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Home > Archive > Cheap Linux Hardware > August 2006 > Wireless router question.
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Wireless router question.
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| Hi,
I'm getting a wireless router for my small home LAN which consists of:
1 x Linux PC to connect direct via RJ45
1 x Win2000 PC to connect direct via RJ45
1 x Win2000 PC to connect via wireless
1 x Win2000 Laptop to connect via wireless
and of course my cable modem (not ADSL) to connect via RJ45.
Many of the sites selling wireless routers note that their routers are
compatible with Windows and Mac, but don't list Linux. I don't understand
why a router needs compatibility with an OS at all. Won't it be ok to
connect my Linux PC to one of the wireless router's RJ45s unless the
product claims Linux compatibility?
Another question concerns Linksys's wireless routers which have been
recommended to me, there seem to be 3 Linksys models priced closely
together; £42 to £52. The WRT54GS, WRT55AG, and WRT54GL.
Has anyone had positive experience with any of these? And given they are
so similar in specs and price which should I get?
Many thanks and regards, etc.
| |
| General Schvantzkoph 2006-08-15, 1:19 pm |
| On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:22:34 +0000, MS wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm getting a wireless router for my small home LAN which consists of:
>
> 1 x Linux PC to connect direct via RJ45
> 1 x Win2000 PC to connect direct via RJ45
> 1 x Win2000 PC to connect via wireless
> 1 x Win2000 Laptop to connect via wireless
> and of course my cable modem (not ADSL) to connect via RJ45.
>
> Many of the sites selling wireless routers note that their routers are
> compatible with Windows and Mac, but don't list Linux. I don't understand
> why a router needs compatibility with an OS at all. Won't it be ok to
> connect my Linux PC to one of the wireless router's RJ45s unless the
> product claims Linux compatibility?
>
> Another question concerns Linksys's wireless routers which have been
> recommended to me, there seem to be 3 Linksys models priced closely
> together; £42 to £52. The WRT54GS, WRT55AG, and WRT54GL.
>
> Has anyone had positive experience with any of these? And given they are
> so similar in specs and price which should I get?
>
> Many thanks and regards, etc.
Routers are OS independent, the reason they mention PCs and MACs is just
marketing. Routers are configured via a browser. They are pretty careful
to adhere to standards so there is no IE or Active X dependency, they work
fine with Firefox.
I had a Linksys in the 802.11b days which I replaced with a Netgear
802.11g router, both were fine. The Netgear has a nice feature, it has a
dyndns.org client which will register your dynamic IP with the dyndns DNS
servers.
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| Thanks General.
General Schvantzkoph emailed this:
> Routers are OS independent, the reason they mention PCs and MACs is just
> marketing. Routers are configured via a browser. They are pretty careful
> to adhere to standards so there is no IE or Active X dependency, they work
> fine with Firefox.
That's what I thought, it seemed crazy but best to check these things with
the gurus out there.
> I had a Linksys in the 802.11b days which I replaced with a Netgear
> 802.11g router, both were fine. The Netgear has a nice feature, it has a
> dyndns.org client which will register your dynamic IP with the dyndns DNS
> servers.
Okay -- cool to be able to do dyndns from the router.
Any other hardware recommendations from anyone?
Thanks.
| |
| CptDondo 2006-08-15, 1:19 pm |
| MS wrote:
> Another question concerns Linksys's wireless routers which have been
> recommended to me, there seem to be 3 Linksys models priced closely
> together; £42 to £52. The WRT54GS, WRT55AG, and WRT54GL.
>
> Has anyone had positive experience with any of these? And given they are
> so similar in specs and price which should I get?
openwrt.org ; check out the hardware compatibility list. (OK, I know
you aren't probably interested in hacking the router, but the HCL has
lots of good info on different models.)
--Yan
| |
|
| CptDondo emailed this:
> MS wrote:
>
>
>
> openwrt.org ; check out the hardware compatibility list. (OK, I know
> you aren't probably interested in hacking the router, but the HCL has
> lots of good info on different models.)
>
> --Yan
Thanks Yan.
What benefits would I be able to get as a 'general user'? Performance
increase EG. speed / range?
Any hardware recommendations?
Cheers.
| |
| CptDondo 2006-08-16, 1:17 pm |
| MS wrote:
>
> What benefits would I be able to get as a 'general user'? Performance
> increase EG. speed / range?
Mostly flexibility; I run two OpenWrt routers as WDS bridges. This is
impossible with the stock firmware. Most consumer routers are hardwired
in firmware to cripple their hardware so as not to compromise the
'commercial' sales.
The CPUs inside those things are pretty powerful, and the firmware
really cripples them.
I have a Linksys WRTSL54GL, and it runs gphoto, rsync, downloads
cameras, runs a webcam, and so on. It also works as a bridge between my
other two APs and my travel van.
That's my recommendation; except for the non-removable antenna it is an
awesome computer. Unlike most others it has 3 ethernet controllers, so
throughput is very good, and with a USB port, 8 MB flash and 32 MB ram,
you can do a lot.
--Yan
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|
| CptDondo emailed this:
> MS wrote:
>
>
> Mostly flexibility; I run two OpenWrt routers as WDS bridges. This is
> impossible with the stock firmware. Most consumer routers are hardwired
> in firmware to cripple their hardware so as not to compromise the
> 'commercial' sales.
