Members Jeff da Weasel Posted August 24, 2005 Members Posted August 24, 2005 Craig, you've already received a bunch of great info. I only want to add one thing: make sure that your DSL provider gives you enough filters for each phone that actually plugs into a wall jack. One last comment: I use a 5.8GHz digital cordless phone here, and not only does it run without interference on any other stuff, but the range is outstanding. I often have conversations over 100' away from the base station with no static or dropouts. I could probably go further, but then I'd be talking on the phone in the middle of the street... generally a bad idea. - Jeff
Members Rabid Posted August 24, 2005 Members Posted August 24, 2005 Originally posted by franknputer BTW - for wireless security, I'd suggest MAC-based access filtering: each network device has a MAC address, basically a unique hardware number. In the Linksys, for example, there is a page in the setup where you can keep a list of "accepted" MAC addresses. Then, only those devices will be allowed to connect to the wireless network. .... That is what I do and it was much easier to set up than accounts and passwords. I have three PC's wired, a Tivo on wireless, and a laptop that swings both ways. I use Linksys and I do recommend Wireless G for anyone in music. I downloaded 60 meg of updates for a softsampler this week. You never know when you are going to need the bandwidth. Even if you are not going to start out with wireless I suggest you get a wireless router just in case. I'll give you a tip on a problem I had a few months back when I switched form cable to wireless. With some phone companies you don't just plug and go. You have to log into a special browser page to enable your account and modem. Otherwise it looks like you have no connection. It took me three calls to my company before I got a service person that knew about that step. Also watch your start-up date and your bill. I was charged for DSL service starting form the time I called and signed up. It took them a week to send me a modem, and another two days to figure out they had not enabled my account, and then three calls for them to realize they had not sent me the letter with information on how to enable the account. But it took only one call to get two weeks credit. Robert
Members daklander Posted August 24, 2005 Members Posted August 24, 2005 Am I the only one with a wireless router that also has hard wire connections? Mine is hardwired to two computers and runs three others wireless. I print from this laptop to the printer I have upstairs that is switched between the two hard wired computers. I just choose the printer that is switched to the computer that happens to be on. I can also access anything on any of the computers including the Linux box. Sweet way to go, dual use, IMHO.
Members KB Gunn Posted August 24, 2005 Members Posted August 24, 2005 Originally posted by daklander Am I the only one with a wireless router that also has hard wire connections? Mine is hardwired to two computers and runs three others wireless. I print from this laptop to the printer I have upstairs that is switched between the two hard wired computers. I just choose the printer that is switched to the computer that happens to be on. I can also access anything on any of the computers including the Linux box. Sweet way to go, dual use, IMHO. No you are not the only one, I have an almost identical set up. Craig, you should know that DSL does not even come close to the speed of high speed cable like road runner. I had DSL with Sprint for about a year and found it very unstable. It was also not significantly faster than the way you have been connected before. What took ten minutes to download on DSL takes 10 seconds on Road Runner. If you have access to cable you may find that more satisfactory than DSL for about the same cost.
Members Jon Doe Posted August 24, 2005 Members Posted August 24, 2005 Originally posted by daklander Am I the only one with a wireless router that also has hard wire connections?Mine is hardwired to two computers and runs three others wireless. I print from this laptop to the printer I have upstairs that is switched between the two hard wired computers. I just choose the printer that is switched to the computer that happens to be on.I can also access anything on any of the computers including the Linux box.Sweet way to go, dual use, IMHO. My setups are like this too. I do this for a living, and I'd rather do wireless than make wire runs through the house. For distance I use WAPs set up as repeaters which cost $50 maybe. USB wireless adapters for the workstations rather than network cards ...Clonk here!
