[MLB-WIRELESS] Dedicated AP hardware vs PC + card

[Luke]

What hardwae and software/kernal is goint to be used for this?
----- Original Message -----
From: Jay Fajardo <jfajardo at digitelone.com>
To: <melbwireless at melbwireless.dyndns.org>
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: [MLB-WIRELESS] Dedicated AP hardware vs PC + card


> First time to actively post here...
>
> My opinion is that both approaches have advantages and disadvantages.
>
> A PC + card approach, depending on the card, would be more flexible to
> antenna modifications. It would also give you more flexibility on the OS
> and the software which may be important if network
> authentication/security is an issue. And if you put it on a self-built
> desktop, it would be definitely cheaper loaded with IP routing software.
>
> An AP though most definitely reduces the "mucking about" factor. But
> from my experience with a DWL1000AP, antenna mods are difficult since
> it's got an internal diversity antenna which is fixed. You'd have to
> fool around with the main board and the solders are unmanageably tiny.
> The external flexible antenna though can be yanked out revealing a TNC
> socket. An external antenna is definitely a must as the signal is very
> weak.
>
> But tha package is small and light and I believe can run 24x7. I'm wary
> though about the power adaptro which really heats up. A PC would have
> some kind of fan but consume more power.
>
> I'm tempted to get a Linksys Wap11 which boasts of a stronger antenna
> pair and perhaps a higher power output.
>
> It is next to impossible though to get equipment here in Manila quickly
> as the local dists make the AP's very expensive.
>
> |-----Original Message-----
> |From: Joe.Parry at nt.gov.au [mailto:Joe.Parry at nt.gov.au]
> |Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 9:23 AM
> |To: melbwireless at melbwireless.dyndns.org
> |Subject: [MLB-WIRELESS] Dedicated AP hardware vs PC + card
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |Opinions time:
> |
> |What is better, getting a dedicated piece of hardware for an
> |Access point (Apple
> |Airport?) or setting up a PC (In this case, an old digital
> |laptop picked up from auction (260$, wot a bargain!) with a
> |wireless card + normal network card in the PCMCIA slots).
> |
> |Price is not really an issue, but as my node will be the
> |centre of a star topography type wireless LAN, the thing will
> |have to be running 24/7 and be reliable so Im thinking that a
> |wireless router would be better than a PC (Less muckin around
> |with installing and maintain linux/windoze software, less
> |sadness when lighting strikes cooks what's on the end of the
> |wire). I must admit Im tempted to buy a wireless router for
> |the 'toy' value alone.
> |
> |So, whose had experience with wireless routers? What have you
> |got and how hard was it to plonk an antenna on it? Was it
> |worth the extra  bucks? Am I correct in calling these things
> |wireless routers? :)
> |
> |Cheers
> |
> |Joe Parry
> |
> |PS: Saw this on Toms Hardware
> |(http://www4.tomshardware.com/technews/technews-20011024.html#0
> |621)  Does anyone know if these products are available in Aus?
> |The Wireless Cable/DSL Router looks most tasty.
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |   Belkin Puts Out Five New Wireless Networking Gadgets
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |        Wireless  home  networking, despite its price tag,
> |lets you hook up all of your computing
> |        devices  without  the negative effect that punching
> |holes in walls and running cables can
> |        produce  in  your  landlord.  Belkin's efforts to keep
> |you from getting evicted include a
> |        slew  of new 802.11b-compliant wireless devices that
> |will begin shipping in North America
> |        next  month. Belkin says its line of products offers
> |11Mbps data transfer rates, data and
> |        network  security with 64/128-bit WEP data encryption,
> |and its own Belkin SOHO Networking
> |        Software. The Belkin 11Mbps Wireless Access Point,
> |priced at $179.99, gives you a command
> |        point for hooking up your devices. The Belkin 11Mbps
> |Wireless Cable/DSL Router, priced at
> |        $229.99,  has  an  integrated  3-port  10/100 Base-T
> |Ethernet switch and an NAT firewall.
> |        Features  include  IP-Sec pass-thru, to let you use
> |Virtual Private Networking (VPN), and
> |        DMZ hosting, which lets you place computers outside of
> |the firewall for online gaming and
> |        the  like.  The  Belkin  11Mbps  Wireless Universal
> |Serial Bus (USB) Adapter, which costs
> |        $99.99,  lets  you  hook  computers  up  to the
> |network without cracking open the case or
> |        wasting  a  PCI slot. Last but not least, Belkin is
> |pitching two add-in cards: the Belkin
> |        11Mbps  Wireless  Notebook  Card  ($99.99)  for
> |notebook computers, and the Belkin 11Mbps
> |        Wireless  Desktop  PCI  Network Adapter Card ($39.99).
> |While I'm generally against cutesy
> |        names for computer products, such utilitarian product
> |names seem a tad uncreative.
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
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>
>
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