Network adapter question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jami
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Jami

Hiya,

I have a small home network and I want to go wireless. I'm trying to
decide which adapter I should get. A wireless USB or PCI card. Is there
any reason to go with one or the other? I will be using a linksys adapter.

thanks

Jami
 
Jami said:
Hiya,

I have a small home network and I want to go wireless. I'm trying to
decide which adapter I should get. A wireless USB or PCI card. Is there
any reason to go with one or the other? I will be using a linksys
adapter.

thanks

Jami
Click to expand...

if you have a spare pci slot then go for it.
 
Jami said:
Hiya,

I have a small home network and I want to go wireless. I'm trying to
decide which adapter I should get. A wireless USB or PCI card. Is there
any reason to go with one or the other? I will be using a linksys
adapter.

thanks

Jami
Click to expand...
I use my built-in Gigabit adapter for my main system and then a Linksys
router/802.11g/b for the rest of the network. The coverage is very good and
even gives me a "Good" signal out on my rear deck if I take my laptop out
there for coffee in the morning. That is about 60ft through about 5 walls.
Hardwiring is always the fastest, but if you don't do a lot of large file
transfers it should work out fine. I would reccomend a PCI adapter over
USB2, but the difference would not be huge.

Ed
 
If you are asking if you should go with a Wireless USB adapter or a Wireless
PCI card, then I would go with the wireless PCI card.

I've used both on my network at home and I'f found that the Wireless PCI
card has a better range by far, probabaly due to the size of the antenna on
the adapter. The USB adapter's antenna is inside a package the size of a
stick of chewing gum while the antenna on the PCI card is several inches
long.
 
Jami said:
Hiya,

I have a small home network and I want to go wireless. I'm trying to
decide which adapter I should get. A wireless USB or PCI card. Is there
any reason to go with one or the other? I will be using a linksys
adapter.

thanks

Jami
Click to expand...

Do you mean that you will be using a linksys wireless router?

Regardless, you want something like the following:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=2751739789B45

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124126

The reason is that a PCI card is crippled by location of
receiving/transmitting antenna. A PCI card adapter will probably work OK if
your router is on the same floor, and (the router and the PCI card) are not
separated from each other by too many walls.

The USB 2.0 adapter with cable to attach to the computer is better, as you
have a little more flexibility in where to locate the antenna.

Keep in mind that wireless networking has both good points and bad points

Bad) Harder to get reliable connection than wired network (for obvious
reasons). Particularly troublesome is trying to run the router on a
different floor than the adapters. But even having the router on the SAME
floor can be a problem if your house is large and there is a good distance
between router and adapter.
Bad) Not nearly as reliable as a wired network. Even with good signal
strength, you can lose your connection frequently.
Good) Can actually be FASTER than a wired network, if the signal strength
is good
Good) No wires to run

Generally, don't do wireless if there is any way possible to use wired. But
if you must use wireless, make sure that you can move the antenna around for
each computer you plan to connect. That means external USB wireless
adapters. If the router is linksys, then the adapter(s) should be linksys
also, though other major brands will probably work OK also. -Dave
 
Yes I'll be using a linksys wireless router. Thanks for the great
information. Lots of things to consider and you guys are so helpful. Do I
need to worry about security? You know someone trying to hack into my
network and use my internet connection.

Jami
 
Jami said:
Yes I'll be using a linksys wireless router. Thanks for the great
information. Lots of things to consider and you guys are so helpful. Do
I need to worry about security? You know someone trying to hack into my
network and use my internet connection.

Jami
Click to expand...

yes, WEP or WAP, look at your router software settings.
 
Each wireless router will have a several options for different levels of
security. Keep in mind that you'll be better off all around for
compatability (security and speed) if you use all your components from the
same manufacturer no matter which brand you choose.

With regards to levels of security, it's usually a trade-off between ease of
use and the level of security.

Pick a manufacturer, read the documentation with regards to the security
options, then try them and pick the one that works best for you.

It all depends on how paranoid you choose to be, which level of security
will do what you're looking for.

If you're just worried about the casual user next door attaching to your
network, then just changing the default passwords for everything will
probably suffice. If you're worried about a serious hacker gaining access,
well then you'll want to pick the highest level of security available.
That's what I mean about choosing how paranoid you want to be.
 
Jami said:
Yes I'll be using a linksys wireless router. Thanks for the great
information. Lots of things to consider and you guys are so helpful. Do
I need to worry about security? You know someone trying to hack into my
network and use my internet connection.

Jami
Click to expand...

That depends somewhat on where you live. Where we live, nobody gets close
enough to our house to use our wireless connection, even if they wanted to.
The signal doesn't reach as far as the street, so it's not like someone
driving by looking for a connection is going to happen to find our network.

Generally though, it's a good idea to enable security (especially if you
have lots of nearby neighbors and/or live in an apartment building). Use 64
or 128 bit encryption and a shared key. This means you will need to enter
security settings and type your key (essentially a password) into each
computer that you want to use your wireless network.

Test your network with NO security settings enabled first though. It can
often be difficult to get all your computers working on a wireless network.
Make sure you can connect to the Internet wirelessly, THEN enable security
in the wireless router and re-program each wireless adapter to match. -Dave
 
That depends somewhat on where you live. Where we live, nobody gets close
enough to our house to use our wireless connection, even if they wanted to.
The signal doesn't reach as far as the street, so it's not like someone
driving by looking for a connection is going to happen to find our network.

Generally though, it's a good idea to enable security (especially if you
have lots of nearby neighbors and/or live in an apartment building). Use 64
or 128 bit encryption and a shared key. This means you will need to enter
security settings and type your key (essentially a password) into each
computer that you want to use your wireless network.

