Good Wireless Solution

Get help and discuss anything related to tweaking your internet connection, as well as the different tools and registry patches on the site. TCP Optimizer settings and Analyzer results should be posted here.
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Maxxi
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Posts: 110
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2001 8:50 pm
Location: The Big Apple

Good Wireless Solution

Post by Maxxi »

Hi everyone,

I am already more than happy with my Cablenut and TCPOptimizer settings and on the whole tweaking the connection. Just as a reminder, I am currently using RoadRunner (DHCP) via Time Warner in Manhattan, NYC. With caps set to 2048/384 for my area, I am getting scores around 2050/512 which, logically makes me very happy. Downloads start at around 1MB/s and drop off (staying around 500-300KB/s for a long time) to about 220KB/s. Although I would really love some of that OOL bandwidth my grandmother savors over at Lido Beach.

But, getting to the point, I would like to ask you guys for some advice concerning Wireless LAN solutions. I have recently acquired ($$$) a notebook that is in desperate need of this internet connection. I thought of something called Internet-Connection-Sharing… clever aren’t I?

As it stands the desktop is hooked up to the cable modem via a Linksys 10//100 NIC. The connection has a static IP address (or at least it has remained static for the last two years) negotiated via DHCP (don't these two cancel each other out [static vs. DHCP]?).

Anyhow I was thinking of getting a PCI Wi-Fi NIC for the Desktop, a PCIMCIA Wi-Fi NIC for the Notebook and a Wi-Fi Router... I am shooting for the Linksys EtherFast® Wireless AP + Cable/DSL Router w/4-Port Switch and the Linksys NICs.

11mbps and IEEE 802.11b (isn't c and d out already?) should do the trick. The apartment is relatively small and the walls are mostly plaster. I’ve also heard about a really good Orinoco solution (can anyone comment?) and some 22mbps setups. Thanks ahead of time for all advice. :D
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macyh
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Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2002 11:44 am
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA

Post by macyh »

FIrst, I'd suggest you not use ICS if you don't have to. It's slow and it increases security concerns. You also must leave the computer on at all times to use it.

Second, if you use a hardware solution, you need a router to do the sharing. That's faster and it also provides the best security.

Technically, you don't need to load Zonealarm or other firewall software on either of your PC's since the router will block incoming connections in its default configuration. Since every active program uses memory and CPU cycles, not having to add these permits the best overall performance by both your computers.

Now, there are several good wireless router combinations that will work with cable and/or ADSL modems: Linksys, SMC, Netgear, Zyxel, D-Link. All provide good short range wireless performance. Most of these routers also have an ethernet port on them so you can connect a hardwired computer or LAN as well as support wireless.

btw, You can get lots of help and support in the networking forum here.
Macy Hallock from APK Net, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio USA
Andrzej
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Location: Poland

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