techie tsikoteers, need your help- setting up a wireless home network

[ian_rex]

dear all, i am in the process of planning how to setup my home network on my house. i'm in the market of buying a wireless WiFi router. however, apart from the WiFi router, and the pc, a DSL and or a broadband internet connection, what else do i need? do i need a still need a DSL modem?

also, i'm soliciting your review about this model, wireless router of Linksys WRT54GC WiFi G router.

your inputs will be very much appreciated.

thank you

[paulp]

If you are referring to the modem installed by the telco, yes you still need that. You connect the internet port of your linksys to the ethernet port of the telco's modem. Set the internet port of your linksys to either DHCP, static or PPPoE. Setting will depend on your broadband provider.
If for personal use, try to read some basic tips on securing your wireless lan (hiding ssid, using keys etc). Baka makalibre ng internet ang neighbor mo.
Hope this helps.

[Chip]

Yes you would still need a DSL modem as paulp said. But that shouldnt pose a problem as this is already supplied by your DSL provider.

I'm not very sure about the exact model number but I did set up a LinkSys Wifi router sa bahay ni kumander and ok naman. It took a lot longer than expected though kasi nagloloko yung crypt key and SSID. Everything worked fine when I turned it off however. If your neighbors are not that close to you, maliit lang naman range ng router e, so theres no need to turn the security on unless you really want to.

Goodluck

[architect]

Your PC will need to be WiFi-ready as well. If not, you can add WiFi capability either via an add-on card or a USB adapter. Note that you will want an adapter with WiFi B/G features instead of just WiFi B.

For broadband, your ISP will typically provide the modem. However, the installer will usually just connect the modem to your stand-alone PC. Basically, connection goes from broadband source (wall) to modem to PC.

If you need to install the router yourself, then just follow the step-by-step procedure as outlined in the install CD that comes with the Linksys router. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to find the instructions well illustrated and explained.

For a comprehensive review of the WRT54GC router, check out http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.p...howpage&pid=12

The site also contains a lot of info on other Linksys models as well.

If your place has a lot of interior concrete walls, then you may want to consider the more standard WRT54G as it has a longer range. (Concrete blocks the signal.) Take note, though, there are several versions. But if you are not into modifying your router with third party after-market firmware upgrades, then you will do fine with the latest version. That is, assuming the router can cover your entire home. If not, then you may need a range expander (WRE54G). Alternately, you can may get a second router to use as a repeater, though not all models can function as one.

Lastly, depending on your security concerns, you may want to tweak the settings by accessing the admin screen (type http://192.168.1.1 on your browser).

Hope this helps.

[bilog]

just finished setting up mine. if you already have a broadband connection all you need is the wifi router. you will still need the modem that the telco provided when you subscribed to them. the modem is always supplied by the telco so you don't need to buy one. if you will use a laptop with no built in wireless connection just buy a wireless adapter. madali lang maginstall nun. kung desktop naman ang gagamitin mo meron na din nabibiling adapter para dun. i think the price of the adapter is 2k to 2.5k parahas lang pang laptop or desktop.

madali lang magsetup may kasama namang drivers kaya kayang kaya mo yan.

[oldblue]

dear all, i am in the process of planning how to setup my home network on my house. i'm in the market of buying a wireless WiFi router. however, apart from the WiFi router, and the pc, a DSL and or a broadband internet connection, what else do i need? do i need a still need a DSL modem?

also, i'm soliciting your review about this model, wireless router of Linksys WRT54GC WiFi G router.

your inputs will be very much appreciated.

thank you

we have the same model. I sucessfully connected this to my dad's laptop, my wife's pc with wifi lan card, and my mac notebook with airport extreme with so little effort.

modem will be supplied by provider.

so if you're using a PC, you'll need a WiFi Lan card with the same speed as your router. buy mo na lang linksys wifiG card na din para no compatibility issues.

kindly take note of WiFi speeds ha, meron kasi 802.11b saka 802.11g. yun 802.11b around 11mbps pero yun 802.11g around 54mbps na or five times faster. this is not really impt. sa dsl coz nasa kbps pa lang naman yan, pero if you're going to transfer large files, the 54mbps speed is recommended.

[ian_rex]

thanks. ok, the modem should have to be the one where i connect the utp cable from the transmitter, which in turn i connect it to my computer via lan card, correct? is the POE, different from a DSL modem?

kindly take note of WiFi speeds ha, meron kasi 802.11b saka 802.11g. yun 802.11b around 11mbps pero yun 802.11g around 54mbps na or five times faster. this is not really impt. sa dsl coz nasa kbps pa lang naman yan, pero if you're going to transfer large files, the 54mbps speed is recommended.

actually, i'm setting up a wired/wireless connection in my home. wired for my pc and wireless for my laptop. my laptop is 802.11 b/g capable. and used it on one occassion at a wireless zone in mall. hoping this would work.

post ko yung mga developments later.

thanks!

[laklak]

in my opinion any mainstream brand would do. I am using Netgear in our house (bought it for $29 in the states when i was there last year). I also configured my cousins wifi connection using an MSI wireless router. I also was able to use D-link for a few months. Basta reputable manufacturer ok na, why spend extra, basta maganda ang reviews pwede na.


