Brand name doesn't particularly matter; Linksys, netgear, D-Link, and other
popular brands behave about the same for comparable equipment...
First, you need a combination wired/wireless router. that will save you from
having to wire up a separate Wirwless Access Point (WAP).
Second, you should go with the "Wireless G" (IEEE 802.11g spec) router. The G
standard is backward compatible with Wireless B, and runs much faster (54 Mbps
max, vs 11 Mbps for the B) and more reliably. So, you will get good performance
for home network tasks, and ability to use wireless access areas at airports,
coffee shops, etc with your laptop.
Third, you should buy all your network gear from the same manufacturer. If you
go with D-Link, buy ALL the cards you need -- especially wireless -- from
D-Link. You may even find a "network starter kit" that has all you need in one
box. Wireless compatibility is often better when using the same manufacturer,
according to the several comparative reviews I've read.
Fourth, you can buy the latest versions with "x2" or "Speedbooster" wireless
technology, but only if you want to spend the extra $$. The new hardware and
firmware may be more reliable, in addition to the higher wireless connection
speeds (which are only important when transferring large/many files between
computers). However, the basic Wireless G system is plenty for simple Internet
access.
Finally, setup with Win XP or 2000 should be straightforward, and with Win98
only a bit less so. I would not try wireless with anything older than Win98,
though the wired connection should work fine. You may have to do a bit of
configuring to set up the wireless security portion in the router for the home
network, but DO NOT OMIT that step! Security is often turned off by default,
but you should at least enable the WEP security portion. Just remember to write
down the security passphrase or code so you can enter the same in your wireless
card in the laptop.
I wish to purchase a new wireless router to connect two (possibly three)
desktops & IBM laptop computers in my home network. My current hardware is older
MS equipment, which is difficult to set up when making changes to my system. The
XP wizard just doesn't seem to be able to make the connections correctly. I end
up having to call tech support and go through many changes to get things back on
track. Has network hardware gotten easier to set up in the past couple of years?
Does anyone have success with setting up the D-Link router equipment by
themselves? I presume I'd need a wireless adapter card for the laptop, plus the
router and Ethernet cable(s) for connecting one (or two) desktop computers?
While researching the hardware, I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the choices, even
from the same manufacturer.
