Wired & Wireless router

I currently have 3 desktop computers connected to a wired Linksys router. I've never owned a laptop, but the old man wants one so will pick one up some time this month. But I'm very confused about my networking options. I have read some on this forum but having no real prior knowledge a lot of it doesn't always make sense. If I can ask a few questions specific to my situation I would greatly appreciate some help.

1. Can I buy a wireless router (for the laptop) and connect that to my wired router? Will that work without causing conflicts? Would that be my easiest option?

2. Is it better to get rid of the wired router and buy a wireless router that also has wired connections (assuming there is such a thing)? Or do I need to buy wireless adapters for my desktops?

3. Will going with either option 1 or 2 slow down my current internet speed? I'm an occasional online gamer and if the old man gets a laptop which only serves to slow down my gaming I won't be a happy old lady.

4. I hear talk about draft N...is that what I should get in his laptop or is it still too iffy a thing? I read a review of the D-Link DIR-655 and that sounded pretty good, speed wise.

Really appreciate guidance....GG

 

1. If your router does not have Wireless, you can add a AP to it, Or replace the router with a wireless one. I use a AP in my network. It allows you more flexability than a wireless router. And Preform better than the wireless routers.

You still want your PC connected by wire if at all possiable. No need to add wireless to your desktops, unless you need to relocate it.

Wireless connections are slower than wired.

11n is still draft and will be so for ~9-12 mo longer. Unless you like being a beta tester shy away. There are lot of driver issues with 11n.

Just adding a AP will fill your needs if you have a spare lan port on your router. If not replace the router with a 11g router.

 

I do have one unused port on my wired router (Linksys BEFSR41). So you're saying I can plug in an AP (I assume with a CAT cable?) and then the laptop will be able to connect to the internet without disrupting my existing setup? Is an "Access Point" (which I assume is what you mean by AP) the same thing as a wireless router that I just configure to be used as an access point or is it a separate entity of its own? Any links you can share of an AP that would work with the BEFSR41? Should I stick with Linksys for compatibility purposes? Lastly (I do apologize for the barrage), would my old man be able to log onto the internet from another room in the house...he doesn't need to be in my office but can be, say, upstairs?

I really like the idea of not disturbing my current setup, especially as I use one machine for work purposes. Greatly appreciate your help, blue.....GG

 

Option 2 would work. Replace your wired router with a wireless router. Wireless Access Points are more expensive and harder to find than Wireless Routers because there's less demand for them.

 

Spoon, money is not really an object right now as much as ease. I really don't like the idea of disturbing my current networking setup if I don't need to (and I really would hate wireless slowing down both my work connection, where I use the internet to transfer files regularly, and my personal computer's online gaming connection) but would do so if that was my only choice.

 

Your one wireless laptop won't slow down the other wired computers. The reason I recomend a wireless router is because your current router (if I recall the model correctly) is pretty outdated. A new wireless router will have newer hrdware, more features, and better security. However, if you insist on keeping the old router and just adding an access point, then I would suggest a Linksys Wireless Access Point.

 

Spoon, if I got a new wireless router, I could plug in my 3 desktop's ethernet cables into it so it would actually be used as a wired router, with no speed hit, am I understanding that correctly? I don't need any kind of adapters in my desktop? And my husband's laptop (I'm researching those now in the other forum categories) would just be able to log on easily since it will have a wireless card already in it. Do all wireless routers so this or do I need to look for a special wireless router that handles both? This also sounds very easy to do, just moving plugs! And better security would be a definite plus; I was concerned about moving to a wireless router, as well, just because of that.

 

You're spot on. Everything will work just like the old router.

I forgot to mention one more benefit of getting a wireless router instead of a wireless access point. If you ever run out of LAN(wired) ports, and it looks you're already using 3/4 ports, you can use your old Linksys Router as a switch. This will give you 3 more extra ports for future use. (one is used to plug the old router to the new router)

 

Oh boy, oh boy, this sounds just perfect. I just read a review of the D-Link DIR-655 in PC Magazine, and that looks to be just the thing. Once I finalize which laptop I'm going to buy him, I'll order the router, too. You've really eased my mind. It's really not very well advertised at all that one can use a wireless router as essentially a wired router in addition to its wireless capabilities. Very thankful for your steering me in the right direction as I know variations of this question get asked all the time, even though I might not have understood the answers. This old lady thanks you.

 

The updated router will be an improvement over your current one. Most users like combo units (wireless routers), I personally do not. All of my equipment is seperate. The main reason is Stand alone AP out perform combo units.

Depending on you new laptop you may want to consider a 11n DRAFT router. Being draft they are buggy and is constant changing. Some of the new v2.0 draft hardware is starting to hit the market now. A huge improvement over its v1 models. I normally don't recommend DRAFT spec hardware, due to all of the firmware bugs. You will be dealing with both router and laptop drivers and firmware

No mater which way you go, if you have problems connecting remotely, you may need to upgrade the low gain antennas that come on most units. Don't tuck in a shelf and hide it, you want it in the clear for best performance. This is where the Stand alone AP beat combo units. They have better antennas (5+dbi vs 2dbi), do not share CPU and RAM. It just acts like another user on the router. AP run HOT, all of this heat can cause problems. What money you saved on the routers you end up spending for upgraded antenna.