Test your network with NO security settings enabled first though. It can
often be difficult to get all your computers working on a wireless network.
Make sure you can connect to the Internet wirelessly, THEN enable security
in the wireless router and re-program each wireless adapter to match. -Dave
Click to expand...

Jami, I am currently running a wireless network with a Linksys
wireless G broadband router. My main pc is still hardwired (only so
save the cost of a pci card) I have 2 more pc"s using pci cards and a
laptop. I am able to receive a signal from anywhere in the house and
the router is in the far corner of the basement. I am also able to
take my laptop across the street to my friends yard (about 120ft) with
no troubles. One of the posters mentioned antenna size. I tried the
usb and could not get the same receptions for the second floor pc. If
you can borrow a usb adapter to try, if not I would go with the pci.
My experiences have been very positive.
-J
 
Jami said:
I have a small home network and I want to go wireless. I'm trying to
decide which adapter I should get. A wireless USB or PCI card. Is there
any reason to go with one or the other? I will be using a linksys
adapter.
Click to expand...

PCI will likely give you better performance and fewer problems over the long
run. Unless your PCI slots are full or you're deathly afraid of opening the
case, there's little reason to go USB.

Also, if ALL your wireless adapters will be new, it may be worth spending a
few extra $$ for the GS ("Speedbooster") series of Linksys wireless adapters
and routers. However, even 1 non-GS adapter will revert the system to
standard G speeds, so "ALL" should be considered a requirement before you
spend the extra $$.
 
Dave said:
The reason is that a PCI card is crippled by location of
receiving/transmitting antenna. A PCI card adapter will probably work OK
if your router is on the same floor, and (the router and the PCI card) are
not separated from each other by too many walls.
Click to expand...

That problem can be minimized by orienting the antennae properly. I have
one situated in the basement and about a 30 deg lookdown angle from the
router. After adjusting the PCI card antenna and one of the router antennae
so they are oriented in their main beams (perpendicular to the antennae),
they work just fine.
 
Jami said:
Lots of things to consider and you guys are so helpful. Do I need
to worry about security? You know someone trying to hack into my network
and use my internet connection.
Click to expand...

YES!

Use the best encryption available. Linksys adapters with current drivers
can all handle WPA2 PSK/AES. Use a long passphrase
(yoUneed#acomb1nAtionoFc#aracter5,letterS;&numb3rS!), and make sure you copy
it somewhere that you will remember.
 
Thanks for the help guys. I will enable security and setup passwords. I'm
really looking foward to getting it all set up. I'm sure I will have more
questions for you all.


Jami
 
Jami said:
Hiya,

I have a small home network and I want to go wireless. I'm trying to
decide which adapter I should get. A wireless USB or PCI card. Is there
any reason to go with one or the other? I will be using a linksys
adapter.

thanks

Jami
Click to expand...

Go with a PCI card that has removable antenna connected by a cable so it can
be placed anywhere.
(Versus just an antenna sticking out from the card. Behind a computer is a
horrible place for an antenna.)

Example pic; DWL-AG530 (which all my computers are using):
ftp://ftp10.dlink.com/images/products/DWL-AG530/DWL-AG530.jpg

(I'm not specifically recommending the above card, but just using it as an
example pic. If, however, you are interested in having 802.11a in addition
to 802.11g/b, I have no problem recommending these cards. They are working
great for me across multiple OS's. I'm using 802.11a for my WLAN and 802.11g
for piddly-diddly things such as media.)

My opinion on using USB for anything-networking is low. Networking over USB
is more of kludge than anything else...
 
Do I need to worry about security?
Click to expand...

Short skinny for your wireless router:

- Use WPA-PSK (Almost all new cards will support AES as well)
- Use a good WPA-PSK passphrase
- Change the Admin/User password
- Ensure that no telnet or remote-access web services are enabled
- MAC filtering? Your call here. Be aware that MAC filtering doesn't
really buy you much extra "security" as MAC addresses go out in plaintext
during handshaking; so they are easily obtainable. MAC addresses are also
trivial for someone to spoof as well. But, at the same time, if you feel
you want to use MAC filtering for whatnot reason -- go for it. It
certaintly doesn't "hurt".
- SSID Broadcast? Don't disable your SSID broadcast. Disabling your
broadcast doesn't buy you any extra "security" either. You are still easily
seen with your SSID broadcast disabled. SSID broadcast is part of the
802.11a/g/b specification, the "feature" of disabling it is manufacturers'
kludging. Having your SSID disabled not only doesn't "hide you", but it is
also considered rude as you are being perceived as a source of RFI that is
(unsuccessfully) trying to hide itself.
- Turn on your logging and check it from time to time.
 
Great Eric.

Jami
Eric said:
Go with a PCI card that has removable antenna connected by a cable so it
can be placed anywhere.
(Versus just an antenna sticking out from the card. Behind a computer is
a horrible place for an antenna.)

Example pic; DWL-AG530 (which all my computers are using):
ftp://ftp10.dlink.com/images/products/DWL-AG530/DWL-AG530.jpg

(I'm not specifically recommending the above card, but just using it as an
example pic. If, however, you are interested in having 802.11a in
addition to 802.11g/b, I have no problem recommending these cards. They
are working great for me across multiple OS's. I'm using 802.11a for my
WLAN and 802.11g for piddly-diddly things such as media.)

My opinion on using USB for anything-networking is low. Networking over
USB is more of kludge than anything else...
Click to expand...
 
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