Recommend a wireless card?

[Poppa_Meth]

My boss's wife wants to mover her desktop from the basement to upstairs at the other end of the house. The easiest way to do it at this point will be via a wireless connection. Every card I read reviews on (except Cisco) has some sort of problem. Is everything really just junk now or is there a card around $50 that works well with a good signal and decent software? I found a DLink card with excellent reviews but software that supposedly makes it a nightmare. Any input is appreciated.

[classfour]

Odd that you'd say the wireless cards are more problematic than the wireless routers. I've actually had more problems with wireless routers than PCI cards; including el cheapo models bought at geeks.com or newegg. I'm currently running a Zyxel M302 (108 mbs) that I think came from geeks. No problems to date. I've even used one of those USB models (they get warm), with the only problem being interference from my mic/headset (that was fun). DLink does make some nice hardware. I prefer NetGear for my routers, having had major trouble with 3 Linksys routers awhile back (all failed) and losing faith in their products. If you have a laptop with wireless, first check the signal in that part of the house... you may have to enhance the signal.

[Poppa_Meth]

I've been running a SMC router for years now and I've set up several clients with Buffalo wireless routers. Never had issues with either of these. As far as cards go range seems to be the dominant problem. I've installed several linksys cards and they can have problems getting signal 10 feet from the router with an unobstructed view. My girlfriend has a Gigabyte card in hers and it seems to work fine thus far, though I admit her PC is only about 6 feet from the router. She never did put the thing where I originally thought she would I may just get another Gigabyte card and hope for the best. My main concern is I have to order is unless I want Linksys or Netgear. No one around here carries any other brands.

[redwudz]

If you can find a PCI card or a router with a antenna socket, you could always use a external antenna to boost the signal strength. If you are sending the signal vertically upstairs, you might want to put the router and the PCI antennas in a horizontal orientation. Wireless phones, microwaves and other RF devices can also interfere with the signal, but usually only when they are nearby.

[Nelson37]

D-Link, Linksys, Netgear all fine cards. Buffalo and SMC are quite good, but IMO not worth the extra cost. The antenna is far more important than the card itself for distance reception. More important than the antenna is the Extension Cable, this is vital. The cable allows diferent placement and orientation of the antenna, which is just not possible without the cable.

Just moving the antenna from the back of the PC on the floor to the top of the desk, with the extension cable, can yield well over 30% signal strength increase. Going from one desk corner to the other can give another 10-20%.

You can spend an extra $1-200 in router and cards or an extra $30-50 in antenna and cable.

[mats.hogberg]

I have a Linksys router, WRT54G (has to be reset at least once a week - if nothing else because it refuses to connect my daughters laptop now and then) and a Linksys wireless card (WMP54G ver 4.1) in my box. Computers are never > 10 meters from each other, 2-3 10cm concrete walls in between. On Windows, the connection is slow at best, non existent at times. On Linux, I have full theoretical speed at all times. Go figure.

/Mats

[Webster]

My boss's wife wants to mover her desktop from the basement to upstairs at the other end of the house. The easiest way to do it at this point will be via a wireless connection. Every card I read reviews on (except Cisco) has some sort of problem. Is everything really just junk now or is there a card around $50 that works well with a good signal and decent software? I found a DLink card with excellent reviews but software that supposedly makes it a nightmare. Any input is appreciated.

I've got a couple of these elcheapo in my home network and they are working much better (signal streng) than those USB plugin (Netgear, D-link, no name brands) or even those PCI cards with fixed antenna (i.e. non movable D-link) With these, you can at least "point" the antenna to the direction of the signal rather than those fixed antenna PCI cards.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833158017

[AlanHK]

I helped a friend set up his wifi with just a cheap (about US$15) USB dongle.

Plug it into a USB cable and you can move it around to get a better signal.

And if you want to get real Heath Robinson, make a "woktenna" to collect and focus the signal. This really does work, if you don't mind doing a bit of wire bending and taping.

http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/

An alternative to running ethernet cable, you can do Ethernet Over Power, which uses the existing electrical wiring. More reliable than wifi. But rather more expensive.

[MJA]

check this one

it was $29+free shipping at buy.com but it's out of stock.
she can use it with her xbox 360 also
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833176105R&ATT=33-176-105R&CMP=OT...MC-_-33176105R

reviews at buy.com

http://www.buy.com/prod/smc-ez-connect-g-2-4ghz-54mbps-wireless-ethernet-bridge/q/loc/...d=&dcaid=17260

[Poppa_Meth]

The MSI is one that I was looking at. I'll give it another look. I might have to get that SMC for myself. I've been meaning to put my PS2 online just for updating my Codebreaker so it seems like a valid option.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Like mats. I have a WRT54G wireless router and I, too, have to reset it occasionally (perhaps every couple of weeks). I have the larger set of antennae and it is set up in the upstairs of our 'garage' (read monster barn with a metal roof) that is about 100 feet from the house with a giant pecan tree right in the line-of-sight. In the house, I have a Linksys extender unit (can't recall the model ) that works flawlessly with the router. I get a very strong signal on the far side of the house.

As far as wireless adapters themselves go, I have only used integrated ones (laptop) and external USB ones. The integrated ones have been the most reliable. The USB ones I have tried have all flaked out in the same way on the same laptop only to be just fine on another(!)

[Webster]

And if you want to get real Heath Robinson, make a "woktenna" to collect and focus the signal. This really does work, if you don't mind doing a bit of wire bending and taping.

http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/

Thank for the link, I may try this out myself. I have quite a few USB plugs which are currently pretty much useless if they are more than 20ft from the router.....

[Supreme2k]

Believe it or not, this antenna mod actually works. I have somewhat of a dead zone upstairs that went from no bars to three bars after installing (0%-5 signal to 60%-75%). It takes about 10 minutes to make, including printing.

[classfour]

I've seen three WRT54G die a horrific death. Actually was the catalyst in me converting to NetGear.

[MJA]

The WRT54g V5 suck.I have the V 2.2(not sure) and been kicking for the last 3 years with 0 issues

[Poppa_Meth]

We've got a WRT54GS V5 at work. I flashed it to DD-WRT and it improved quite a bit but still not good. The bundled card for it is in a desktop ten feet away in clear view of the router and gets crappy signal. It also hates to serve DHCP. I've had to set everything to static IPs, which isn't a bad thing, but one less thing that works in the router. My girlfriend has an older WRT54G with the linux firmware still on it and it works flawlessly.

[mats.hogberg]

Believe it or not, this antenna mod actually works. I have somewhat of a dead zone upstairs that went from no bars to three bars after installing (0%-5 signal to 60%-75%).

Actually did one, and my signal went from 77 to 78%...

/Mats

[makntraks]

What I do is buy a card, test, and if it isn't worth it return it.... and try another. Since card makers preach different benefits, etc, real time usage is the real factor if I buy or "try"...

I have a great D-Link / and several Linksys combos working that I am happy with.....

makntraks