David Jenkins
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 12:52 PM |
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Why bother with a wireless LAN?
I was going to post this on the Linux/WLAN thread, but thought I'd widen the scope! 
Everybody's going bonkers about getting wireless LANs working, and I was just wondering why people bother.
pros:
You can wander around the room with your laptop.
cons:
Even a good wireless connection is slower than a normal 100Mb wired connection.
Getting WLANs to work can be a total PITA, whereas a wired link will (usually) work as soon as you plug it in.
There's a significant security risk - there are ways of adding security, but it's not always easy to understand and implement. Hackers
require physical access to the wiring to get into a wired network.
I read an article on 'The Register' not very long ago that said that it won't be very long before WLAN bandwidth runs out - more
people will get a home network, meaning that the limited number of channels will all be in use. If you're within range of 10 or more wireless
hubs then you might be struggling to find a channel.
David
(Ducks down behind the parapet and puts on his tin helmet...  )
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Benzine
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 12:54 PM |
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I like wireless, took seconds to set up. Now I can use the laptop in the garage whilst working on the car ^__^ I still prefer cables but wireless can
be very handy
The mental gymnastics a landlord will employ to justify immoral actions is clinically fascinating. Just because something is legal doesn't make
it moral.
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romer
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:01 PM |
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What about the plug-in networking that uses the mains citcuit to distribute the signals.
Anyone using that?
Romer
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mcerd1
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:01 PM |
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I like cables too (for all the resons above)
but even I'm getting a PCMICA wireless card - because no one else has cable anymore 
oh, and while we are on the subject (kind of) - how do you make a Vista home machine talk to an XP home one via a firewire cable ? (I can see the
network connection on my XP machine, but there is nothing on the vista one - and I don't know how to work vista  )
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vinny1275
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:01 PM |
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Likewise, I can use my laptop(s) anywhere in the house / garage, wireless connect my phone to the internet....
did used to have wires trailing all over the place, it was a death trap..... 
I do still use cabled from time to time when I need to download a large file, but it's the minority of times really....
Vince
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x_flow57
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:03 PM |
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Simple reason for me, a computer in all 3 kids rooms + 1 in the lounge + my laptop = wire running everywhere . It was much easier/neater to go
wireless.
Nick
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trogdor
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:11 PM |
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same as above really, much easier without the wires!
Though the network i set up at work is mostly wired and much more reliable. Only the laptops are wireless. We are in a business park and can count
over 30 wireless networks. Mostly using the same channel so it doesn't seem to be an issue. That said I did change ours just to make sure there
is no interference.
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r1_pete
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:16 PM |
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Its not unusual for me to have 3 or 4 laptops on the go, my work SWMBO's work, home lappy, car laptop etc. all those wires, no thanks.
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:17 PM |
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Thats like asking why the telephone was initially developed when we had a postal service.
pros: instant converstation
cons: set up and change over time and costs, poor/terrible connections, limited number of connections possible etc etc.
It all comes down to a lack of foresight. You'd never look back on the birth of the telephone in the same way you're now looking at what
is basically a technology in its infancy.
Within our lifetimes everything, everywhere will communicate wirelessly, with minimal hassle and very high speeds. For example, long before the number
of usable frequencies run out we'll be using a wide-area wireless network.
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iank
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:18 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by romer
What about the plug-in networking that uses the mains citcuit to distribute the signals.
Anyone using that?
Romer
Yes, works fine (posting via my mains now
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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McLannahan
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:20 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by romer
What about the plug-in networking that uses the mains citcuit to distribute the signals.
Anyone using that?
Romer
I do - as well as wireless. The plugs (homeplugs) are superb and I have my media PC connected this way to the router upstairs. I have the 100mb/200mb
versions and it's faultless - always works and very easy to use. Streams video and audio perfectly.
You do need to enable encryption on them too though if you have a shared power feed (flats, older houses etc..) So not truly plug play and forget.
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 01:43 PM |
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I have one desk, with desktop, wired in. I would never run a desktop wirelessly, but with only one desk, and three computers and a WII, it makes sense
to have easy options minus cables trailing everywhere.
Still have rj45 for desktop for online gaming etc.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:06 PM |
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I have two networks in the house both wired but when I need to cross over to the other network I simply plug in a USB key -- wham bam thankyou mamm
CONNECTED !
Some USB network interfaces work a lot better than others, I found the ones built in to Laptops are not up to much mainly due to the fact they built
into the case, while even the cheapest USB keys or PCI cards with separate remote aerials have far better wireless performance.
Make and cost is no indicator of how good a wireless device works even the sub 10 pound budget ones from Ebuyer are excellent -- just read the
reviews before you by.
As for speed for most users it dosen't matter as long as the wireless connection is faster than the ADSL speed it won't make any
difference.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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jabbahutt
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:08 PM |
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forgive my stupidity but what's this about using your house wiring as a network?
This sounds excellent, can anyone explain how easy to set up etc and what costs are involved?
