card, putting the screws back in, turning it on, and installing the CD-Rom drivers. But it's more involved to connect that network card to a wireless network. And it can be confusing to properly secure your wireless network. For this you might want to ask for more help if the supplied documentation doesn't appear to be enough.

Some product recommendations:
Router (B/G speed) - Linksys WRT54G
This is the most popular router of them all, and for a good reason - it's reliable and a good performer at a good price.

Router (B/G/N speed) - Linksys WRT600N
'N' speed routers really haven't taken hold due to their higher prices. But this router works well if price isn't such a consideration.

CPU Adapter (B/G speed) - Linksys WUSB54G
You can get any adapter, but I like these since they are USB external adapters and can be easily installed or moved to another computer.

CPU Adapter (B/G/N speed) - Linksys WUSB300N-BP
Similar to above, but works at 'N' speeds. It's probably best just to get one of these since they're a few dollars more than the one above and then you're 'N' ready if you upgrade your router when their prices come down.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by 9Nails

Get a Wireless N router if:
1) You will have a distance over 100 feet or more than 3 interior walls between you and the access point.

2) You will need to transfer large amounts of data between your networked devices regularly. (DVD's, etc)

3) Have excess Holiday cash to spend.

Or get a Wireless B/G router if:
1) Price is a consideration.

2) Distance will be minimal (under 100 feet with very few interior walls between you and the access point.)

3) You're primary connection will be to get information from the Internet, and you won't need to transfer large files (photo's & music are considered as tiny files) regularly between your home networked computers.

If speed is a concern, consider a wired network and not using wireless. (You should plan to take advantage of some of the wired ports on your new router for both security and performance.) Wireless networks can only send or receive data, but not both simultaneously. Keep the total number of wireless devices below 5 for a fairly fast network. Maximum devices on your wireless network should be kept below 20. Wireless networks also share the speed with all other devices connected, and can be interfered with by other devices that transmit in the frequency ranges. (Fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc...) And the slowest device connected in a B/G network determines the speed. Your Internet will most likely be the slowest point on your network so a minimum of 802.11 G will give you more than enough speed for your devices.

It's fairly trivial to install a wireless card in a CPU. The process consists of turning the power off, removing a few screws, installing the card, putting the screws back in, turning it on, and installing the CD-Rom drivers. But it's more involved to connect that network card to a wireless network. And it can be confusing to properly secure your wireless network. For this you might want to ask for more help if the supplied documentation doesn't appear to be enough.

thanks for the detailed response...is it necessary to get a wireless card or is it possible without one like mentioned above by one user?

also, does the wireless card come with the router? if not, should you buy the same make?

[El Negro]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

do all wireless routers have "wireless built in" like that or is it just certain models? if so...could you send a link to the one you have

If it's a 'wireless Router' then yes it does have 'wireless built in'. I recommend you get a N router http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....c=abcat0500000

If you want to use your desktop wireless then you need to get a wireless adapter for it aswell.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....c=abcat0500000

If you have a 40GB PS3 then it should have the built in wireless.

[Krudy]

Originally Posted by rpneuss

First off, I don't have a wireless card in my PC and i'm hooked up wirelessly to my PS3. My Linksys router has wireless built in and it works great.

Wow. I'm almost speechless to this comment. No offense, but if you don't really know what you're talking about, don't help. You'll only confuse people. Routers don't have "wireless built in". It's either a wireless router, or a wired router.



To the original poster. The PS3 has a wireless card built into it already. Think of the PS3 as a PC on its own. The 'N' routers seem to be expensive and probably unnecessary. You'll be fine with a 'G' router. A lot of people like Linksys routers, but I've had some trouble with them as of late. I like D-link routers. You can find a relatively cheap one here

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833127220


If you want to put your PC on the wireless network, you will need to buy a wireless network card (assuming your computer does not already have one, and if it's a desktop PC, I doubt that it does). You can get a wireless network card at the same site as posted above.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

[El Negro]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

thanks for the detailed response...is it necessary to get a wireless card or is it possible without one like mentioned above by one user?

also, does the wireless card come with the router? if not, should you buy the same make?

If your PS3 and computer are close to your Router then no you do not need to go wireless, all you would need is a network cable for the PS3 and your computer to connect to the Router.

You do not need to same make for Router and wireless adapter but i would recommend that you do.