 

Looks like while both solutions will work for me, it's a matter of deciding which is the better answer for my purposes.

1. Wired Speed Performance: Right now, with my old Linksys wired router, I'm satisfied with performance (while faster is always better, I'm satisfied with it as is). If I added an AP to this for his wireless access, it won't affect *my* speed as it currently is, right? Everything works as it always has for my wired computers? And what about his laptop? Would it be on a par with my wired computers or would the wireless aspect slow it down just a tad?

2. Wireless Speed Performance: If I swapped out my wired router to go with this new combo router--without comparing numbers--will my internet speed be about the same as it was with my old wired router or will it possibly be slower due to whatever inherent limitations wireless has and/or the low-gain antennas? Or would it even possibly be faster due to the newer technology?

3. AP: You state the AP runs hot and might cause problems. Would the problems specifically be related only to laptop connectivity?

4. Draft N Router: The combo router I was considering buying was the new D-Link DIR-655. The laptop I was looking at for my husband (thinking about the Lenovo T61) has an Intel Wireless 4965AGN. If there are problems with this Draft N since it's not a standard, again, would the problems be related only between it and the laptop and would my wired ethernet machines be fine and dandy no matter what? If Draft N is a problem with the laptop, can one specify connecting via the "G" standard, which is more stable?

Would appreciate any elaboration on any of the points brought up. Greatly appreciate your insight and sharing your experience.

Edit: It appears after a quick look at pricing that an Access Point (Linksys) is approximately around the same price as the D-Link combo router, so pricing really is not a consideration. Just looking for the easiest, simplest, and least disruptive solution.

 

1. Yes, All wired will not change. Wireless is slower than wired but is faster than your ISP connection.

2. Your internet speed will not change. The thing that comes into play is wireless is slower if you are transfering large files between computer. Mainly due to port speed difference. ISP is 5mbps where a std 100BaseT is 100mbps.

3 When routers start over heating all hardware is affected. Most never have a problem. The ones that do are running BitTolerent and are running under max all the time.

4. The 11n problem only affects 11n users or other wireless users. Yes. Dropping back to a 11g std using the 11n hardware corrects most of the problems.

It is not recommended to play first person games over a wireless connection due to lag.

One thing I do not think I mentioned was, with a AP you can move at around easier. It is not tied down with all of the wires related to a router. Like my setup. I have all my computer gear in one room. I have my AP on the other side of the house. I only needed to run a single cat5e wire like you would any pc. But I have the best signal possiable where I use my notebook at. My AP is powerful enough to cover my whole house on low power. I do not see the need to running it at max and impact my neighbors. And if I want to upgrade it all I have to do is replace the AP, not my router, which by the way is not wireless.

From all of the Info I have read, the soncences is that 11n hardware that will run draft 2.0 should work with the final spec. That can not be said for some of the 1.0 spec hardware. 11n spec is suppose to have greater range and speed. But most of the testing indicate that the distance is the same, but the speed is greater. This all changes with ever new release of firmware. AP have other functions too. So later on if you decide to replace your router, you could reuse the AP to connect another pc or PS (play station). They can also be used to tie to seperate networks together using a bridge, requires 2 AP for this. Or you could move it to another part of the house and have better coverage.

You did not mention that you had more than just the one notebook that is going connect. Sos the speed will not change. All wireless users share the same bandwidth. So once you add more that 2-4 users the wireless speed start dropping off.

 

Blue68f100, thanks for your detailed help. There will only be one notebook connecting via wireless; and although both options will, indeed, work for me, I think using the AP is just the least problematic at this point in my life, so I will order one over the next few days. I looked at Linksys, since I thought it best to stick with the same brand as my router. They list a few models for wireless G: WAP200 with power over ethernet (don't know what that is) and range booster, WAP 54G, WAP 54GP with power over ethernet. I guess any of these would work for me?

Once I get this AP (and the laptop, of course), all I need to buy would be a CAT5 cable to attach the AP to the router and then configure software and I'll be done?

 

The bottom line is your wireless speed is way faster than the speed your ISP provides you (Exception: if you have internet speeds greater than 15Mbps). Real world speeds for 54g is about 12-18Mbps. I would stay with 54G because of the many different standards and all the hardware incompatibilities. Furthermore, you won't benefit from 11n if all you're doing is surfing the web.

Power over ethernet means the access point doesn't require a power source. It's powered by the ethernet cable. This is useful when you need to place the access point where there isn't a power source.

 

The linksys WAP54G and WPA54GS (Speed boost). The GS is an 108mbps speed boost, require a compatiable card. Either one will work for you. I think they include a cat5e.

 

You guys have been a tremendous help; I can't thank you enough. I will be ordering the WAP54G. After I decide on a laptop to get him and it comes in, I may well be back if I need help with configuring security but hopefully it will come with enough information so I can figure it out. Again, appreciate your expertise.