Members Dylan Walters Posted August 24, 2005 Members Posted August 24, 2005 If you do decide to go Wireless then I'd highly recommend this Linksys router: http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?childpagename=US%2FLayout&packedargs=c%3DL_Product_C2%26cid%3D1115416825933&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper I have setup a few for some businesses and they rock. The range and signal strength is absolutely insane! Also, as others have said MAC address filtering is a good way to go, although, I would combine this with encryption just to be safe. I keep the wireless on my router disabled unless I absolutely need to use it.
Members Rabid Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by daklander Am I the only one with a wireless router that also has hard wire connections? .... Check the post above yours.
Members daklander Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by Rabid Check the post above yours. I saw the TIVO reference. To me TIVO is just a television hard drive. Don't be offended, I'm not a heavy user of movies or television/video so didn't realize it also was computer related, other than having a hard drive.
Members XXX Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Just bought this today to replace my 4 port hardwired . At Best buy right now its 69 buxs with a 20 dollar rebate . Wireless and 4 port for 49 dollars cmon ! WRT54G V3.0 http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?childpagename=US%2FLayout&packedargs=c%3DL_Product_C2%26cid%3D1115416825557%26site%3DUS&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper Wireless-G Broadband Router V3.0 All-in-one Internet-sharing Router, 4-port Switch, and Wireless-G (802.11g) Access Point Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired and Wireless-G clients Wireless data rates up to 54Mbps -- 5 times as fast as Wireless-B (802.11b), but also interoperable with Wireless-B devices (at 11Mbps) Advanced security: Wi-Fi Protected Access
Members Anderton Posted August 25, 2005 Author Members Posted August 25, 2005 Craig, you've already received a bunch of great info. No kidding! I'm going to check out some of the non-DSL options, too. I'm already set up with DirecTV but I think Comcast will let you do cable modem only around here, you don't need to take their TV package. And regarding OS9...I just realized my wife is still using OS9. The broadband thing gives me a good excuse to force her on to the OS X bandwagon!
Members daklander Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by doug osborne WiFi works at 2.4 GHz, as do many wireless phones and the Tranzport DAW controller. Some Wireless Access Points are bothered by this Hmm, I wondered about that before I purchased my new wireless laptop mouse. It's at 2.4Ghz but so far no problems with my wireless router at home, or the wireless routers at the three offices I take this thing to. That leads me to think the interference isssue may be proximity related. At home, since the old mouse failure and subsequent purchase of the new 2.4Ghz unit, the pc and mouse is used on the first floor with the router on the second floor. Distance? Maybe, straight line, 25 feet at home and maybe a bit more at the offices.
Members Dylan Walters Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by Anderton I'm already set up with DirecTV but I think Comcast will let you do cable modem only around here, you don't need to take their TV package. I'd use DirecPC only as a last resort if at all possible. The clients that I've had who used it at one point had terrible luck having a steady connection and the speed was sometimes as slow as dial up. My personal preference is for Cable 1st, DSL 2nd, and Satellite 3rd.
Members offramp Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Yeah, Craig...I'd look heavily at other options than Qwest. They don't have a good rep around here. Not real thrilled with Comcast, either, but that might be the better of the two options. Don't know about 3rd party providers in your area.
Members BOOKUMDANO Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 ....My personal preference is for Cable 1st, DSL 2nd, and Satellite 3rd.... Boy, I now place Fios at the top. I just rerouted a Linksys router from the dsl modem over to the new Verizon fios modem. WOW! Specs are 15mbps average speed. I can call Verizon to switch on 30mbps, but I'm not sure yet whether I'll need that kind of speed. Whatever the realistic speed that downloads and uploads are happening at right now, it's fast! Almost makes my old dsl seem like dial-up on some of this stuff.
Members where02190 Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 We've been comcast for years, when they were ATT and Mediaone. Very very reliable service, however it's pricey, at around $50/month if you rent the modem. My next door neighbor has Verizon DSL, and is always commenting on how the Comcast braodband blows it away for speed. Comcast is Broadband, not DSL. DSL is a consitant speed, but that speed is dependant on your distance from the enarest substation, the closer you are the faster your connection. Broadband speeds vary, but are always at least as fast as DSL, and top out at about 6x that of DSL. The variable is dependant on how many users on your node are active at the time. I've never found broadband to be even remotely slow, and given the amount of uploads and downloads we do, it is totally worth the money.
