Wireless Networking

Perusing the topics in this group "QL IT Corner". I decided to offer a few tips for all of those out there who have or want Wireless in their homes or offices.

Let me tell you I have owned quite a few wireless routers and devices in the past and at work I deal with Cisco Wireless AP (which by the way are very reliable but very expense). At home I use a Linksys wireless G router(Linksys is owned by Cisco). It works well, but I use third party firmware which gives me more options than the standard Linksys router firmware.

I used to use a Belkin N router, that is until it started failing and then the firmware corrupted. (still working on reviving it.)

Anyways, what would be some tips for Wireless users out there?

Which type of router should you buy?

That all depends on what you need it for. My own set up requires wireless access for multiple Laptops, my Apple TV and Mac Mini. I also use it for my IPhone and PSP when I feel lazy and don't want to get up off the couch to search the internet.

My advice would be to ask yourself do you need G-type or N-type wireless speeds. N-type wireless routers although very fast, are more expensive to own. Yes you can get blazing speeds through it but if your primary use is surfing the net perhaps downloading some files I have to ask how fast is your internet connection? Here in Qatar the speeds are not very fast. I have a 1Mb connection so a N-Type router would not really do me any good. Plus all the wireless data I pull across amounts to about 2 to 4 Mbps video going to my Apple TV. A G-type wireless router works perfectly for that.

When I bought a N-type router I figured I would give it a try and see if my wireless network improves. My thinking was, with the added channels and distance if I could get a better wireless signal, it would benefit me to have it. I was wrong.

As most of you know or have found out here in Qatar, everything is made of concrete and steel re-bar. Wireless signals suck inside homes and apartments. The signal does not pass through very well and the signals that do get through get degraded due to the re-bar in the wall.

One of the things that I had to do to overcome this was to ensure that my wireless router was in a prime location. In other words, try to have a clear line of sight to your antenna's. Where ever you do most of your wireless surfing. Can you get the signal in the bedroom? Absolutely however, try to get most of the signal to come in through the door. If you have a split level home, there is nothing that says you can not have more than one wireless router. Put them on the same IP address space and same SSID name and off you go, you can roam from downstairs to upstairs and still keep the connection.

Bottom line is Wireless routers are cool but they need to be strategically placed to get optimal signals. Just throwing up a wireless router might work in the beginning but as you walk around and try to connect in different places you might find out that it doesn't work as well as you had hoped.

I am sure there are tons of wireless routers that might have better reception however, in my experience it doesn't matter so much what router you buy but more importantly where you are going to put it.

Feel free to comment and tell us your experiences with different routers.