Also minsan misleading ang mga review sites lalo na pag U.S. based, dahil karamihan sa mga yan inutil mag configure, kaya dinadaan na lang sa reklamo at negative reviews, claiming na di maganda ang product

[BeetOls]

sir try if you can get the WRT54GX, partner it with the GX card too for maximum range, especially if your wireless signal will have to go through a lot of walls. Range expander just doesn't cut it...very minimal improvement.

[architect]

The WRT54GX may be a better choice if it is pre-determined the WRT54G will not have sufficient range, given that the GX's price is more than double that of the G's.

However, the WRT54GX uses MIMO to enhance speed and range performance. MIMO is a non-standard performance-enhancement technology that doesn't solve WLAN problems caused by an already over-crowded 2.4GHz band. More importantly, it has minimal chances of being compatible with 802.11n (the next standard) and may therefore limit flexibility when upgrading or expanding.

That said, it really depends on how the network will be used and expanded in the future. If the objective is simply to have optimal range and speed without consideration for the future, then the GX may yet turn out to be the most logical choice. (Caveat: client side must use GX-based receivers for optimal range and speed. That means additional costs.)

[jedi]

I am also using the linksys wireles router, nasa 3rd floor sya and kahit nasa second floor ako smooth pa din connection ng laptop ko, PC ko is wired.

[icon]

would it be better to use a router instead of access point? esp with pldt installations where you can setup the modem to act as router for wired connectivity. better ba range ng wifi router than access points?
sa house kasi panay walls and cellphone signals are actually quite weak because of the concrete walls.

[radiazone]

router is already equipped with AP in one...

[oldblue]

thanks. ok, the modem should have to be the one where i connect the utp cable from the transmitter, which in turn i connect it to my computer via lan card, correct? is the POE, different from a DSL modem?




thanks!

yes the pldt modem (if you get pldt pero ganun din sa iba) comes with a utp cable. ideally, kapag nagpunta techs ng pldt sa inyo, ikakabit nila ito sa PC lan card mo. then they will configure in WinXP, PPOE connection (parang dial-up with user name and password).

The linksys router emulates that function: yun PPOE configuration sa WinXP. connect the supplied UTP cable of the modem to your internet port in the router. then provide another UTP cable and connect from any of the 4 ports of your router on one end and your PC LAN card on one end.

kapag all setup ka na, load IE then type 192.168.1.1. web-based config yan router. you can type the username & password there.

with your wireless laptop naman, just scan for a wireless network SSID. by default, linksys ang SSID. then kapag connected na sa tray icon mo, load IE and surf!

[Horsepower]

If you want maximum coverage and less dead spots, it's worthwhile to get the latest Linksys 300N (Wifi-N)

[ian_rex]

ok, i appreciate your inputs. however, i'm in a tight budget, that is why i chose WRT54G, and since my house is not that big, i figure, it would fit my need. as for the price, i checked the price of Netgear vs. D-Link vs. Linksys, i guess i could shed another 200 bucks. also, its the construction of the Linksys - its robust and sturdy.

all and still, i'll have to read more later.

just keep your comments coming, i really appreciate it.

[Jun aka Pekto]

router is already equipped with AP in one...

Yup. Most newer wireless routers are just that, a router and access point in one unit.

Speaking of wireless routers, I'm still using the long discontinued MS MN-500 802.11b base station on this pc and the MN-501 USB on my wife's pc. I use it strictly to give internet access for my wife's pc. It's done a superlative job during the past 3 years. I've been giving thought to replacing them with Linksys 802.11G components. But, even the 802.11b operates at a max of 11 Mbps while my cable broadband tops out at 4.55 Mbps. It looks like even fast broadband isn't enough to saturate 802.11b.

I'd like to see opinions from those Linksys users any significant speed boost with their internet going from Wifi B to Wifi G.

[architect]

*Jun,

The MS MN-500's 11 Mbps is the theoretical maximum speed at which 802.11b transmits. Actual speed is determined by several factors, including the distance between the AP and the client.

In the MS MN-500's case, it usually maxes out at 2.4 Mbps at a distance of 10 feet. At 100 feet, speed falls below 1.0 Mbps.

So depending on your set-up's intra-distance, your broadband's 4.55 Mbps maybe faster. If so, then you stand to gain by upgrading to 802.11g. Note though you have to pair an 802.11g AP with an 802.11g receiver to avail of the speed increase.

Hope this helps.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Note though you have to pair an 802.11g AP with an 802.11g receiver to avail of the speed increase.

Hope this helps.

That's the plan, eventually. I confirmed the 2.4 Mbps cap. But the distance is more like 35-40ft plus 4 walls (wireless signal at 4/5). Pretty good for a WiFi B device. The internet is still quite fast. It's mainly downloads that show the 2.4 Mbps cap. I'll hold off on upgrading to WiFi G until next year or whenever my wife or daughter grumbles about any slowness. Thanks.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Just an addendum.......

Our washing machine/dryer has a wireless gizmo that allows the washing mashine to communicate the wash settings to the dryer which adjusts its own settings accordingly.

This interferes with the wireless reception on my wife's pc. I noticed the signal strength drop from 4/5 to 2/5 whenever the washing machine is on.

Edit: Our laundry room is between the basestation here in the den and the wife's pc in the family room.