What access point do I need

Rob99 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 10:54 AM

Hi I have the opportunity to select my birthday present up to or around $150.

I already have a wireless network setup between me and a neighbour.

My setup is like this:

Cantenna up on the roof, and long coax cable to the wireless NIC.

What I want to do is shorten the coax cable and run cat5 to the computer from the access point, or wireless; it would be good if the access point has a 4 port switch/hub.
Wiring a plug point up in the ceiling would not be a problem if the access point needs power.
My computer also has onboard LAN and I'm running XP Pro.

Can you unscrew the aerials off all access points or just some?

What access point do you recommend?

The access points with two aerials, can you take one of them off and attach my cantenna and use the other to connect to my computer via the wireless NIC with a stubby antenna?

Cheers Rob

el · #2 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 06:20 PM

either linksys or Dlink could be your best option

PANiC_nz · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 09:00 PM

The Linksys WRT54G would suit all your requirements, but wouldnt fit the budget, they retail for around $180. If your using a high gain antenna like a cantenna then you can't use the second stock antenna. Instead of running a power cable all the way to the AP have you considered PoE?

richms · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Hi I have the opportunity to select my birthday present up to or around $150.
Cheers Rob

Seconded the WRT54G recommendation if you can stretch the budget a little, if you can stretch it a bit more, then the wrt54gs has a bit more memory in it to allow for more cool features with some firmware

You can bust open the stock antenna to get a reverse TNC cable a few CM long, which may save you a little on the cost of a pigtail

Rob99 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2004, 02:29 AM

The WRT54G is what I'll be asking for, thanks.

Quote:

Instead of running a power cable all the way to the AP have you considered PoE?

I would condider PoE, but I no nothing about it. Does it draw power from my onboard Lan card?

101Tom · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2004, 03:51 AM

Some good sites about poe http://socalfreenet.org/poe and http://www.nycwireless.net/poe/

Rob99 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2004, 11:54 PM

Unfortunately the budget for my present doesn’t stretch over $150.
So now I'm looking at these two:
http://www.dlink.com.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=138 and
http://www.cameo.com.tw/products/html/wire...ss/wlb-2203.htm.

Would appreciate some feed back on these models.

Thanks Rob

Skink · #8 (**permalink**) 10-16-2004, 07:17 PM

well the d-link is the better of the two, but if you're only using 11Mbps of the bandwidth anyways, go for the cheaper and more stable DWL-900AP+

I have one in a waterproof box, it isnt spare, but I will need to upgrade to WRT54GS someday, so if you want you can make that day sooner...

The need for a 10/100 switch or 10m hub is a bit pointless if its going to be on your roof 10m hubs are cheap, or you could just run the output from the AP in one e-net card on the host computer and the network out the other, bridged using internet connection sharing (easy to do)

Rob99 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-17-2004, 06:21 AM

Quote:

so if you want you can make that day sooner...

I would be glad to help, just name your price first.

Cheers Rob

Skink · #10 (**permalink**) 10-19-2004, 08:32 AM

Make a bid, it cost me $212 new, I then spend another $60 waterproofing it. I cant value it, but i'd like to be able to affort a WRT54GS with the outcome.

Rob99 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-19-2004, 10:40 AM

I think it may be out of the price range, thanks anyway.

Skink · #12 (**permalink**) 10-19-2004, 06:25 PM

the $150 price limit is not going to get you anywhere great, I sure regret putting a $300 budget on setting up my node , and those were 'new' prices I was quoting

whetu · #13 (**permalink**) 10-19-2004, 10:17 PM

take the 150 and put it away in a savings account. tell your bank to lock that account down.. if it doesnt have the exact amount you need, withdrawls are punishable by death...

then save until you can afford some decent gear.. remember, you get what you pay for.. there's a reason dlink is cheap

Noodles · #14 (**permalink**) 10-20-2004, 01:16 AM

I have a dlink 900+ in a waterproof box if you want it, $150

It doesn't have POE, but it has a seperate cable for power (dc cable), I had it working about a year ago, but moved since then and the area that I'm in now isn't good for wireless (I can't see anything from my house)

coolmhz · #15 (**permalink**) 10-20-2004, 01:24 AM

Some times cheap can be good

About 8 month ago i got a minitar MNWAPB AP in from aus and it has never missed a beat
you can find them for
Price are in AU$
1 for $88 ea + $14.50 for Economy Airmail
2 for $170 + $20.50 for Economy Airmail
5 for $400 + $39.00 for Economy Airmail

I am looking @ bring some more in

More info on then
http://www.freenet-antennas.com/aps_cards.htm

pearj · #16 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 01:19 AM

http://www.computermarket.com.au/ have the linksys wrt54g for $132.63 AUD which according to yahoo http://au.finance.yahoo.com/m5?a=132.63&s=...s=AUD&t=NZD&c=0 is $144.42, which is under $150!

Ok so that doesn't include shipping, but I wouldn't think it would be that much.

Here is a list of other online shops in aus who have the wrt54g: http://www.razorprices.com/hardware_list.p...=0&hardware=All[/url]