Which WiFi access point ?

[UScharlie]

I've just placed an order for a Buffalo Flat PCMICA Wifi card for my netBook. Obviously its 802.11b/Lucent Hermes chipset construction so should work with any Wifi WAP.

However does anyone have any recommendations for a suitable WAP?.

My set up is XP home & Cable modem.


Thanks

[diem]

I have had good experiences of the D-Link products in terms of range, compatibility and WEP, specifically the DI-614+

[UScharlie]

Thanks for the feedback

[jezza]

I can also vouch for Dlink. Additionally their access points support higher access speeds like 802.11b (22Mbit rather than 11Mbit) simultaneously.

I use the Buffalo card with the Psion and a Dlink Airplus DWL-650+ with my Laptop. The laptop benefits from the higher access speed but the buffalo is sufficient for psion.

My desktop PC is also hooked up to the 614+ using a wired ethernet connection.

BTW there's quite a difference between the speed of connection on wired and wireless, even on the Psion. If you are moving big files I find it best to take the wired route. At least the 614+ gives you this option.

I believe Dlink are replacing the 614+ soon and replacing it with a tri-mode model also cable of 54 MBit speeds...

[UScharlie]

Thanks for the comments,

I've just ordered the D-Link DI-614+ for US$50 and should be with me in a week or so.

Hopefully I won't have any set-up issues and I'll be wifi-ing with my Buffalo/NetBook in no time.

Thanks

CJB:D

[UScharlie]

Just to report back that my Buffalo/nB and DLink router works a treat. No set up problems - default settings on the router and wifi card. However, not attempted the WEP yet !

CJB

[MartinG]

I'd be very interested to hear if you get the WEP working okay. I haven't bought an access point for home use yet but I want to make sure that the WEP works okay with whichever one I get. Obviously, I could buy the Buffalo AP and it'd be guaranteed to work with the Buffalo PCMCIA card I already have. But if there are cheaper ones available which also work then cool... (I understand that WEP interoperability - whilst supposed to work between different brands - doesn't always).

Can I ask where you bought it?

Thanks,
Martin

[jezza]

I can confirm that 128bit WEP works fine for me with Buffalo slimline wireless card and D-link 614+

[MartinG]

Many thanks. :)

Can I ask where you're buing them for $50? Dabs.com are quoting £92.82+P&P which is more expensive than a Buffalo one (£76.37)...! :rolleyes:

Martin

[UScharlie]

Martin,

I've not attempted 128bit WEP yet - I'll let you know how I get on.

On the issue of pricing - have a look at www.ibuyer.net and search under 'D-LInk DI-614+', etc - whilst all the retailers listed are US based - some seem to ship worldwide. You may be able to beat dabs.com pricing. BTW the PSU's may well be 60Hz 110v - but these can easily be replaced for the UK voltage.

Cheers

CJB

[cshandley]

I just want to thank people for reporting that the Buffalo AirStation card works well, and where to get it cheap, since I have just recieved mine from Dabs for £40.

I don't actually need wireless yet, but I can imagine it'd be realy useful in the future, and by then cards like the Buffalo may be tricky to get.
---
Chris Handley

[UScharlie]

Just to confirm, and as reported by Jezza, the buffalo & Dlink 614+ combination with 128bit WEP works flawlessly. I've not noticed any reduction in speed either !

CJB

[cshandley]

Can anyone tell me where I might get a cheap access point ot go with my Buffalo card?

The ones in PC World were something like 100 - 150 british pounds last time I looked. If I could get one cheaper (that $50 one sounds nice:) I could justify getting one sooner than later.

[MartinG]

Hi Chris,

Good question and one I've been pondering myself for a few weeks. I got the card for my nB primarily for external hotspot use (I travel through airports a lot) but if I can find something cheap enough, I figure I might set up something at home too. My critical criteria (apart from price) is WEP compatibility. I don't want anyone being able to (easily) hack into my machine!

I'd prefer to buy one in the UK if poss. and so I've been scouring Dabs, Expansys, and others. Dabs seems consistently cheapest and actually sell the Buffalo AirStation Wireless Bridge 10/100 LAN 128 WEP (WLA-L11G) for £76.37 inc. VAT.

However, since it'll almost certainly just be used between 2 machines, I guess it'd be easier and cheaper to use a peer-to-peer (aka. ad hoc) connection at home. That being the case, Dabs also sell the Buffalo AirStation Wireless USB (WLI-USB-L11G-3) for just £37.59. Since both are the same make as my PCMCIA card, I assume full WEP compatibility.

Does anyone have any good reasons why a peer-to-peer system like this isn't a good idea please?

Thanks,
Martin

[diem]

Originally posted by MartinG
Does anyone have any good reasons why a peer-to-peer system like this isn't a good idea please?
IIRC, WEP is not supported in a peer-to-peer setup. Also, because of the smaller aerials, you'll probably not get as good range. So not showstopper reasons, but I'd go for an AP setup if you can run to the extra cost.

[MartinG]

Ah - thanks for the feedback. WEP is a must-have for me. There's no way I'm going to leave my PC wide-open to anyone who happens to be passing!

An AP it is then... ;)

Thanks again,
Martin

[ktkawabe]

Hi diem and Martin,

You can use WEP in ad hoc (peer-to-peer) network, and my netBook is connected to my PC using ad hoc mode with WEP. I tried to find something to support this, but the only thing I was able to find was this Microsoft article:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/bowman/02april08.asp

The newer encryption scheme called WPA doesn't work in ad hoc mode, though. (But we cannot use WPA on netBook anyway.)

Best regards,
Keita

[diem]

Thanks Keita,

I stand well and truly corrected :rolleyes: Sorry to have misinformed you Martin..

[MartinG]

Another dumb question...

Will peer-to-peer support an Internet connection. In other words; if my desktop is connected to the internet and my netbook is connected to my desktop via a peer-to-peer connection (as opposed to an Access Point), can I access the Internet on my nB?

:confused:

TIA,
Martin

[PlutoPants]

Peer to peer - I think it depends upon whether you have a shared internet connection set up on your main computer (WinME+ have the facility). Having recently gone ADSL, I found that certain ADSL modems and ISPs would not work with certain access points due to only ONE IP address being allowed. A capable router seems to solve this problem. Whatever, ONE device needs to 'hide' other device's IP addresses from single IP accounts so that a network can use the connection.
I share this because I and lots of other WIFi setter-uppers have spent money on stuff that does not work as theory would say. Hope it's of some use.:)

[ktkawabe]

Hi Martin,

I supporto PlutoPants. The answer is yes. Semi-graphical representations :)
of typical setup should look like these:

internet -- modem -- router -- PC ~~~~ netBook

internet -- modem -- PC ~~~~ netBook

"modem" is either ADSL modem or analog 56k modem. It doesn't matter.
"--" represents the wired connection, while "~~~" indicates the wireless peer-to-peer connection.

In both of the configurations, PC should support the capability of sharing internet connection as PlutoPants pointed out. How to do this depends on the operating system on your PC.

The issue of some ISPs with ADSL modem and some APs is a different topic, and probably you have to think about that when you buy accesspoint. I think what PlutoPants says is that sometimes this doesn't work:

internet
|
modem
|
AP=== PC
||===netBook

where "==" and "||" represents the normal (not an ad-hoc) wireless connection.

Cheers,
Keita

[MartinG]

Many thanks for your replies gents. Since I'm using Win XP at home, it'll easily cope with sharing the internet connection. So you've just saved me a bunch of money as buying another card for a peer-to-peer connection is significantly cheaper than buying an AP! :D

Thanks again,
Martin