How well does it work, what is your setup like? Currently I have 2 desktops in a linksys wired router, but I just want to add a wireless connection for a laptop to that. I bought the Apple Airport Dock, but it cost about a quadrillion dollars...so I might send it back. My friend got a much cheaper one but says it doens't work well. What equipment do you have? How well does it work? Range, speed, etc?
DjPiLL
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by MCDO15
B is slow and you can buy G for 40-50 bucks now. Heck, if G is a tad laggy but then again, i enjoy my bandwidth
When browsing the internet.... G will give you absolutely no difference in speed over B.
Thats why I said it only makes a difference if you are moving files between your PCs on your network.
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
What about downloading large files?
september2004
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by DjPiLL
Does your computer actually tell you that the 'wireless network is no longer available'.
If thats the case... you may be getting interference from something (like a cordless phone). Try powering the cordless appliances off and see if that helps.
Very difficult to troubleshoot that because 2.4 cordless phones run on the same frequency as wi-fi.
And if your neighbor has a cordless phone that you have no control over... good luck with that one.
If you still have an actual wireless connection... but lose your internet access... thats another issue.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh the phone, didn't think of that. does it matter where in the house it would be? the connection says 'wireless network is no longer available' and then reconnects a second later. this happens maybe twice an hour, some days it's worse than others.
Sassyz75
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
I have the apple airport express.. it works great- we got some interference from the cordless phone- so we bought phones with lower frequencies... I have 2 lap tops in house- dell & apple and both work fine...
Jan05Bride
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by DjPiLL
Does your computer actually tell you that the 'wireless network is no longer available'. .
that's the message I was getting all the time. It wasn't worth the hassle so I just ran the cable wires, now I have no issues.
MCDO15
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by marymoon
Tyanks Thom, you're always a wealth of info (and good deals) But I'm concerned about range. I know some of the less expensive rotuers only work 50 feet, whereas the ones that are $100+ say they work 150 feet. I think I'd need the 150 foot range.
the newer protocals are increaseing the range, but then you have to pay the price if you want those. im trying to find your router but i have to do some work first.
any router will work because it's built on the same protocal 'G', 'B', etc... it just a matter of picking now
difference between B and G (regular) is not much but for heavy computer users, it would make a difference. avg sufers dont and wont complain as much. making a bigger jump to current new stuff that cost 150 bucks from 'B' is a huge difference. Dependant on price, you should be able to find something in the middle.
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Apple I bought teh 2nd one, but I considered the first one. One the phone they told me the first one didn't have a lot of range. And I'm not sure if the 2nd one has ethernet ports for my desktops. This is too confusing
DjPiLL
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by marymoon
What about downloading large files?
If you are strictly talking downloading from the internet... B will not give you any speed difference over G.
If you look hard enough... B wireless routers you can get maybe even under $20 buks.
If you would rather spend the extra few buks... and be a little more 'future proof'... get a G router... but you wont see any speed difference on the internet.
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by Sassyz75
I have the apple airport express.. it works great- we got some interference from the cordless phone- so we bought phones with lower frequencies... I have 2 lap tops in house- dell & apple and both work fine...
I bought the non express one, I go the extreme one b/c they siad it had more range. I'm worried about the cordless phone now. We have 3 of them in the house!
MCDO15
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by september2004
the connection says 'wireless network is no longer available' and then reconnects a second later. this happens maybe twice an hour, some days it's worse than others.
what is your signal strength when you are working 'very good, low signal, etc...' and does this happen even if your right next to the router?
you may want to try upgradeing your firmware on your router... what kind is it?
DjPiLL
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by september2004
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh the phone, didn't think of that. does it matter where in the house it would be? the connection says 'wireless network is no longer available' and then reconnects a second later. this happens maybe twice an hour, some days it's worse than others.
Tough to tell. Actually it happens to me as well and I dont have a cordless phone (but my neighbor probably does).
There is actually a few articles on microsoft.com about some possible patches that may fix this. But I haven't had any luck with them. I just deal with it.
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by DjPiLL
Posted by marymoon
What about downloading large files?
If you are strictly talking downloading from the internet... B will not give you any speed difference over G.
If you look hard enough... B wireless routers you can get maybe even under $20 buks.
If you would rather spend the extra few buks... and be a little more 'future proof'... get a G router... but you wont see any speed difference on the internet.
What about range wise? Does anyone have any info about range?
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by DjPiLL
Posted by september2004
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh the phone, didn't think of that. does it matter where in the house it would be? the connection says 'wireless network is no longer available' and then reconnects a second later. this happens maybe twice an hour, some days it's worse than others.
Tough to tell. Actually it happens to me as well and I dont have a cordless phone (but my neighbor probably does).
There is actually a few articles on microsoft.com about some possible patches that may fix this. But I haven't had any luck with them. I just deal with it.
I get this al the time on my wired desktop. It doesn't warn me, but my connection will og out for a second or two and then come back. It could just be the strength of your internet connection. I have cable and I think it's a littler overtaxed in my area
DjPiLL
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by marymoon
What about range wise? Does anyone have any info about range?
I believe range is about the same on both. Some manufacturers will advertise better range than others... but I think its all a load of horsecrap.
If you spent over $100 buks on the apple airport... thats way overpriced based on some of the other options available that MCDO talked about in this thread.
But if you think upgrading to G over B will get you a better internet experience... it won't.
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
I'm going to look into more of what linksys has. And those will have the thernet ports so I can replace my existing router, not have 2 routers. I can always return the Apple one. $180 is kind of insane
DjPiLL
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by marymoon
$180 is kind of insane
Gotta love the brilliance of apple's marketing strategy.
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by DjPiLL
Posted by marymoon
$180 is kind of insane
Gotta love the brilliance of apple's marketing strategy.
I really don;t get why they expect ytou to pay $180 for a router (then again i just did..and the undiscounted price is $200). I guess when they made the comptuers more affordable they kept the peri[herals expensive to make sure they get you one way or another. Everything else conencted with this computer I feel like I'm getting a great deal on esp with my education discounts, but the routehr and the warranty are killing me
DjPiLL
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by marymoon
I guess when they made the comptuers more affordable they kept the peri[herals expensive to make sure they get you one way or another. Everything else conencted with this computer I feel like I'm getting a great deal on esp with my education discounts, but the routehr and the warranty are killing me
Their computers are still a little overpriced. But with Apple... you pay extra for the supposed 'coolness' of apple.
I am sure the apple airport looks much 'prettier' than the ugly Linksys router.
But is that worth the extra $100 plus buks? Hell no.
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
It is prettier, but I don't really cae about that. It has slightly better performance ratings than similar linksys routers. I just got off the phone with FH who keeps telling me to stick with the Apple because it's covered under my warranty (and my school does on site warrant repairs and tech support for apple computers and peripherals) and because it's small so I can transport it to his house if I need to. Which would make the airport express the better buy, if I want it for portability, not range. I'm just 100% totally confused!
ckgmwedding
Posted:
Member since
Re: Who has a wireless network at home?
Posted by marymoon
It is prettier, but I don't really cae about that. It has slightly better performance ratings than similar linksys routers. I just got off the phone with FH who keeps telling me to stick with the Apple because it's covered under my warranty (and my school does on site warrant repairs and tech support for apple computers and peripherals) and because it's small so I can transport it to his house if I need to. Which would make the airport express the better buy, if I want it for portability, not range. I'm just 100% totally confused!
If you get free tech support with your Apple, and on site warranty repairs, its totally worth the money in my opinion.
