cakefan

Quick question, I wanna pull the trigger and purchase a wireless router for my network and get the netgear 29.99 wireless cf card from compusa for my axim but i have a question. I have a Linksys router now with a 4 port switch. I have 4 computers connected to it sharing my cable modem. When i went to purchase on compusa.com i found that there are two things to choose from for the same price. A 2.4ghz 11mps wireless router with 4 port switch or a 2.4ghz 11Mbps wireless access point. Which one do i need? All i want to do is get my axim running wirelessly and maybe add a PCMIA wireless card for my laptop down the line.

Thanks for any help you can give me,
Jason

03axim

2.4ghz 11mps wireless router with 4 port switch would replace your existing linksys router. It is basically an all in one. I would buy this one so you don't have multiple boxes and wires laying around.

The other is strictly to add on wireless access to your current network setup.

hypnotoad

I would suggest getting the router also. Like you said, they're the same price... Then you'd have a spare router lying around if you needed it and you wouldn't have so much equipment wired together...

hypnotoad

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turtlethegreat

I picked up the CompUSA $29.99 internet special wireless router last week. I have 3 pc's hooked up to it now and when someone comes over 4. The router came with a wireless access point as well which I'm using for my axim. Last night I had 4 pc's and the axim all using the net at the same time and actually didn't have a bandwidth problem I was predicting. All four pc's were playing MOH online and the axim was being used by a buddy's wife while the guys played. She said it worked fine, even found streaming video was surprisingly clear.
I was using a Belkin router before I bought the wireless. Now at the next LAN party, I'm going to use it to add 3 more computers to the network instead of getting rid of it. Always good to have extra stuff laying around.
Hope this helps

smeg36

Ok, I am new to the whole high speed stuff, and I want to get a WIFI card for my Axim and laptop. Do I just get a wireless access point, and the cf and pcmcia cards, then hook up the access point to my existing cable modem, or does the wireless access point replace my cable modem? Thanks for any help.

silentknight

the access point will not replace your modem..

an access point is not even really required
all you need is a wireless on your main PC
and one on your PDA, this is called Ad-Hoc..
peer to peer...

With this setup, your internet is shared through
your main pc... to the wireless network..

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stevenrp

No. You will need the wireless router not the access point. The cable modem would then plug into the router.
The reason you need a router is that the cable modem only receives one IP address from the internet provider. And you need an address for each pc that you want to connect to the internet with. Using a router, the router receives that IP address and then the router itself hands out it's own IP addresses to your pc's. An access point is simply that, just an access point, a way into a network. It doesn't assign addresses.

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smeg36

Thanks, your my silentknight in shining armor. You always seem to help me out when I have a question. Thaniks again. (I am a guy by the way, I just though it was a good pun.)

DennisFranz

Cakefan;
Get the wired 4 port unit as well. You won't belive the toys you can get and may need the ports. XBox uses broadband that takes up a port as well. You can get print servers for cheap that use a port if you have yours and the kids PCs. Networked drives will come even further down in price that wll takes advantage of networkability etc....
Just like phone lines, I have an ethernet port in every room of my house, 3 Bedrooms, office (the computer room has the main network hardware), living room, kitchen, and dining room). I wired it for about $60.00. Yeah I will probably never use them all but it was so easy.
I am ready for the full networked entertainment center. TIVO where are your ethernet connections? I would love to watch TV via ethernet ;) Xbox anywhere in the house, play 1st person shooters on a LAN, large GB drives so all your family members can
store on it etc.. Overboard? Hell yeah, but I can and did...
:)

Quote:

Originally posted by smeg36 Ok, I am new to the whole high speed stuff, and I want to get a WIFI card for my Axim and laptop. Do I just get a wireless access point, and the cf and pcmcia cards, then hook up the access point to my existing cable modem, or does the wireless access point replace my cable modem? Thanks for any help.

You still need your modem to connect to your ISP. Think of the wireless access point (AP) as the wireless hub. Then all the wireless capable devices (clients) can communicate via the AP.
Your CF card in your Axim is the link to your PC for filesharing, activesyncing and internet access. PCMCIA cards are your notebook form factor links. USB and PCI WiFi card are for desktop units (athough the USB can also be used on the laptop).

DennisFranz

Oh, the difference between a 'wireless access point' and a router is that technically the access point is supposed to be a bridge between a network and a network of WiFi devices. A wireless AP is supposed to hook into a router since the router is to provice DHCP services.

I think most will agree that 'access points' have become somewhat of a marketing keyword now. I used to have an Apple AirPort which is an 'access point' but it had DHCP services.

Here is a better link I found than my stumbling for explaination:
Access point vs routers

cageyjames

WiFi routers seem to be cheaper than Accesspoints anyway... I paid $129 for a Dlink AP at work and only $30 for a Dlink Wireless Router at home....

drop

I asked this question on the other thread but couldn't get an answer:

I currently have a Netgear Cable router. I wonder if I can get a wireless router (the $29.99 CompUSA one, for example) and use a cable to link the two routers together.

I was going to get a Netgear Access Point. But it is hard to beat $29.99.

Thanks.

cageyjames

Why use two routers? Why not just replace the wired one with the wireless one?

DennisFranz

Quote:

Originally posted by drop I asked this question on the other thread but couldn't get an answer: I currently have a Netgear Cable router. I wonder if I can get a wireless router (the $29.99 CompUSA one, for example) and use a cable to link the two routers together. I was going to get a Netgear Access Point. But it is hard to beat $29.99. Thanks.

My old (eBay'd it) Apple AP was set up like that. I had it connected to a 5-port switch and the switch connected to a Linksys single port router then to the DSL modem. Chain of Fools.

I sold all that for the Linksys BEFW11S4 and loved my decision. I still have a Linksys 8-port switch for more ports.

furqana

but if he jus replaced the old router wouldnt he hafta go out and buy a wierless card for each one of his pc's?

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