Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless (
More info?)
Michael T wrote:
> "Philip Ashley" <philip.ashleyRE@MOVEntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:JZM_e.2795$0w.356@newsfe5-gui.ntli.net...
> >
> > One downside of wireless is file transfer speed, its nearly always better
> > using wired, especially for large files.
> >
> > philip ashley
>
> Kudos Philip as this is just the kind of information I was hoping my post
> would produce. Also thanks to DanR for his feedback as well.
>
> But I am a bit overwhelmed with all the different routers available.
>
> I plan to use this notebook (roaming from room-to-room) on a WinXP Home
> Network with a desktop (the ICS host) in my bedroom.. I also will be using
> it with public hot spots when I travel.
>
> So I have would I hope are some simple questions about wireless routers for
> you gurus.
>
> Given my planned usage do you recommend a Wi-Fi router (e.g. the Orinoco
> BG-2000)? Or will a NON-Wi-Fi router like a Linksysy WRT54gs suffice?
>
> Also, if I use the Windows XP ICS software on my ICS host (a desktop in my
> bedroom) to share its DSL connection with my notebook, do I need the DSL
> software (from my ISP) installed on my notebook as well?
>
> Michael
You're a little confused in your terminology. "wi-fi" generally is used to
refer to any wireless networks in general
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-fi). Thus, the Orinoco BG 2000 and the
Linksys WRT54gs are both "wi-fi" devices. The BG-2000 came at in 2002. I
don't think you can buy one anymore, and Proxim calls it an "end-of-life"
product (meaning, I think, that they know that it's out in the filed, but they
don't intend to support it very much longer).
Although the Orinoco unit was called a "gateway," these days, that term is
often used to mean a device that combines a router, perhaps a wireless access
point, and a cable or DSL modem. I don't think that the BG 2000 had the modem.
The Linksys WRT54GS definitely does not have a modem. It is, however, a
combination of a 4-port router (i.e., you can connect up to 4 ethernet cables
to connect to PCs and/or other network devices) and a wireless access point.
Like most other home routers these days, it has NAT capability and a firewall,
and has a built-in PPPoE client. Although there are those who post to this ng
who have little good to say about Linksys products, I had a WRT54g version 1.0
and was perfectly happy with it until it got partially fried by a nearby
lightning strike. I replaced it with a WRT54g version 4.0 (Linksys seems to
have just come out with a 5.0).
The "s" on the end of the WRT54gs indicates that it has Linksys' proprietary
"speedbooster" technology, which Linksys claims will give you "up to 35%
increase in speed over standard Wireless-G when used with other SpeedBooster
products." The key here is that you MUST use other Linksys "SpeedBooster"
products to even have a hope of getting this increase. If you have a new
notebook with a built-in wireless access device, it almost certainly is NOT a
Linksys "SpeedBooster" device, and you therefore ought not to spend the extra
money for the "GS." Linksys also has an even (allegedly) faster version, the
WRT54SRX. Here's the Linksy page comparing their 3 varieties
http://tinyurl.com/9xqqh. If I were you, I would just get the basic WRT54G.
Check out http://www.ezlan.net/ for further info. Don't just look at the
"wireless" sections. There's a lot of other information there.