Best Wireless NIC card for linksys WRT54GS

bigblockmatt · Post by **bigblockmatt** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:44 am

Hey, currently i have my comp hardwired into the router...problem is it is in the garage (which is cold this time of year) and it is right next to our water heater with has a fan on it that turns on everytime the waterheater gets used... so i would like to move my desk into my upstiars bedroom but i cannot run wires to it since i am in a 3 story apartment.

What would be the best card for a Linksys WRT54GS. its got the "speedbooster" thing on the router - not sure what that means. I know i will probably take a significant hit in speed, but rather that than the cold and the water heater.

thanks.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:31 pm

I have the same router.....just not the "S" version.
They work with just about any adapter. If the router will be near the heater and downstairs signal might be a problem.

IF there is a signal issue you can get a emply pringles can --> google "pringles can wifi mod" --> believe me, it works

bigblockmatt · Post by **bigblockmatt** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:01 pm

ya, i know that any one would work...but i am looking to maximize my signal and speed. Ive heard there is a card that is suppose to "match" that router with the "speedbooster" thing...

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:07 pm

bigblockmatt wrote:ya, i know that any one would work...but i am looking to maximize my signal and speed. Ive heard there is a card that is suppose to "match" that router with the "speedbooster" thing...

Yep, you need a Linksys PCI or USB adapter that supports Speedbooster to take advantage of the ~108mbit speeds.

Are you only using the router for internet access? If you are......speed booster will do nothing. Your DSL will be ~5mbit max, but if the router connects to your pc @ ~24mbit then who cares....it's still faster than the internet connection. You'll only need the extra speed if you have a private WLAN used to share files etc.
Is there no other phone point or cable connection in the house that you can use?

bigblockmatt · Post by **bigblockmatt** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:38 pm

thanks bud for the fast good help. heres more info on the situation.

we are on DSL - the fastest one we could get for the home.

we have it set up downstairs in garage because (currently, including mine) there are 2 pcs wired in the garage and one wired in the bedroom downstairs. Total 3 wired computers downstairs (1st floor)

modem and router downstairs(1st floor)

What i do with comp: internet, download, BF2, FTP stuff, share some files between the comps., print to other comp... thats about it.

I want to take the least amount of "hit" in going from wired to wireless. This is my current internet access https://swot.sbc.com/swot/dslMassMarket ... =DYNAMICIP

If distance is more of an issue that actual speed, is there another/better card to get better reception?

bigblockmatt · Post by **bigblockmatt** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:47 pm

also, yes, there are phone jacks in each room. can i have two modems hooked up in the same house?

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:50 pm

bigblockmatt wrote:thanks bud for the fast good help. heres more info on the situation.

we are on DSL - the fastest one we could get for the home.

we have it set up downstairs in garage because (currently, including mine) there are 2 pcs wired in the garage and one wired in the bedroom downstairs. Total 3 wired computers downstairs (1st floor)

modem and router downstairs(1st floor)

What i do with comp: internet, download, BF2, FTP stuff, share some files between the comps., print to other comp... thats about it.

I want to take the least amount of "hit" in going from wired to wireless. This is my current internet access https://swot.sbc.com/swot/dslMassMarket ... =DYNAMICIP

If distance is more of an issue that actual speed, is there another/better card to get better reception?

Yeah distance will be the problem. The further they are apart the lower the speed gets and also the WiFi connection also tends to drop a lot.
You can buy more powerfull antennae for greater signal. I haven't looked into it much as my router is directly underneath me, in the room below.
http://komplett.ie/k/kl.asp?bn=10280
But I don't know what ones will work with Linksys.........sorry.

My guess is, it will work fine but to be sure I'd buy brand name. (I use a very cheap usb wifi adapter and have no probs.....but distance isn't much of an issue for me)

I did have a Linksys PCI WiFi card before and that gave low signal! It was because the arial was too close to the wall. If you don't use Linux, get a USB adapter which also has an extension cable/cradle, so you can place on your desk(s)

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:52 pm

bigblockmatt wrote:also, yes, there are phone jacks in each room. can i have two modems hooked up in the same house?

No you can't have 2 modems plugged in, only one can have DSL Synch @ a time. You could move the router to another ph point, but if your internal wiring isn't very good it might not get synch.

bigblockmatt · Post by **bigblockmatt** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:05 pm

I dont think it distance will be that large of a problem...i will be pretty much directly above the router...just 2 stories above it.

so, would you reccomend a desktop adaptor - http://www.compusa.com/products/product ... CI_Adapter - thats without the speed booster, or the speedbooster one, or a usb one? i guess i could get one of each now, and test them and return the one that doesnt work as well...

HONkUS · Post by **HONkUS** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:25 pm

I found this from google, I cant wait to try this with my 3g antenna when I get home. Its a printable template for making your own directional reflector. Also you might want to talk to Dragon_Cooler he is into all kinds of RF stuff.

Here it is.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:26 pm

I had that card (Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter, 802.11g)

The signal wasn't too great for me......I have my pc under the desk and the back, therefore the arial is against the wall and that's only only floor (directly) above. If you can return it used, then why not try it. I can't be sure if the speedbooster version would be any better.....I've never come across it. (Since I've worked for ISP's for ~6 years I've see a few routers/adapters

)

If I was you, I'd get the one linked.......your not going to get much faster with speedbooster anyway. If you really need speed get a new router that supports 80211n. It's MUCH faster.....the only problem is that it it has issues with compatibility.....it's available but I'd wait a bit more.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:28 pm

HONkUS wrote:I found this from google, I cant wait to try this with my 3g antenna when I get home. Its a printable template for making your own directional reflector. Also you might want to talk to Dragon_Cooler he is into all kinds of RF stuff.

Here it is.

NICE! I may try this also!

bigblockmatt · Post by **bigblockmatt** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:45 pm

thats pretty cool. do you think it would help to have it on the receiving end also, or just the router?

im kinda new to the whole wireless ball game.

bigblockmatt · Post by **bigblockmatt** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:51 pm

i got this card http://www.compusa.com/products/product ... CI_Adapter im going to be installing it today. ill let you all kno how it wors out.

bigblockmatt · Post by **bigblockmatt** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:49 am

Little update.

I moved the desk upstairs successfully. installed the network card fine. i installed it when it was still hardwired into the router to make sure everything worked properly. Brought it up stairs, AND IT WORKS GREAT! i get excellent signal, and havent seen any speed difference.

Thanks again for the help!!

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:59 pm

Sweet!!

No need to Mod a new antennae then