Wireless network card recommendations?

Davey_Pitch · 11-01-2008, 10:13

I'm looking to get a wireless network card for the PC upstairs to connect with my router when it arrives. They all seem very similar in price and spec, so does anyone have any recommendations on what to buy or what to stay away from? £20-£25 is the rough range i'm aiming for, though they all seem to be around that price.

If it helps, I'll be using the card for the PC to connect to my wireless net, than using an ethernet cable to connect the 360 to the PC and share it's connection for online gaming, so something as fast as possible will of course be required.

Oh, and the router is a Netgear as well if it makes any difference

Daz · 11-01-2008, 11:26

There's not much in it these days Davey, so I wouldn't worry too much. Cant go wrong with the brands (Linnsys/Netgear et al), but if it's only a short term thing, I did see this the other day:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/13327...g-adapter-wir/

Could move that between the PC and xbox faff free until you get your own netcon

Davey_Pitch · 11-01-2008, 12:00

Is a wireless bridge the same thing as a wireless access point? I've not looked into the difference in terminology.

Daz · 11-01-2008, 12:02

No, it's a single wireless client you can plug into any Ethernet port to give that device access to the network

Your Sky router will be your AP if you stick with that router.

Mark · 11-01-2008, 12:03

No, it isn't, though an access point can often be used to do the same job. As Daz says, it'll get the Xbox360 online no probs (or PC, or Wii, etc.). If you can find one, that is.

Davey_Pitch · 11-01-2008, 12:10

I think I'll stick with the access point for now then, as the range of the wireless signal from next door won't reach up to the upstairs pc, whereas an access point by the 360 in our living room will get the signal upstairs so that pc can go on the net as well. The AP I've seen is only about £20 so with a wireless PCI card around the same price it's not a bad deal, considering I'll need the wireless card anyway.

Daz · 11-01-2008, 12:15

I'm a little confused. You want to buy an AP now to do what? Be a wireless client to next doors LAN and also be an AP to your own wireless client (the PC upstairs) and route its traffic over to next doors LAN? A £20 AP probably wont do that - ideally you'd need two routers that support WDS.

leowyatt · 11-01-2008, 12:21

I think he wants an AP so it can be used with the 360 for now and then it can be used on Lynnie's mum's PC so she can steal their bandwidth

Daz · 11-01-2008, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitchen Meister

I think he wants an AP so it can be used with the 360 for now

To what end though? To talk to the other PC, then that works and I've misunderstood, but to get online as well?

Mark · 11-01-2008, 12:23

Aye, bridging wired segments is a bit more challenging that just plugging in any old AP. Don't get me wrong, it's possible - it's a setup I battled with for 2 years before I gave up due to lack of bandwidth between the two routers. As Daz says, you'll need an AP that can do WDS or (less likely) one that can work in client bridged mode. Bandwidth and pings are also likely to suck, badly, if the signal is going through walls.

11-01-2008, 10:13	#1
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	Wireless network card recommendations? I'm looking to get a wireless network card for the PC upstairs to connect with my router when it arrives. They all seem very similar in price and spec, so does anyone have any recommendations on what to buy or what to stay away from? £20-£25 is the rough range i'm aiming for, though they all seem to be around that price. If it helps, I'll be using the card for the PC to connect to my wireless net, than using an ethernet cable to connect the 360 to the PC and share it's connection for online gaming, so something as fast as possible will of course be required. Oh, and the router is a Netgear as well if it makes any difference __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

11-01-2008, 11:26	#2
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	There's not much in it these days Davey, so I wouldn't worry too much. Cant go wrong with the brands (Linnsys/Netgear et al), but if it's only a short term thing, I did see this the other day: http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/13327...g-adapter-wir/ Could move that between the PC and xbox faff free until you get your own netcon __________________ apt-get moo

11-01-2008, 12:00	#3
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	Is a wireless bridge the same thing as a wireless access point? I've not looked into the difference in terminology. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

11-01-2008, 12:02	#4
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	No, it's a single wireless client you can plug into any Ethernet port to give that device access to the network Your Sky router will be your AP if you stick with that router. __________________ apt-get moo

11-01-2008, 12:10	#6
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	I think I'll stick with the access point for now then, as the range of the wireless signal from next door won't reach up to the upstairs pc, whereas an access point by the 360 in our living room will get the signal upstairs so that pc can go on the net as well. The AP I've seen is only about £20 so with a wireless PCI card around the same price it's not a bad deal, considering I'll need the wireless card anyway. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

11-01-2008, 12:03	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	No, it isn't, though an access point can often be used to do the same job. As Daz says, it'll get the Xbox360 online no probs (or PC, or Wii, etc.). If you can find one, that is.

11-01-2008, 12:15	#7
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	I'm a little confused. You want to buy an AP now to do what? Be a wireless client to next doors LAN and also be an AP to your own wireless client (the PC upstairs) and route its traffic over to next doors LAN? A £20 AP probably wont do that - ideally you'd need two routers that support WDS. __________________ apt-get moo

11-01-2008, 12:21	#8
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	I think he wants an AP so it can be used with the 360 for now and then it can be used on Lynnie's mum's PC so she can steal their bandwidth __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

11-01-2008, 12:23	#10
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Aye, bridging wired segments is a bit more challenging that just plugging in any old AP. Don't get me wrong, it's possible - it's a setup I battled with for 2 years before I gave up due to lack of bandwidth between the two routers. As Daz says, you'll need an AP that can do WDS or (less likely) one that can work in client bridged mode. Bandwidth and pings are also likely to suck, badly, if the signal is going through walls.