Can you mix different brand routers and access points? Lightning blew up my router but the notebook card(on a pc that only requires 56k speeds) is fine and is netgear wireless b.

ANybody know of a cheap wireless signal booster? I don't need blazing fast speeds, dialup speeds are just fine.

 

yes. you just usually can't mix standards (like 802.11a and 802.11b....though you can do either with 802.11g).

 

is 802.11a stuff cheap, i'm guessing its slower than b)

 

actually, .11a is faster and more expensive than .11b.

 

oh, so 802.11b is the cheapest stuff out? I need it to go through alot of walls, i'm guessing i need a wireless signal booster, wireless g and a are only for transmission speeds and not for how far and penetrating they are, right?

 

Different brands are compatible assuming they function on the same standard. IE any 802.11b card will work with any 802.11b router/access point. There are 3 main standards.

11A - operates at 5Ghz, max transfer rate is 54Mbs (I think, around there).
11B - operates at 2.4Ghz trasfers at 11Mbs
11G - also operates at 2.4Ghz but trasfers 54Mbs

In reality, the 11A and 11G standard are closer to 20Mbs and the 11b is closer to 2-4. Even those slow speeds are still well above what your DSL or Cable can handle but much slower for computer to computer file transfers. The 2.4Ghz frequency is shared with portable phones and other devices so you can get crosstalk and interference but only depending on your situation (I have no issues but in a busy city you might). The higher frequency of the 11A standard means it avoids those issues but has a harder time transmiting through walls/floor so shorter range. I've always though of the range on these thing like range of voice. If your scream where the access point it and someone can hear it where the computer will be, you'll probably get a useable signal.

D-Link makes a wireless booster/repeater for about $75 I think. I think it only supports 11b (you'd have to check) but it seems like a good unit. I like D-link stuff personally and haven't any problems with either my 4port wired router or my newer 4 port router with 11b WAP.

Edit: Oh yeah, 11G stuff is backwards compatible with 11B but only runs at the 11Mbs speed. I think any 11B equipment on the network forces it all to slow down but it is compatible.

 

well, 802.11a runs at 5GHz while .11b and .11g run at 2.4GHz. b and g generally go further than a.

if you're going for cheap and fast enough to stream music or something. go with b. if you want faster stuff, go with g.

 

thanx for the help fellas

i found this for the signal booster http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...704639537&rd=1

and just gonna get the same old netgear router i had before