[kwlug disc.] detecting wireless

[Unsolicited]

Oksana Goertzen wrote, On 3/08/2007 2:44 PM:
> 
> 
> On 3/7/07, *Unsolicited* <unsolicited at gto.net 
> <mailto:unsolicited at gto.net>> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>     Personally I would strongly suggest you wait, if you can, before
>     buying wireless again.
> 
>     And all I mean by that is ... 802.11n is coming. 300 Mbps. Pre-draft
>     devices are out now, but I've yet to see one that promises standard
>     compatibility after it's released. 
> 
> 
> Yeah, I was thinking this as well too - I should wait if at all 
> possible.  And of course, the newest stuff ->  pre or post N isn't the 
> cheapest either.

Ah, heck, it's not bank breaking. $150, for the number of years you'll
get out of it won't kill anyone. Especially since, if 300Mbps is truly
delivered, you shouldn't need one ever again.

> 
> 
>     If you consider your purchase disposable, do it. Check out
>     factorydirect on Victoria, for example.
>     http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/category_list.php?cat=1320.
> 
> 
> Even Best Buy or Future Shop has had some deals on wireless lately.. so 
> I'll take a good look around.  I'd like to confirm that it's not working 
> before I buy something else.

Yeah, but for $15 or $20, you get a backup unit, if necessary, that
will always be around to confirm / deny suspect equivalent.

> 
> 
>     In your case, even better, you get something to test with (if new one
>     acts same as old, old one isn't broken), and you extend your range.
>     Plunk the new one upstairs, have it talk to the old one, and voila,
>     you'll have 4 copper connections available to you too.
> 
> 
> How would I do that - extend the range?  I have an 50+ year-old house 
> and the walls are pretty thick in the basement, so to have the DLink 
> wireless device in the basement talk to another wireless router would be 
> good.  I have a Linksys VOIP router that handles DHCP  and connects to 
> Rogers and my existing DLink handles the wireless and is in bridge mode.
> 
> Thanks, Oksana

Caveat: I've never done it, but I've always kept an eye out that it is
possible.

There use to be a separate class of device called an access point. My
understanding is that all (home/consumer) wireless routers are also
access points. Access points 'bridge' networks rather than 'routing'
them. i.e. Devices on both sides of the bridge have the same network
(mask). Not that it really matters - with a router devices on one side
of the device are one network, those on the other, another. If all
your devices think both networks are yours, all should be well. Just
an extra thing you have to think about when wandering around - am I on
the upstairs network and it's going flaky due to distance, or on the
downstairs one, etc.

Some devices have configuration options for bridging. I suspect, in
any case, you put both on the same network (SSID) with encryption, and
  'they get happy'.

I would expect if your wireless adapter sees your current router when
you're on the 'ground' floor, but not on the upper floor, putting the
2nd router on the ground floor should have your adapter when on the
3rd floor talk to it, and it talks to the basement.

Caveat - from everything I've read, if any non-802.11n devices are
connecting, _everything_ slows down to the lowest common denominator.
So, assume a transition phase, and that's why a $20 disposable
purchase today may still be worthwhile.

	On the other hand, maybe in non-bridging mode my Palm talks to the
$15 cheapie on it's own SSID, and connects to 802.11n via copper.
Leaving the 802.11n adapted laptops, etc. alone on their own SSID.
[The palm is never going to talk 300 Mbps.]

Disclaimer: These are my impressions and opinions. I've not done it, yet.

	I would very much appreciate those truly in the 'wireless know' to
comment and confirm/deny my perceptions, and perhaps provide a little
more solid guidance.