New to wireless

[Harty]

morning,

 

ive been using a wired connextion since ive had the net, and now im wanting to move the computer elsewhere in the house, so i need a wireless network card for a dekstop computer.

 

i already have a netgear wireless router, but i no my computer hasnt got a wireless network card. ive been looking for one on the net but i have no idea what is good and what isnt,

 

besides that not even sure where you install the network card to, is it just any empty PCI slot? as i have a free one under my GFX card

 

Not looking for anything to expensive, but something decent enough for online gaming

 

a point in the right direction would be nice ;]

 

thanks

[Tootech]

A PCI card will do you fine, although USB will work too.

 

Have a look here for Netgear PCI card

 

Netgear WG311 Wireless-G PCI Card - Ebuyer

 

Just one query, do you know the model number of your router - ex DG834GT - some have a faster wireless capability, and longer range. It may pay to match the card and router spec - course that would cost more money!

[Harty]

hmm ill take a look, its one that virgin media give to you netgear, ill take a look now

 

 

WGR614 v9 ?

 

however yesterday i brought a:

 

Belkin F5D9050 G+ MIMO USB USB wireless adaptor

 

 

Belkin F5D9050 G+ MIMO USB at PC World - Buy cheap Wireless Network Cards - Belkin F5D9050 G+ MIMO USB USB wireless adaptor

 

this was no good, ill see what the one you shown is like when i order it

[BeeCeeBee]

The thing to do now Harty is to install the card and make sure that you can at least connect to your router. If you cannot connect to the internet we can deal with that next.

[Harty]

i connect to the net fine, at the moment the router is in the opposite room, and my online games still lag quite a bit so taking the computer upstairs with this wireless adapter will just lag it more,

 

i connect to the net fine, msn, xfire, webpages ect but my games are still slow

 

:)

 

i was looking arouund the net and came across

 

TP-Link TL-WN620G 108Mbps Super G Wireless LAN Adapter: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

[Tootech]

with this wireless adapter will just lag it more

 

Just want to put this in perspective.

 

I don't know what your Internet speed is, say its 3Mb/s. A 54g wireless adapter has a theoretical speed of 54Mb/s. Allowing for encryption traffic, and a good distance from the router, even if you had 2 out of 5 bar signal strength - so say 10 Mb/s signal, that is 3 times faster than your Internet connection.

 

A 108 Mb/s card may give you a slightly better signal at range, but if you have a good signal already you are wasting your money.

 

It's more likely that your ISP is causing the lags - who do you use?

 

this was no good

 

Can you let us know why the Belkin was no good

Edited February 19, 2009 by Tootech

[Harty]

i think my internet is 10Mb, and if i remember correctly when i had the wireless, my connection strength would be around 24.0mbps(?)-34.0mbps, and well for online gaming this isnt any good :\

 

my ISP, virgin media, i have no lag with them when im wired, and i use there own Router, netgear,

 

 

why belkin was no good?, well sitting in my room upstairs, with my router downstairs, i get a low-good connextion yeh this is good enough for MSN, web surfing and so on, but when i go onto a game, i get lag, and its only a lag spike every 2 minutes, so maybe a more powerfull wireless adapter would do.

 

so belkin is good :P, just dosent meet my needs? ;]

[BeeCeeBee]

I don't think that you are going to get the increase performance you expect by changing routers.

 

Have you tried doing a speed test both wireless and on the ethernet? I have found Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test to be pretty good but even if it is not entirely accurate the difference, if any, should be evident.

[Harty]

yes i done a speed test, first thing i did

but i wouldnt have to do a speed test to see there is a difference in connection speeds

 

+ i didnt mean router, i mean the USB receiver card,

[BeeCeeBee]

The only real way to test your theory that it is the card is to change the proximity of the pc to the router. (or, of course, just change the card) If the speed and performance is significantly better when very close to the router then there is a good probability that you are correct. On the other hand if it is not you either have a truly defective card or the problem lies elsewhere.

 

The distances you describe should not effect performance that drastically.

