Wireless broadband technology

[Smersh]

I keep reading in the media how wonderful and super-fast this wireless broadband technology is and I'm thinking of buying a new laptop that has this ready installed. I'm currently still using a dial-up connection and I haven't installed ADSL or any kind of broadband yet because I'm waiting to see what happens with the wireless connections.

I've never yet met anyone though who actually has this. Does anyone here actually have it and use it? If you live in the UK, do you know how much it costs roughly? I've done a few searches but can't seem to find any info that makes any sense.

[dutchie]

Check out the Linksys wireless router. Has 4 channels, so you can share a connection with your nextdoor neighbour, while both can connect 2 PC's. The PC cards you can buy separately. Sharing a connection means half the costs...

http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=508

for more info. This stuff is state of the art. I'm going to buy one very shortly (with my nextdoor neighbour).

[lazserus]

Wireless technology isn't very strong. It really all depends on the size of your house, how close your network will be to its routers, and if you have the right NICs. Linksys is the best bet, but you HAVE to buy a Linksys card or you'll run into all kinds of problems. Also, Linksys #4 cards don't support VPN.

If you're not setting up a network, but just connect one or maybe two computers, I suggest going wireline, not wireless. It's more expensive and much more trouble. I've supported wireless network issues and I never get problems when someone runs cable, only when they have wireless setup. My advice: stay clear of wireless for atleast nother 5 years. :sbox:

[dutchie]

The Wireless G has been thoroughly tested and found OK by loads of magazines. True, you'll have to buy the wireless G PCI cards as well, but that's no prob for me. And they're not too expensive ($100 for the router and $80 for the card are going prices in Europe).

5 years seems like a bit exaggerated timespan to be honest, Laz...:crshpc:

[lazserus]

Wireless networking works, but is real buggy. The biggest question would be:

Why go for wireless when it's not near as stable and twice as expensive? A wireline router is 40$ and a card is 15$. Why spend 200$ when you can spend 55$ on something more stable? I've had my fair share of troubleshooting wireless networks and there are about 150% more wireless failures than there are standard ethernet failures.

Steve can do whatever he wants. I'd just assume someone would rather spend less money on stability than more on instability. However, some houses aren't built conveniently for ethernet networks. Sometimes wireless is the most convenient. I mean, not everyone wants to drill holes in their walls to run cable. :nrdo:

[Smersh]

Thanks for the info guys. Maybe I will install a wired broadband of some kind, but I really like the idea of having a laptop that can connect to the internet when I'm away from home. Also the lack of wires attracts me greatly. We've got enough wires in the house as it is. .:sick: Although, come to think of it, we'd only be replacing one lot of wires with another with a wired connection so it wouldn't be getting any worse.

Guess the wireless technology is similar to a mobile / cellphone in that it can connect to a network providing there is a mast or connection point somewhere within range.

[lazserus]

From my understanding, you wouldn't be able to take your laptop very far from the router. You couldn't take your laptop to the grocery store and expect to connect to the internet. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Maybe Hans could either support me or tell me I'm full of it.

Wireless (from my understanding of it) is only convenient in a localized area.

[dutchie]

Safe distances for wireless routers are 20 meters, Smersh. Although they claim to be going to 300 m, I dont think it will work. Laz is right. When you talk about internet through a GSM-line, it's possible and there are a number of protocols available that work like a charm, but expect to fork out a lot of money per minute!!!

[Hvyarms]

I use a wireless network mostly because we couldnt put wires all over my very big house.. we connect 4 computers and my laptop to it and overall its been ok... There are some bugs like if you have to restart your computer sometimes you may need to reboot the router to get them back in the network... and stuff... so they are a bit buggy... overall its kinda nice tho to be able to play online games in the bathroom!

If you want to use your laptop away from your router then you dont need wireless connected to a router you need some sort of satallite connection ... I *Think* these are available... but I would be very hesitant to think about that kind of a cost for a laptop compared to regular wireless costs hehe :).

[lotrfan55345]

Wireless Technology is fast, VERY FAST, 54mb/s fast. Our home netowork is both wired and wireless but if I just the wireless connect I can play DVD's that are on another comp on the comp with the wireless so it is really fast but if you want "super" connectivity wired is the way to go becouse it can transfer speeds of up to 1 GB/s with the right ethernet card.

[lazserus]

Wired networks will always be more fast due to fiber optics and concentrated light. With a wireless network there are too many variables that would contribute to attenuation.

[evilwill]

They have something similar to this at my school.

The computers in the school are all networked and run on a cable broadband internet connection. Not every room has computers and in a few of my geography lessons, we pulled out a bunch of laptops.

