Wireless access points

[gherkin]

Hi all

a friend of mine has currently got a laptop and has recently subscribed to broadband and wants to go wireless as the laptop can support it.

I know very little about the hardware out there at the moment regarding access points. does anyone have any recommendations for a simple but secure wireless access point that i would be able to use, failing that good manufacturers that produce them.

thanks in advance

[mbossman2]

best bet is not an access point but rather a wireless router. Linksys, D-Link, Belkin as well as others all make good products

[grocker]

I'm with mbossman2 on this one. You shold go ahead and get a wireless router. I would recommend getting a wireless 802.11G Linksys Router and use that. I use linksys throughout my home and have 5 computers run using linksys and I'm happy with it. Also, if you do get this product and have any problems with it please post it on this site, it is most likely that I will be able to answer your question. I'm quite knowledgeable when it comes to linksys network problems. Good luck

[gherkin]

Thanks guys, I will make the recommendation - final question that has just arisen from the posts what is the difference between a wireless router and a wireless access point?

cheers for the help

[freakitchen]

A router is a Broadband modem and wireless access point in one. It maintains your broadband connection, acts as your hardware firewall, and allows you to connect computers to it wired (most have 4 ethernet ports) and wirelessly.

A wireless access point would add wireless capability to an existing wired-only network.

FK

[mbossman2]

Originally Posted by gherkin Thanks guys, I will make the recommendation - final question that has just arisen from the posts what is the difference between a wireless router and a wireless access point? cheers for the help

a wireless router is a router (which, among other things, allows you to share 1 IP address with multiple users...so if there is more than 1 of you accessing the web then this is the correct choice) with built in wireless capability.

An access point is strictly a LAN device. it allows you to have multiple wireless PC's on your network, but, generally, without a router those users can only access the LAN, not the WAN or the internet.

AP's can also be more expensive than wireless routers.

My advice:

If there are multiple folks (but not too many <10) who want to use the wireless and who want to access the web AND there is no current router in place, the wireless router is the the way to go.

If, OTOH, you just want to grant wireless LAN access only OR you already have a router in place, then an AP is a better (technologically, maybe not financially) choice.

Please note that if you do have a router already, be careful when implementing a second router behind it if you choose to go with the wireless router. 2 routers with 2 NAT functions up and running can cause some real headaches. if you must do this, put a piece of tape over the WAN/Internet port of the router and use another of the wired ports to connect it to the LAN and ensure that NAT is turned off.

[gherkin]

thanks for that guys, that has made things clearer for me (please don't take that to be a sarcastic comment), a Wireless Router it is then.

once again thanks