New router netgear rangeMax DG834PN

[wendyl]

Help please Which is the correct wireless adapter for PC and cheapest place with fast delivery thanks

[poinsy]

You want :

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(9334)Netgear-WPN 311-RangeMax-MIMO-G-Wireless-PCI-Card.aspx

or

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(9333)Netgear-WPN 111-RangeMax-MIMO-G-Wireless-USB.aspx

Best to stick with same brand. Ideally, if you are happy with taking the back off your PC, go with the PCI card for slightly better performance, but the USB adapter has the advantage of portability.

Either will do.

Paul

[ACtheTROLL]

poinsyis right.
The

buy matched products.
my only worry is that pci or a usb doobie in the back of a desktop could be masked by the box and/or your wall

a USB M-F extension cable is cheap enough - �2.64
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(2205)2M-USB-Exte nsion-Cable-A-Male-to-A-Female-USB113.aspx
and gives you a little flexibility

�32.00 looks a good price

if you want to be sure you are getting a good deal look on froogle
http://www.google.co.uk/products?sourceid=navc lient&ie=UTF-8
or the dabs website - and remember to take into account postage.

generally order before 12:00 and you'll have it next day

[wendyl]

Thanks to both of you. My problems seen neverending today was unable to connect to ISP, Firefox or IE although netgear says connected. On advice ISP disconnected power temporarily but now will connect to IE but not Firefox - any suggestions about this. I will order USB version asap of adapter for portability and add extension cable if needed - think I have one of those.
Currently using trial version Vista ultimate

[poinsy]

Without knowing more details it is very difficult to provide accurate info. However :), in most cases, the router connection to the ISP is just fine, and the problems are typically to do with the wireless set-up. Yet, are you currently using a wireless or wired setup? Obviously, you are intending to buy a new wireless adapter, but I don't know if you are currently wireless or hard-wired.

It could also be a DHCP problem, signal strength, router over-heating (Netgears can do this :( ) or many other things.

Give us more info about the current set-up and we will do our best.

Paul

[ACtheTROLL]

I suspect that your new problem may be the windows ult firewall.

It's a little quirky.

Open control panel
go to the firewall option
click change settings
tell uac to stop wittering! ;-)
go to the exceptions tab
click add program
find the firefox entry

[wendyl]

sorry have only jut seen your replies still waiting for adapter and had long frustrating morning sorting thunderbird some progress but out all pm and having a break tonight
thanks and will be 'back on the case' tomorrow

[wendyl]

At last yesterday received and installed netgear adapter. Unfortunately not the end of problems.
Details of our set up
Netgear router is wired to my PC which is in an upstairs room
The adapter is to use my husband's PC downstairs wirelessly
I first installed using 'gadget' directly to USB2 socket - no signal found, re installed with cable supplied weak signal (30%) but usable. ( another network in area- secured but which has always tended to come up on searches gives a much higher signal 48% though obviously not of help to us) I have replaced old router and adapter because he frequently loses connection although other times it is good. A suggestion to change to wired connection could not be carried out with old router - hence purchased replacement. After all that time (and expense) it seems I am back to square one. However, the new router can be wired to up to 4 PCs so, in theory, this can now be done although the chap who quoted (known to us personally and reliable and ex BT) thought wireless should be OK although some fellow ABers seemed not so sure. Maybe its to do with the position of the PC. Certainly trying to use the same laptop in that room gives a very weak signal although it too is used (Not a great deal) downstairs and shows a weak signal although functioning OK. the same with both routers. Reluctant to go on spending but I really do want to sort this out for Hubbie Is it recommended that I do go ahead with wiring many thanks

[wendyl]

I forgot to say in previous posting that during the afternoon yesterday we were back to no connection/signal although connected but weak in evening

[ACtheTROLL]

OK

couple of new and relevant facts here....

... your man is quite correct ... wireless "should" work ... but in my experience ... your problems are not at all unusual.

Firstly go to your local supermarket /newsagent and buy a copy of the latest "computer shopper" mag (jul2007)
(or lurk somewhere quiet 'cause it's quite a long article).

there is a very good article on wireless - and also how you can use your laptop to "sniff" out good positions in it

To save a little time download netstumbler. http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

follow the advice there.

I can't remember if you've already changed chanels ... but use netstumbler to display all the used chanels and if poss change to 6
(look at the book of words for instructions how).

If you really can't face the disruption of all that wiring
(if you can - make sure it's cat 5e)
look at homenetwork - for just one PC it's not too expensive (compared to wire)

(you could possibly also return the new adapter)

Working remotely isn't easy .... but you mention "long way" between machines .... if you are talking old house "long way" + thick walls may = problem. Can you locate the router upstairs? - or even in attic?

[wendyl]

Thank you again ACtheTroll
1. I will look for the mag - unlikely to find in our small town but will venture out tomorrow.
2. Downloaded netstumbler but looks a bit complicated and seems to refer to 'card' Did you mean I should use it on the laptop to find a position?
3. On this occasion I had not changed channels although we adjusted a while back when having problems and set to differ from nearest neighbour. When I was installing the adapter yesterday. it appeared the adapter was 'testing' channels and I thought set automatically?
Our house is fairly large but it is modern (built by my husband in 1994) The router is upstairs on an outside wall, side back of house and my husband same outside wall front of house. We originally had wiring for home highway by same man we just consulted from same a to b and he says he can use the outside wall to carry out work (although officially the 'cabling' is not intended for outside use). As I have 2 adapters (another story!) and will be returning one anyway, if neither can do the job and I can return them it will cover most of cost of wiring. Just want to be reasonably certain this will settle the problems once and for all. Our neighbours on the other side are about to install broadband in a similar situation perhaps they will also to be advised to avoid wireless? wendy

[ACtheTROLL]

You can't beat wire (famous last words!)
ask about trunking - your man is right sunlight makes the outer sheath of cable brittle.

Netstumbler can be used by "experts" ... but you want just two options
1. Display all nearby networks (+ channels)
2. signal strength
with the lappy ... you can move easily and see what you can see.
Wireless is like ripples in water. Reflections cause interference ... so it could be your own signal causing the problem (unlikely). The adapters look for signals ... if they see more than one .. the speed drops ...then the power ... then the speed .... until the best compromise is found - and this generally is the slowest transfer speed

so you just might find a safe spot where only your network shows

router position .... outer wall=bad -- middle/top of house=good (walls keep out more than rain!).

[wendyl]

We have had 2 days with no connection at all but yesterday were back on. Today Hubbie's PC is 'off' again and we're both at the end our tether so are going down the 'wired' route anyway, hopefully today or tomorrow - fingers crossed that solves the problem once and for all. Now I'm going out to get away from it all but will report back in due course after all your suggestions to help
Wendy