Cheers
Nigel
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Dick Axtell
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:21 PM |
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Wireless - just about!!
Having bought Madam Sloggi a shiny new laptop for her birthday, (how romantic?? Her suggestion), I found that I had to go wireless.
Only seconds to set up?? N_B_W!!! Took most of this morning, including a jaunt out to buy another ethernet cable. For the PC (my computer, on which I
spend so much time, apparently). Still, tech back up from the Virgin team was pretty good.
Norton Symantec software (firewall thingy) seemed to cause the main prob.
Next, had to do full system recovery on wife's new laptop, 'cos access was barred for some unfathomable reason.
Now, I need to lie down in a darkened room for a while.
Work-in-Progress: Changed to Zetec + T9. Still trying!!
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wilkingj
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by romer
What about the plug-in networking that uses the mains citcuit to distribute the signals.
Anyone using that?
Romer
DO NOT GO THERE.
Please Please PLEASE do NOT use these mains LAN adaptors.
They polute the wireless airwaves.
They emit signals allover the band and radiate tens of metres from your house.
They work by using a HF frequency run over the mains wiring. They radiate spurious signals between 0 and 30Mhz. I dont mean just in spots, but
broadband (Not Internet BB) signals ie WIDE band radio signals.
Do a google search on "Mains LAN" or "Mains PLT" (power line technology).
Its a dirty system and polutes the airwaves.
This is not a pet hate. Its that I am against poluting technology that interferes with other legitimate users of the radio spectrum.
The Radio spectrum in Europe is one of the most crowded parts in the world. introducing these dirty bits of kit just make matters worse for
everyone.
Also they are NOT encrypted, and all your data is in the clear, for anyone to snoop on.
At least Wireless Lan (Wi-Fi) has some encryption on it.
Please dont use these pieces of crap.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:27 PM |
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I spot a HF ham^^...
Dan
[Edited on 16/12/08 by Bluemoon]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:35 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by jabbahutt
forgive my stupidity but what's this about using your house wiring as a network?
This sounds excellent, can anyone explain how easy to set up etc and what costs are involved?
Cheers
Nigel
see this
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=46494
 
Rescued attachment a70cx.jpg
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Custardtart
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:47 PM |
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You lot are soooo last century!
3G all the way! 
They're only noodles
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YQUSTA
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:49 PM |
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wired all day
then again I did rewire my own house with this in mind. Every room has an RJ45 port
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flak monkey
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 02:49 PM |
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Wireless is fine if set up properly. Most of the new routers are coming with quick set up stuff which makes it really easy and reasonably secure.
To hack your network the person still needs to be within 50m of your house, and quite determined. In most places, I would say you are pretty safe
Its easier to just hack a specific pc on the network over the internet to gain access, which you can do with wired or wireless...
As for speed, the new wireless is catching up with cables, however if you are downloading or transferring big files they are still slower due to the
number of packet collisions you get on wireless vs wired.
For your average home user 54mbps is plenty fast enough for surfing, as most broadbean packages are only 8mbps if you are lucky....
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Ivan
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 03:10 PM |
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I would love any type of network; tried cable - was unstable and too many cables around, tried wireless without router - nobody including experts
could get it to work - now trying wireless with router/hub?? - PC and laptop both see hub?? but not each other
Now to find a tame expert.
[Edited on 16/12/08 by Ivan]
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splitrivet
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 05:17 PM |
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Wireless is great for the average modern house but go above that and for business its a waste of space.
Seems like its all going cordless nowadays, try buying a corded phone their like hens teeth.
Luckily for me people still need stuff wiring up.
Cheers,
Bob
[Edited on 16/12/08 by splitrivet]
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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McLannahan
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 05:36 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by wilkingj
quote:
Originally posted by romer
What about the plug-in networking that uses the mains citcuit to distribute the signals.
Anyone using that?
Romer
DO NOT GO THERE.
Please Please PLEASE do NOT use these mains LAN adaptors.
They polute the wireless airwaves.
They emit signals allover the band and radiate tens of metres from your house.
They work by using a HF frequency run over the mains wiring. They radiate spurious signals between 0 and 30Mhz. I dont mean just in spots, but
broadband (Not Internet BB) signals ie WIDE band radio signals.
Do a google search on "Mains LAN" or "Mains PLT" (power line technology).
Its a dirty system and polutes the airwaves.
This is not a pet hate. Its that I am against poluting technology that interferes with other legitimate users of the radio spectrum.
The Radio spectrum in Europe is one of the most crowded parts in the world. introducing these dirty bits of kit just make matters worse for
everyone.
Also they are NOT encrypted, and all your data is in the clear, for anyone to snoop on.
At least Wireless Lan (Wi-Fi) has some encryption on it.
Please dont use these pieces of crap.
Mine are encrypted. All of the above in your opinion of course....
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 16/12/08 at 08:06 PM |
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Here's one of the articles I was talking about:
The Register
(straightens tin helmet, scuttles back behind the battlements!)
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