Wireless Home Networking, some help needed!

[GegeV2]

Hi all, noticing that Wireless N has recently been finalized, have decided to upgrade to Wireless N for my home.

Am using Wireless G currently, for bout a year or so.


I am not that into networking and such, though I have some basic knowledge of it

Nevertheless, I have some questions I wanna rectify/double confirm.



Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that having a rough idea of the hardware needed is crucial


So other than Router & Adapters, anything else is needed?


There are 3 computers, 1 HTPC, 2 Notebooks, and 2 printers(1 wireless, 1 normal) currently.

Might be getting a NAS if possible too.


What would be the preferred "setup"?




Brands to choose from:

D-Link
Cisco Linksys
Belkin
Netgear
Buffalo



I am using only D-Link products now

Preference would be to have everything from 1 brand only.


Pardon the "noobness" :o

Thanks!

[aaur4man]

N router must use N adapter to connect at N speed.

Otherwise u will connect at G only.

If you need high powered, consider buffalo or dir 655.

look for one with external antennas.

[jarred1223]

If using Singtel need to get those wireless N modem + router?

[GegeV2]

N router must use N adapter to connect at N speed.

Otherwise u will connect at G only.

If you need high powered, consider buffalo or dir 655.

look for one with external antennas.

Will be getting everything from scratch, basically router adapter anything that is needed

Any particular brand u recommend? I take it that its Buffalo and D-Link?

Thanks bro! :)

[liangtam]

Any brand any model, all will work.

[tankh80]

Hm....... for me I use 2WIRE 2701 HGV-E bridge with DLink DIR 655.........

[mike911]

if the router has adsl for singet then no need extra modem.

[GegeV2]

Noted

Router and Adapters only I guess.

[Dr_ARCHer]

You can either go for single band or dual band wireless N routers.

Single band 2.4 GHz Wireless are very common. Dlink DIR-655 is probably one of the more popular model, but some have expressed frustration with the recent firmware updates. Belkin and Linksys also have single band 2.4 GHz and they have their fair share of supporters and critics. Buffalo recently introduce a high-power single band router (WZR-HP-G300NH), but understand that IDA has a limit on the power.

For dual-band wireless, there is the Dlink DIR-855 and 825, the Linksys WRT-610N, and Belkin's model. Netgear just launched their new dual-band WNDR-3700 which is getting very good feedback. I'm looking to get my hands on this (haven't seen it listed in any HWZ pricelist, although www.netgear.com.sg has it listed on the website).

[GegeV2]

I believe routers like WNDR3700 / DIR-825 are more futureproof like mentioned right?

So taking into account that wireless adapters needed to be purchased as well, it would be highly recommended to get similar adapters matching the routers right?

So I should preferably look at Dual-band, dual-radio N routers/adapters?

[Dr_ARCHer]

I believe routers like WNDR3700 / DIR-825 are more futureproof like mentioned right?

So taking into account that wireless adapters needed to be purchased as well, it would be highly recommended to get similar adapters matching the routers right?

So I should preferably look at Dual-band, dual-radio N routers/adapters?

I don't think single band routers will disappear any time soon. If you look at WNDR3700, most of the newer stuff is on the 2.4 GHz band side...... there is hardly any new stuff on the 5 GHz band side. So if budget is an issue, then a good single band router will suffice.

If you can, you may want to get matching adaptors, though not necessarily from the same manufacturer. Cross brand interoperability is generally fine. But adaptors are cheaper than routers, so you can replace them when newer and better adaptors are available.

[ethanhua]

any brand, any wireless N model.

[GegeV2]

Here's the adapters I've narrowed down to,


Netgear RANGEMAX DUAL BAND WIRELESS-N USB 2.0 ADAPTER
WNDA3100

D-Link DWA-160 Xtreme N DualBand USB Adapter -$159??

Cisco Linksys Wireless-N USB Network Adapter with Dual-Band
WUSB600N -$93

Buffalo Nfiniti™ Wireless-N High Power Compact USB 2.0 Adapter WLI-UC-G300HP -$89

What's the pricing for the Netgear and D-Link ones? Can't find them in SLS pricing lists?

Thanks!