Members Magpel Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 I thought the 802.11g wireless standard allowed a maximum speed of 54 mbps, yet with the Linksys WRT54GS system I just installed, the network is routinely reporting speeds 125 and 110 mbps. In fact, it never dips below 80 mbps. I ain't complaining, but what's going on here? Why do I seem to be not merely exceeding but doubling the maximum speed allowed by the standard? The GS router and adapters employ Linksys's proprietary "speed booster" technology (Belkin and Netgear have their own "turbo" versions as well) but most experts seem to regard this feature as primarily a marketing boost. Linksys themselves claims that speedbosster can increase speeds by up to 35%. Well, I seem to be enjoying a boost of over 100%... I only bought the GS (as opposed to the standard "G") router and adapters because I got a ridiculously good deal on them--a one day 10% discount at buy.com coupled with a month-long $10 rebate per item from Linksys. Again, no complaints, just curious. [edit: I should add that my broadband provider, RoadRunner, claims max speeds of 3 to 5 mbps, so it's not as if the blazing performance I'm getting from Linksys is doing much for me, until such time as I start sharing more than broadband, at least]
Members doug osborne Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by daklander Hmm, I wondered about that before I purchased my new wireless laptop mouse. It's at 2.4Ghz but so far no problems with my wireless router at home, or the wireless routers at the three offices I take this thing to. That leads me to think the interference isssue may be proximity related. Yes, from what I hear it is proximity-related, and some WAPS are better at rejecting this than others. My USR router sucked (it was a neighbor's phone, not mine, so there wasn't much I could do), but my Linksys WRT54G has worked flawlessly. I have a combination wired/wiresless network, and it works great. where summed up the situation pretty well - they all work (most of the DSL v. cable arguments are veeery Mac v. PC...), but Craig should compare DL speed/$. Comcast (soon to be Time Warner in my area) will soon up me to 8 MB service at no extra charge, apparently. But, if FIOS is available, go for it!
Members Mr. Botch Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by Dylan Walters I'd use DirecPC only as a last resort if at all possible. The clients that I've had who used it at one point had terrible luck having a steady connection and the speed was sometimes as slow as dial up. Last month's Consumer Reports gave DirecPC a solid thumb's-down also. This is another thread I'll be printing out, lots of good information for the future, thanks everyone. I guess not only am I the only guy still on dialup, but it looks like I'm the only guy with just one computer too. Guess I'll hitch up the horse and drive into town...
Members doug osborne Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by Mr. Botch Last month's Consumer Reports gave DirecPC a solid thumb's-down also.This is another thread I'll be printing out, lots of good information for the future, thanks everyone. I guess not only am I the only guy still on dialup, but it looks like I'm the only guy with just one computer too. Guess I'll hitch up the horse and drive into town... When did Utah get electricity?
Members Mr. Botch Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Hey, Utah needed electricity a long time ago, to light the Christmas lights on the gravestones!
Members daklander Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by doug osborne When did Utah get electricity? Botch's mouse is actually a hamster running in a wheel that powers up a little ac generator to run the computer.
Members Rabid Posted August 25, 2005 Members Posted August 25, 2005 Originally posted by daklander I saw the TIVO reference. To me TIVO is just a television hard drive. Don't be offended, I'm not a heavy user of movies or television/video so didn't realize it also was computer related, other than having a hard drive. I was talking about the reference to my laptop. When I stated that it swings both ways, I was not talking about, well, you know. ... If I use it at work or in the living room I go wired. If I sit with it on the back deck I go wireless. On trips I use it both ways, depending on what the hotel has available.Robert
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