T1B

Tomorrow, we are finally saying goodbye to dial-up, and having our new wireless "receiver" installed.

The husband of my wife's best friend keeps telling me that the new ISP is jacking me around, and that I don't need to blow the $$$ on an expensive router; that I could get by on just a switch, since I've only got 2 PCs that I'm initially going to connect....

I've done a little reading on the subject, but am still lost as to which way to go. If I can save $30-50 by just going with the switch, I'm game, but I also don't want to hurt my performance any in the process (although, going from dial-up to anything else is going to be light-years ahead of what we're used to).

Anybody got some insight to help a brother out???

Wireless is cool. But it can be tricky at times.

For instance, wireless phones operating at 2.4 gHz can interfere with the signal. You'll have to configure the router to broadcast on a different channel.

Next, is your neighborhood, if others have wireless there might also be a conflict. I was having some real bad problems in the neighborhood I just moved to, in my apartment when I was the only one, I had no problems at all. And by problems, I just mean I had minor inconveniences, occasional dropped connections, etc.. .etc.. which can be a bitch when trying to work from home via VPN or play an online game.

When I work or play online, I run a cable to my P.C.

It's suggested you put the wireless router at the highest most central point in the house. When I did this, my connections improved, but still not to my satisfaction. But it works great for my wife. She does occassional surfing, EMAIL, and school stuff. Her office is in the basement.

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The advantage of buying a router via a switch is you can expand, if you choose. If you buy the switch, you've spent that money. Then let's say you want a laptop and you or one of your family wants to cruise around the house with a laptop and stay connected. You have the wireless router and such to do it.


That my take. Have fun. Going back to dial-up at this point for me = ..... I don't need the internet much at all.