Without any wires at all, these laptops had full access to the network and the internet.

I'm not quite sure how it works though. There is some sort of thing plugged into the side of the laptop. How exactly can they do something like that?

[lotrfan55345]

I'm not quite sure how it works though. There is some sort of thing plugged into the side of the laptop. How exactly can they do something like that?

The "thing" is the wireless PCI/BUS card. It kinda like the antenna of ur cellphone.

[Emerald_Dragon]

i share many opinions that Laz has already expressed, however, with one reservation.

i'm reluctant to upgrade to wireless not only because it doesn't compare to a wired connection, but because of the radio wave frequencies you'll be exposed to. I'm sure its "safe" to use, but so were early cellphones. sure, they've found and corrected/reduced the cancer causing components, but that was years later.

IMO, having wireless connections, in your home, as the connection speeds increase over time, will undoubtedly have some adverse affect on you. Esp since my PC is 'On' most of the time. I hide the wires under the rug, along walls, etc.

Its a luxury, but i'll pass. cuz if I'm on the porcelain buddha, i wouldn't be able to aim properly in Half-Life/Counterstrike, online, anyway. I could prolly play Flight Simulator though...."Bombs Away!!"

[Smersh]

I could prolly play Flight Simulator though...."Bombs Away!!"

Ermmm, no Em you only get "Bombs Away" in Combat Flight Simulator, not in Flight Simulator. In CFS you shoot down other planes and bomb things but in FS you just fly from A to B without destroying anything (unless you crash of course.) :nrdo: ;)

Regarding the wireless broadband technology, I found out the other day you still have to have an ADSL or broadband box installed in your home to use it - I thought it just worked like a mobile phone or cellphone in that you just had to be within range of a mast. I just bought a new laptop with a wireless card installed but still have to get a box installed before I can use it. :(

[lotrfan55345]

You dont neccesarily have to have a ADSL/Cable Modem to have a wireless connections. At least in my city, there is a company that offers a wirelesss connection city wide. They have large antennas that 'give out' a WI-FI connection for 20 miles. The bad thing is if you live far aways from these antenas you will have a slower connection AND you cant do a home network.:(

I'm sure they will have those in LONDON, considering my city only has a small 2.5 million population. (A village compared to some).

[Smersh]

Yes Lotr I would have thought it was available in london as well, but so far I don't think it is. Technology is moving on fast though, so hopefully it soon will be ...

[Emerald_Dragon]

> I thought it just worked like a mobile phone or cellphone
>in that you just had to be within range of a mast.

oh, that's something else. wi-fi or something. I think Seattle has that enabled and some companies are getting ready to introduce it to Germany. it entails a wireless card on your laptop, enrollment in a citywide access zone, where you can access the Internet from anywhere within the coverage area, much like a cellphone.

i thought you were talking about wireless broadband/DSL/Cablemodem in your house. you and a neighbor can buy a wireless router and share one landbased connection, for a few meters.

major phone companies are talking about wi-fi and i bought stock in a small company that makes the routers [CLYW]. wouldn't recommend it though, other companies are more profitable, like Nortel [NT] and Verizon.

[honeycomb]

at home i use cabled broadband. in my college there's wireless broadband in our rooms... my friend used it. its okay i guess. sometimes she said there's a bit problem with "noise" coz its wireless. maybe its you might need transmitters, the nearer the better?

[lotrfan55345]

Our house has wireless phones at 2.4GHZ and our network is at 2.4GHZ ... We don't have any "noise" at all. :D

[DontBeAfraid]

I just switched from dial up to dsl..... I get 1.2 Mbits on the speed tests...... this is so sweet..... "A million times more porn"

[alialabdulabakr]

Hello,

This is my expertise in internet computing technology, but wireless in britain can be ok if you are in London or outside abit from this city. This is for travelling, I mean. like if you are walking dogs with your laptop, you know, however at home is different

Bluetooth can be available and some 802.ll protocol is possible, but if you are with the farms or mountains, this is no good

go with a broad band link with router or if your wireless interface supports get wireless router, but you still need some broadband connection from cable or diesel. Europe is catching forward to the USA in this factor.

I am an engineer, but I like to go to the beach better, ok?

Sorry for my english, but I am still practicing it very much. That is why I found this place, to learn what Armageddon is in your language, you know?

Hope this is being Helpful

Bye! :pcangry:

And Donbeafraid should be lubricated or you will know some pain in your pp my friend.

:crazy:

[DontBeAfraid]

I missed work today........

jk.