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View Full Version : Cheapest Way To... (Computing Question)

Tom
14-08-2008, 05:50 PM
Right, I'm alright with computer software, but when it comes to hardware, I never have a clue on what to buy from where. So. Here's the problem:

I live on the 3rd floor and my wireless router sits happily on the kitchen on the ground floor. My Mac is fine, but my PC's card just can't pick up a decent wireless signal from all the way up here. What'd be the easiest, cheapest way to sort this?

A new wireless card? Can you get external ones which just plug in a usb and boost the capture range? Or buy a big long cable and move the router a bit closer? Or something else? I dunno.

Halp!
Drunknmunky
14-08-2008, 06:17 PM
just moce the router, or buy a USB connector, that is the same company as your router so that you get the optimum usage
soul phill
14-08-2008, 07:00 PM
homeplug is a 39 quid option http://www.ebuyer.com/product/109683 (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/109683)

speed depends on electric wiring in your house (although it is most likely to be faster that wifi)
Beaker
14-08-2008, 08:38 PM
As said, Homeplugs aren't too shabby, but you are better off with a router and a plug rather than the point-to-point plugs. Other option is a decent PCI wireless card with proper external antenna. The Netgear ones are about the best I've used. If you want to try an external USB Wireless card then the Linksys WUSB54G series are about the best wireless USB cards.
Pod
16-08-2008, 12:59 AM
Homeplugs are utter toss.
Beaker
16-08-2008, 09:31 AM
Homeplugs are utter toss.

only the cheap stuff, only if you have really shit wiring in your house, and only if you are expecting massive speeds. Whatever way you look at it though, it's faster and more reliable than wireless.
Tom
19-08-2008, 09:23 PM
only the cheap stuff, only if you have really shit wiring in your house, and only if you are expecting massive speeds. Whatever way you look at it though, it's faster and more reliable than wireless.

I do live in a very old house - I have no idea what state the wiring is it. Whats the strength on that WUSB54G? Looks nice and cheap. Good enough to pick up a signal from the thrid floor?
Beaker
19-08-2008, 09:28 PM
I do live in a very old house - I have no idea what state the wiring is it. Whats the strength on that WUSB54G? Looks nice and cheap. Good enough to pick up a signal from the thrid floor?

Possibly, however I would still be considering Powerline at that. If you have a 3-floor house then you'll probably have signal issues whatever you do on the 3rd floor.
Hopkin Green Frog
19-08-2008, 09:44 PM
I have a network question - when me and fil are torrenting at once, irrespective of the download speeds we're getting (and we have a reasonable 10Mb line) the whole network starts to jam up. NOW, I have a theory that this is because torrents create a shitload of simultaneous connections, and I think that we might be overloading the NAT table on the router.

Does this seem likely, and if so, can we get a better wireless router that will take the load better? Maybe one that's wireless N compatible, and I could upgrade that at the same time?

Ideas?
Beaker
19-08-2008, 10:06 PM
I have a network question - when me and fil are torrenting at once, irrespective of the download speeds we're getting (and we have a reasonable 10Mb line) the whole network starts to jam up. NOW, I have a theory that this is because torrents create a shitload of simultaneous connections, and I think that we might be overloading the NAT table on the router.

Does this seem likely, and if so, can we get a better wireless router that will take the load better? Maybe one that's wireless N compatible, and I could upgrade that at the same time?

Ideas?

This would be normal. Torrents kill bandwidth because they can. XP and VIsta have a hard cap of 25 simultaneous connections. This can be changed with a registry hack, but torrents still fill the network up. Torrenting over wireless however will clog up your network regardless. Theoretical maximum speed with G is 54Mb, that translates to a real 15Mb or so once you take account of signal issues and encryption.
Pod
19-08-2008, 10:11 PM
I have a network question - when me and fil are torrenting at once, irrespective of the download speeds we're getting (and we have a reasonable 10Mb line) the whole network starts to jam up. NOW, I have a theory that this is because torrents create a shitload of simultaneous connections, and I think that we might be overloading the NAT table on the router.

Does this seem likely, and if so, can we get a better wireless router that will take the load better? Maybe one that's wireless N compatible, and I could upgrade that at the same time?

Ideas?

Yes, pretty much that [edit: by "that" I was talking about the NAT issue"]. I've had this problem loads as have many many other people. I've never been able to solve it really. Try buying the fanciest mothertruckin' router you can, with the biggest onboard ram?

OR

use a linux type pc as the router, and then you can configure it and shizzle