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JoeChalupa
06-17-2008, 07:57 PM
I want to use my laptops as wireless. Is 100mps a decent way to go? I don't want to spend a lot but I also want a decent connection.
I found some at Wal-mart online and also Radio Shack.
Thanks.

PM5K
06-17-2008, 08:12 PM
You should probably be more specific.

Dex
06-17-2008, 09:05 PM
There are three different wireless specifications that are currently in use.

802.11b is Bluetooth technology and sends at about 11 Mb/s. Cell phones and PDAs use this wireless tech and send at this speed; as would sharing internet from these devices.

802.11g is the current standard and sends wirelessly at 54 Mb/s. Most wireless cards that are installed in laptops and computers these days are 802.11g capable, as well as most of the routers that people are still using.

802.11n is a new specification that is currently being released on all new wireless cards installed in Macs and some new PCs. There are also a variety of 802.11n routers available now, which sends at about 100 Mb/s. Keep in mind, you must be working with both a 802.11n card and an 802.11n router. If you buy an 802.11n Router and all of your computers only have 802.11g-compatible wireless cards, then you will only work at the g-speeds.

So in essense, make sure your computers have wireless cards (either installed, or sometimes these will be PCI / USB devices ), and you will also need to purchase a wireless router to connect to your modem. I recommend Linksys, DLink, or Apple's Airport line. The box should tell you what specification these are capable of.

Why the fuck am I still talking about work stuff at home. Damn you Spurstalk.

mouse
06-18-2008, 11:21 AM
You can get 100 mb/s or 1000,000 mb/s If you live in the cheesy apartments like I do your still only going to get 600kb/s with AT&T or TimeWarner. and that is on a good day!

I have never seen 1 mb/s Besides your not a downloader you and your kids just surf the net so you can go with the cheap stuff!.

Heath Ledger
06-18-2008, 12:38 PM
before you go out and spend the doe on a new wireless router check your local craigslist, you will find one cheap and can jew the person down usually. just make sure to meet in a public place, Starbucks is always good, why pay $50-$100 for a wireless router when youc an get one for $20-$25

spurster
06-18-2008, 12:46 PM
802.11g is safe, tried and true. Most every laptop you can buy has 802.11g builtin. 802.11n is faster, but you would need to add wireless cards to your laptop(s) to take advantage of it. Also, the 802.11n standard is not quite finalized, so you probably have to update your router and laptop as that happens. 802.11n probably won't be a big performance boost for you because Starbucks, etc. don't use it, and at home, your DSL or cable modem connection is your bottleneck. 802.11g speeds are already much faster than your DSL or cable modem line. Maybe 802.11n signals have a longer range, I don't know.

DizzG.
06-18-2008, 02:03 PM
I think someone in the buy and sell forum has a router for 15 dollars!

Phizx dude

Dex
06-18-2008, 04:03 PM
Maybe 802.11n signals have a longer range, I don't know.

They do. Generally n-routers will go about twice as far as g-routers (in ideal situations, which nobody ever encounters).

Not to mention that anytime a device WITH a g-capable card joins your n-capable network, it has to split the stream to provide both wireless specs and can also decrease performance.

Like spurster said, most routers with 802.11g are good enough for home situations, and most computers in peoples homes today are still running on this technology.

PM5K
06-18-2008, 04:29 PM
Sucks for you mouse, I get 12mb...

pickle girl
06-18-2008, 05:14 PM
Thats BS show me a screen shot! The most I have seen a file come in is like 800 kbs.

PM5K
06-18-2008, 05:53 PM
I have Road Runner Turbo, I used to get almost 7mbps, now I get about 12mbps...

pickle girl
06-18-2008, 06:19 PM
Why can't that shit be normal download speeds? So they hold back the speeds for people who pay less? That is like a Taxi driver riding the brake peddle unless you tip him. The cab can get you to the airport in 15 minutes but he will take his time on purpose?

Ok let me get this straight I will run an Emergency room in a Hospital and those who pay extra I will see first?

:bang

Heath Ledger
06-18-2008, 07:13 PM
I have verizon fios 15mb down/2mb up $55 per month.

Heath Ledger
06-18-2008, 07:15 PM
http://www.speedtest.net/result/285651792.pngMy Sprint Wireless laptop card is pretty damn fast too check it out.. Better than some dsl and its a mobile connection.

USA Employee
06-18-2008, 09:59 PM
Holy Cow! :wow

Dex
06-18-2008, 10:36 PM
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/omgscottlikewoah/Picture1.png

Here's what I get with my iMac running Suddenlink Cable service, standard package, with a couple torrents coming in. One of the few reasons I'm glad I have some little podunk company. They haven't seemed to figure out any reason to put any restrictions down yet.

PM5K
06-18-2008, 10:45 PM
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1604/28991538ay3.jpg

My upload is faster but I was uploading something when I ran that test...

Sense
06-18-2008, 10:57 PM
http://www.speedtest.net/result/285708787.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

since there's 3 people using this connection...

its nowhere near where id want it...... and this p.o.s. crashes... and as im typing this it crashed again...

leemajors
06-19-2008, 12:13 AM
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/omgscottlikewoah/Picture1.png

Here's what I get with my iMac running Suddenlink Cable service, standard package, with a couple torrents coming in. One of the few reasons I'm glad I have some little podunk company. They haven't seemed to figure out any reason to put any restrictions down yet.

suddenlink is a top 10 cable provider in the US.

Dex
06-19-2008, 12:54 AM
suddenlink is a top 10 cable provider in the US.

wha wha whaaaaat!?

They're commercials make them seem like they're owned by my Uncle Ted. And I don't even have an Uncle Ted.

Maybe they just need to put a little bit more money into advertising.

Heath Ledger
06-19-2008, 02:05 AM
http://www.speedtest.net/result/285748623.png

Mobile Broadband Connection Thru Sprint $55 per month and i can run 3 or 4 puters off of it with no problem theres a sweet wireless router that you can get and set it up anywhere as long as you have a good cell phone signal.

Heath Ledger
06-19-2008, 01:23 PM
http://www.speedtest.net/result/285964596.png

Thats my home connection with 2 other people surfing all on a wireless connection..

sabar
06-19-2008, 02:21 PM
Almost every single web/file server will limit bandwidth to the 100kBs-400kBs range per person, so a 100Mb/s ethernet connection is useless.

HOWEVER

Note that if you copy a lot of files over your local network, you will want 100Mbps or 1000Mbps connections. You can copy 20Gb of data in a couple minutes if both computers have 100Mbps+ ethernet.

If you are copying to/from a laptop with wireless connection, stick a cat5 cable into the ethernet port, you'll transfer files much faster.

AT&T gives me 32,000kbps but there isn't a website on the planet that will let me use all that bandwidth on a download because of server-client bandwidth rationing. The good thing is you can have 11 devices using that one connection without any of them slowing the others down.