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Hi All:

Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.

I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.

2 simple questions:

Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
seems.

Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.

Tks for any tips you have.

bw

Billy <> wrote:
> Hi All:
>
> Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so
> that my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> 2 simple questions:
>
> Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options
> it seems.
>
> Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> Tks for any tips you have.
>
> bw

It's hard to answer that based on the info given. Much depends on your
budget, your skills, and how much area you need to cover (a two story house?
a loft with a concrete wall room divider?). That said, I think most of the
home/consumer grade stuff is pretty similar - but I prefer Netgear for
small/home networks, with Linksys as my second choice.

The most important thing is to set it up with good security on it - change
the admin password, enable WPA+PSK, etc.

Hi
If the wireless distance is short (20 feet or so) you can go for broke,
TrendNet Wireless Router $9.99 after rebate,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156038
Otherwise, More features and and better coverage this, Zyxel 550 -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=zyxel%2b550
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Billy" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Hi All:
>
> Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
> my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> 2 simple questions:
>
> Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
> seems.
>
> Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> Tks for any tips you have.
>
> bw
>

[MarkSatterfield]

Considering your situation (home user, no "special" considerations such as QOS), buy the least expensive name brand unit you can find. Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, Motorola, all are fine. I'd personally avoid the off brands, although I do not strongly disagree with Jack (above) suggesting the TrendNet for $10.

Also, for the wireless security, open it up and do not use security, I publish my phone number in my SSID. For protection, add a firewall on your computers such as Zone Alarm or some other free firewall. Unfortunately, if someone wants into your network, in most cases the person will be able to get in. Besides, I usually go to coffee shops and use their free wireless.

--Mark

http://www.marksatterfield.com/
http://mark.a.satterfield.googlepages.com/
http://satterfield.890m.com/

if you are ever going to run Vista, don't buy a bargain router that
may be problematic. select from the list at

http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/Pro...=v&cid=712&g=d

On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:18:25 -0400, "Billy"
<> wrote:

>Hi All:
>
>Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
>I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
>my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
>2 simple questions:
>
>Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
>seems.
>
>Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
>Tks for any tips you have.
>
>bw
>
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

tks everyone appreciate the thoughtful responses. the router will go in a
bi level home. Will password protect it.

bye

bw


"Billy" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Hi All:
>
> Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
> my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> 2 simple questions:
>
> Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
> seems.
>
> Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> Tks for any tips you have.
>
> bw
>

On Mar 25, 7:32*am, "Billy" <billnospamever1234...@aol.com> wrote:
> tks everyone appreciate the thoughtful responses. *the router will go in a
> bi level home. *Will password protect it.
>
> bye
>
> bw
>
> "Billy" <billnospamever1234...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:%...
>
>
>
> > Hi All:
>
> > Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> > I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
> > my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> > 2 simple questions:
>
> > Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
> > seems.
>
> > Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> > Tks for any tips you have.
>
> > bw- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

If you mean that the area will have more than one floor, concentrate
on 802.11n wireless network. This is the lastest wireless signals and
offers multi-in / mult-out (MIMO) antenna and the "longest" coverage.

Amen on the N! I'm wifi surfing 400-feet from a Belkin N1 Vision router
using the Belkin N1 Adapter on one desktop, a hField WiFire on another, and
the internal adapter on my Toshiba laptop. In fact, just 2 N1 Visions cover
25 acres and service near 300 with the help of a few wifi repeaters to fill
in some dark areas. Highspeed wifi for about $10 per year per address.


"smlunatick" <> wrote in message
news:73fc81aa-0669-402b-bbb3-...
On Mar 25, 7:32 am, "Billy" <billnospamever1234...@aol.com> wrote:
> tks everyone appreciate the thoughtful responses. the router will go in a
> bi level home. Will password protect it.
>
> bye
>
> bw
>
> "Billy" <billnospamever1234...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:%...
>
>
>
> > Hi All:
>
> > Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> > I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so
> > that
> > my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> > 2 simple questions:
>
> > Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
> > seems.
>
> > Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> > Tks for any tips you have.
>
> > bw- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

If you mean that the area will have more than one floor, concentrate
on 802.11n wireless network. This is the lastest wireless signals and
offers multi-in / mult-out (MIMO) antenna and the "longest" coverage.

"iPC" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Amen on the N!

....and it will probably become invalid once the N Standard is ratified.

N has not been "finished",...but the world of "marketing" is just
capitalizing on people's impatients and selling products with a half-baked
semi-proprietary standards in order to make $$$$,...knowing that the same
people may have to re-buy all their products again after the standard is
ratified unless a firware update takes care of it.

Also N is not going to do you that much good unless you buy N Adapters in
the PCs from the same manufacturer of the as the "router". Most likely the
adapter in the PCs is currently "G/B" adapters.

Buy a G "router" at half the price. Tilt one of the antennas so the the
*side* of the antenna is facing the general direction of the PC on the other
Floor. When the N standard is ratified,...then replace everything at that
time and you will only have to do it once.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

actually the folks at Wi-Fi org are certifying draft 2.0 N devices
for interop. so (and this is from personal experience) there is
interoperability between different chipsets/vendors.

lots of laptops are now coming with b/g/n or a/b/g/n adapters.

and while there is no guarantee that certified draft 2.0N devices
will be upgradeable to the final standard, by the time the standard
is ratified (it keeps getting pushed out) today's computers will
probably be obsolete.

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:51:58 -0500, "Phillip Windell"
<> wrote:

>Also N is not going to do you that much good unless you buy N Adapters in
>the PCs from the same manufacturer of the as the "router". Most likely the
>adapter in the PCs is currently "G/B" adapters.
>
>Buy a G "router" at half the price. Tilt one of the antennas so the the
>*side* of the antenna is facing the general direction of the PC on the other
>Floor. When the N standard is ratified,...then replace everything at that
>time and you will only have to do it once.
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/