Wireless Network Products

[Panama Red]

I've been asked to configure two home networks and furnish some of the parts to make each work. One customer already has a Netgear wireless router but needs a new wireless card for the new desk top I just built for him. He has a wireless card for his notebook already. The owner of the second system already has a Belkin wireless router that will cable connect to her desk top. She needs a wireless card for her new Toshiba notebook. My question, after all this, is: should I stick with the same brand of cards as the routers? Any advantage to using Netgear card with Netgear router and Belkin card with Belkin router?

[Vigo]

Manufacturer's will tell you to make sure all products are of teh same make. The only advantage I see is a slightly lower chance of devices not setting up as easily with one another and the benefit of only having to call one tech number (and not hearing the typical line "its the other device thats causing the problem").

[bailey]

it has always been a standing rule with me not to mix brands of networking parts just to avoid any compatiable issues.

[Panama Red]

You both confirmed the reasons I thought it best to use the same brands. Each person asked the question about "buying the least expensive parts". I said no, buy MATCHING brands.

[Redfallon]

Also, with the new "highspeed" G technology coming out (I think it uses compression, not sure though!) they have to match to take advantage of the speed increase. I have heard conflicting stories from it being alot faster than 54g to not much difference.

[Panama Red]

Well, the Belkin is a 54g unit so I ordered a matching 54g notebook card. This lady talks a mile a minute about 5 subjects at a time, so I hope all goes well. Want to get in, get done, get paid, get gone!

[nocturnx]

lol, i talk to people like that all the time.

The cisco and linksys cards work the best from our studies. We have the least number of calls on them and that is what we recommend for using our wireless service. But matching cards with the router brand is also good too and will likely eliminate incompatability.

[glc]

Standards are standards - and supposedly brands are interchangeable. However, same brand AP and card will give you the least hassles.

I like Linksys cards, but their PCMCIA wireless cards are low power and have short range.