[Harty]

well, i walked around with the laptop to see if i got any difference, and yes the closer i am to the router the stronger the signal ( obviously ) at the point where i want the computer, getting about 24.0-34.0mbps,

 

the computer that i want the singal to go to is on the second floor, not sure on distances mabye 30-40(?) meters away from the router, not to sure

[Harty]

now ive bamboozled myself :)

 

is the strength of the signal upstairs, down to the distance of the wireless usb, or the data transfer speed?

[BeeCeeBee]

:D You anticipated my reply. It would be expected that the connection between the card and the router would be stronger. The issue is speed. Reread what Tootech had to say. Edited February 20, 2009 by BeeCeeBee

[Tootech]

Ok, we need some information from you in order to help you.

 

BeeCeeBee has suggested you do a speedtest, and has pointed you in the right direction.

 

I agree - please do this and post the results. Also, please do another speedtest using your wireless from wherever you want in the house. Post those results too.

 

my connection strength would be around 24.0mbps(?)-34.0mbps, and well for online gaming this isnt any good

 

Can you tell us why this isn't any good - it is nearly 3 times as fast as your Internet connection, which as far as the UK goes is at the top end of fast anyway. If it was showing connection strength of 15Mb/s it would still be faster than the actual Internet connection. Do you understand what I am getting at?

 

and its only a lag spike every 2 minutes

 

You told us that is a Belkin problem. Are you sure it is a Belkin adapter problem? There may be other interference. Have you had a look to check for other wireless networks in close proximity?

Have you changed wireless channel and had another go?

 

The other alternative to give you a wired connection is to use Homeplugs.

 

Basic principle is that your network is carried over your mains power sockets.

I can happily recommend them, and have used them successfully in various 'wireless difficult' situations.

 

Have a look here

 

Extra Value 85Mbps Powerline Homplug Adapter - Twin Pack - Ebuyer

 

For further checking of 'lag spikes' it may be worth using Traceroute to look at the time it takes to jump a signal from your computer and router to each server on the internet as the traffic reaches its destination. If you want more info on how to do this, ask us when all the other checks have been completed.

[Harty]

hmm :) the signal is good, but not strong enough for online gaming?

 

i think its down to the strength of the signal and not speed, becasue if i stood near the router with no walls, electricals in the way the speed would be up to 54mbps and so on

 

so maybe if i brought something like TL-WN422G. maybe the strength of the signal would pick up giving me a better speed?

 

or have i missed something :)

[Harty]

tootech

 

about the homeplugs, never come across these before ive had a quick read and a look, still a bit unclear how they work?

[BeeCeeBee]

Harty you do not seem to want to listen to advice being given to you. The 54mps has nothing at all to do with your connection speed to the net. Do you have 54 meg broadband? No.

 

That is only an indication of the speed available between your pc and the router. The router cannot deliver data faster than it gets it.

 

If your average connection speed to the router (the number you are using) is and remains vary low then you do have a problem but I do not see any indication of that. Very low would be consistently under your broadband speed.

 

Remember wireless does vary with conditions and is not perfect for gaming by any means.

 

If you want help we will be glad to provide it but you must follow the directions given or there seems little point.

[Tootech]

Homeplugs have a 3 pin mains plug and an ethernet socket in each plug.

 

Your Internet connection is shared over the mains in your house.

 

One would plug in to mains socket next to your router. You would use the supplied ethernet cable to connect from your router to the ethernet socket on the Homeplug.

 

You then plug in another Homeplug into a mains socket somewhere else in your house, next to or near your PC, plug in an ethernet cable from your PC in to the ethernet socket of this second Homeplug.

 

You will then be able to connect to the Internet with the PC.

 

The Homeplugs are used as an extension of your network, more than 2 can be used as long they are the same make/model. Others do work, but it cannot be assumed all makes are interchangeable.

 

Speed and reliablity is considered better than wireless in some situations - maybe yours is one of those. You can buy higher rated Homeplugs ie faster, but they cost quite a bit more money - there's a whole list of them on the link below.

 

Wired - Homeplug Adapters - Ebuyer

 

One thing to note is that they do not work between separate ring mains. So for example if you have an additional ring main for the garage, and hook one up there, and one in the house, chances are they will not work.

 

Also, some of them don't like being plugged into an extension block or surge protector - they are best plugged direct in to a mains socket on the wall.