Re: reliable wireless router

On Wed, 2006-01-11 at 11:27 -0900, Fielder George Dowding wrote:
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> Here is my two pence:
>
> 1. I like _Linksys_ - Their purchase by Cisco has seemed to enhance
> their consumer offerings.

I hate to say it.. but their bad products are taking a turn to the good
side.

> 2. I wouldn't take a _D-Link_ anything if you gave it to me. They may
> have changed, but I don't want to waste anymore time experimenting.
> Windows users have good reports especially for an all D-Link system
> (wbr, pci, cardbus, etc.). I still have a 802.11b wbr and cardbus card
> that doesn't work with Linux. I had purchased (even after this
> experience - not the sharpest knife in the drawer) a wbr (b/g) for a
> client. I found the Ethernet jack (RJ45) was flaky, the reset did not
> work, and I could not set it up even with Windows. I took it back to
> CompUSA (it was within the return period) and traded it for a _Buffalo_
> (see number 4 below) wbr with extender.

D-Link stuff typically dies quickly IMHO.

> 3. _Netgear_ stuff works (most of the time). Damien and I had a cute
> little wireless (thingy - I don't remember the correct terminology) that
> connected to a Linksys wireless broadband router which provided access
> to the Internet via DSL from ACS here in town. It died after a year
> (maybe). It was on all the time (24/7). A friend of mine has a Netgeer
> wireless broadband router at home. He got it second-hand, and it has
> been working for a year or so, 24/7.

Netgear has pretty tough products IMHO.. Specifically the "industrial
grade" wireless routers and gateways. They also attempt to work with
full specs vs upsale their equipment with "pre-blah" specs.

> 4. CompUSA had some stuff called _Buffalo_ which I found easy to set up
> with a Linux box. I acquired three units. The first was a single
> wireless broadband router. It has been on 24/7 for some two years now. I
> needed to extend the coverage (g needs more power because it needs about
> five times the bandwidth as b, hence reliable coverage is about one
> fifth - rule of thumb lad and lassies - as a b) so when I went back to
> CompUSA the unit included an extender (wireless bridge) for a slightly
> higher price. It took me a little longer to set up the system because of
> the complexity, but it has been in service for more than a year, 24/7.
> The problem is availability is spotty. I think they are in Austin, TX,
> but CompUSA does not always have a selection of their offerings. I have
> the extra wbr here at home. I don't need the extender. It work great. I
> turn it on when I need it (daily).

> 5. _Belkin_ is another one that I shy away from. YMMV.

> 6. _Xyzel_ seems to work with Linux. I only have had experience with a
> pci card. It needs the ndiswrapper and the Windows XP driver to work in
> Linux. They may not make an wbr.

CompUSA carries another brand which is hawking. they don't suck nearly
as bad as you may think, I have used 3 current access points (that can
also operate as a bridge easily) for CPE and they have yet to up and
freak out - Forget their settings - etc..

> Well, there is my two pence. I sure got my money's worth. fgd.
>
> William Bouterse wrote:
> > Having had fits with my Blitzz Super G off and on
> > for a few weeks now and firmware upgrade still not resolving probs
> > I have decided to get another one on my next trip to Anchorage.
> >
> > Following the thread on the Linksys....Is there really any difference in
> > Linux friendly flavors of the b/g units available around town....
> >
> > The Blitzz worked fine for a couple of years as a wireless dialup
> > connected device
> > but find, now that I have dsl access, it has a mixed history with pppoe.
> >
> > Any quick and easy, "walk into this store and buy this unit at a good
> > price" would be
> > appreciated as I am "City Disfunctional" and find my shopping tolerance
> > level is
> > slipping as the years pass by. :o)
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > William (Bill) Bouterse
> > Talkeetna
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> >
> >
>
> - --
> Fielder George Dowding, Chief Iceworm .^. Debian/GNU Linux
> dba Iceworm Enterprises, Anchorage, Alaska /v\ "etch" Testing
> Since 1976 - Over 25 Years of Service. /( )\ User Number 269482
> ^^-^^ "irad" 301256
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-- 
Shane R. Spencer <shane@tdxnet.com>
TDXNet L.L.C.
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