Recommend a good Linksys AP/Router?

[jsteph]

Hi,
I have a client with an existing orinoco ap. I'm not well versed in the terminology of the specs (80211.a,b,g, etc) but they have whatever the previous generation to the newer 54mbps specification.

I want to upgrade the ap to 80211.g (sp?), but *not* upgrade all the cards in each pc at once. So basically I need backwards compatibility--an ap/router that can work with the older cards as well as the newer cards. Can anyone recommend a good ap/4-port router? (Currently about 10 pc's but that may double soon.) Thanks,
--jsteph

 

[bcastner]

The WRT54G. You could add just an access point, but the cost of both devices are nearly identical, and depending on sales, etc. the WRT54G often slightly less in price.

You could then either use it alone, or use it in combination with your existing setup. If you want to do the latter you need to disable DHCP, place the device in router and not Gateway mode, and give it a fixed IP address in the network address range used by your existing device. You wold then run a straight-thru patch cable from the uplink port on your existing router to a regular LAN port on the WRT54G. Tom's Hardware Guide has a good explanation of how to use two routers:

http://www4.tomshardware.com/network/20030716/index.html

You should go to the Linksys web sit to make certain you are using the latest firmware. In addition, make sure the router is set to "Mixed-Mode" in its wireless configuration screen. It is balky when set to "G-only" or "B-only" modes.

 

[nnayram]

jsteph ,

Linksys has a Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router(WRT54AG) also contains two Wireless Access Points, supporting all three wireless networking specifications. The first AP uses the 2.4GHz radio band, supporting both the Wireless-B (802.11b) standard at 11Mbps, and the Wireless-G (draft 802.11g) at 54Mbps. The second AP radio operates in the 5GHz band, and supports Wireless-A (802.11a) networking, also at 54Mbps. Since the two radios operate in different bands, they can work simultaneously, blanketing your wireless zone with bandwidth.

 

[nnayram]

sorry the model no. is WRT55AG

 

[jsteph]

Thank you all very much! Now on to work...
--jsteph