Wireless network

[Neil Jones]

This one isn't so cheap but it's reliable...

D-Link DSL-G604T

Think it cost about £80.

I've got one of those. Nice solid reliable unit, if the firmware is new enough on it, there's a setup wizard to follow, otherwise it's not too difficult.

[Chris]

My advice would be to stick to wired unless you really need the mobility that wireless gives you (i.e. want to be able to use the laptop in the garden).

Wireless tends to give mixed results and performance depending on the settings/hardware used. Also, the stuff your walls/floors are made out of can be a factor as well in determining how good it will be.

Wired gives consistent high performance compared to wireless and I would choose it over wireless any day unless I specifically needed the mobility that having a wireless connection would give me.

[Fireboy]

My advice would be to stick to wired unless you really need the mobility that wireless gives you (i.e. want to be able to use the laptop in the garden).

Wireless tends to give mixed results and performance depending on the settings/hardware used. Also, the stuff your home is made out of can be a factor as well in determining how good it will be.

The Wireless Router I use manages to run through a bedroom wall and 2ft thick solid stone wall out into the garden, that's not doing so bad. It also manages to reach all corners of the house, apart from the basement 2 floors below, though I don't imagine anyone would want to access the internet down there. I use a wired connection myself though, because the router is just outside this room.

[James Martin]

Just installed a wireless network (Router on one PC, card on another at the other end of the house) and couldn't get the network to work with security on for some reason. It rarely worked and more often than not, fell over. When it did work, it was hideously slow.

Given that the other side of the house is only picking up "low" or "very low" signals, I doubt that security will be much of an issue. I doubt anyone else can pick the signals up.

Bear in mind that your router is transmitting 360 degrees round where it's located, not just towards where you're pointing it.

Therefore any savvy people on the other side away from your "low" signals will probably be receiving good signals and a free broadband connection.

As for security - shouldn't make any difference to the speed, it doesn't on mine anyway. It's probably because you've got "low" signal that the security doesn't work - why have you got Low signal? How many walls is it going through and what's their makeup? Can you not relocate the router to a more central environment, which will up the strength to the other system?

Bear in mind you can just buy another wireless card and run both off wireless, so you don't need one computer physically plugged in.

It's going through about three plasterboard walls. They're completely hollow inside!

There's no way the signal will make the neighbours in front of the router (other side of the house) and the neighbours behind probably won't know how to tap into my broadband.

There's a garden on the left and a drive and road on the right.

I always thought that you did need one PC physically plugged in via Ethernet. If that isn't the case I might try moving it round when I have some time.

[James Martin]

All the wireless kit here is Belkin. Have to say, the wireless print server we've got is fantastic.

[Jamez]

£80 sounds quite reasonable! I was expecting to spend around £150!

Right, all I gotta do now is order broadband!