>
> The CPUs inside those things are pretty powerful, and the firmware
> really cripples them.
>
> I have a Linksys WRTSL54GL, and it runs gphoto, rsync, downloads
> cameras, runs a webcam, and so on. It also works as a bridge between my
> other two APs and my travel van.
>
> That's my recommendation; except for the non-removable antenna it is an
> awesome computer. Unlike most others it has 3 ethernet controllers, so
> throughput is very good, and with a USB port, 8 MB flash and 32 MB ram,
> you can do a lot.
>
> --Yan
Thanks v. much Yan. It sounds great.
However are you sure you got the model name right?
Neither the Linksys US or UK (where I am) web site list the Linksys
WRTSL54GL and a google search on Linksys WRTSL54GL 'did not match any
documents'. Don't believe me, try here:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=e...nG=Search&meta=
There are many similar named products though.
Cheers.
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| CptDondo 2006-08-16, 1:17 pm |
| MS wrote:
> However are you sure you got the model name right?
>
OK, I got a letter wrong in that alphabet soup.... WRTSL54GS.
<http://wiki.openwrt.org/OpenWrtDocs...nksys/WRTSL54GS>
If you decide to go the OpenWrt route, just be aware that
a) you need to read the docs
b) you can make the router into a brick
c) you void your warranty
d) it can be difficult at first
e) you should be handy with a soldering iron if you brick the router
f) you need to read the docs
OTOH, the user community is great and the developers are very active.
Did I say you need to read the docs? :-)
--Yan
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| Chris Cox 2006-08-16, 7:15 pm |
| General Schvantzkoph wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:22:34 +0000, MS wrote:
>
>
> Routers are OS independent, the reason they mention PCs and MACs is just
> marketing. Routers are configured via a browser. They are pretty careful
> to adhere to standards so there is no IE or Active X dependency, they work
> fine with Firefox.
>
> I had a Linksys in the 802.11b days which I replaced with a Netgear
> 802.11g router, both were fine. The Netgear has a nice feature, it has a
> dyndns.org client which will register your dynamic IP with the dyndns DNS
> servers.
>
Any relatively contemporary (3 years?) Linksys will do the dynamic dns
thing as well. I've used the WRT54G, GS (old ones before they became
anti-Linux models)... I'd probably recommend the GL (just so it's easier
to hack if needed).
I've done both WEP and WPA (if fact, using a NEW 54G). No problems.
I don't think you can do WPA2 (could be wrong).. and you will likely
need to use TKIP to be portable.
| |
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| CptDondo emailed this:
> MS wrote:
>
>
> OK, I got a letter wrong in that alphabet soup.... WRTSL54GS.
>
> <http://wiki.openwrt.org/OpenWrtDocs...nksys/WRTSL54GS>
>
> If you decide to go the OpenWrt route, just be aware that
>
> a) you need to read the docs
> b) you can make the router into a brick
> c) you void your warranty
> d) it can be difficult at first
> e) you should be handy with a soldering iron if you brick the router
> f) you need to read the docs
>
> OTOH, the user community is great and the developers are very active.
> Did I say you need to read the docs? :-)
>
> --Yan
Thanks Yan. I'm sold (more by the USB connection and DynDNS than by
hacking potential).
Anyone know where I can get one in the UK?
I'm finding it hard to source. :-(
Cheers.
| |
| Captain Dondo 2006-08-18, 1:17 am |
| On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:04:23 +0000, MS wrote:
> Anyone know where I can get one in the UK?
> I'm finding it hard to source. :-(
OpenWrt has a large Euro community. Try posting on the general forum.
forums.OpenWrt.org IIRC...
--
o__
,>/'_ o__
(_)\(_) ,>/'_ o__
Yan Seiner, PE (_)\(_) ,>/'_ o__
Certified Personal Trainer (_)\(_) ,>/'_ o__
Licensed Professional Engineer (_)\(_) ,>/'_
Who says engineers have to be pencil necked geeks? (_)\(_)
| |
|
| Okay good idea. Many thanks.
Captain Dondo emailed this:
> On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:04:23 +0000, MS wrote:
>
>
>
> OpenWrt has a large Euro community. Try posting on the general forum.
>
> forums.OpenWrt.org IIRC...
>
| |
| Poly-poly man 2006-08-20, 1:15 pm |
| MS wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm getting a wireless router for my small home LAN which consists of:
>
> 1 x Linux PC to connect direct via RJ45
> 1 x Win2000 PC to connect direct via RJ45
> 1 x Win2000 PC to connect via wireless
> 1 x Win2000 Laptop to connect via wireless
> and of course my cable modem (not ADSL) to connect via RJ45.
>
> Many of the sites selling wireless routers note that their routers are
> compatible with Windows and Mac, but don't list Linux. I don't understand
> why a router needs compatibility with an OS at all. Won't it be ok to
> connect my Linux PC to one of the wireless router's RJ45s unless the
> product claims Linux compatibility?
>
> Another question concerns Linksys's wireless routers which have been
> recommended to me, there seem to be 3 Linksys models priced closely
> together; £42 to £52. The WRT54GS, WRT55AG, and WRT54GL.
>
> Has anyone had positive experience with any of these? And given they are
> so similar in specs and price which should I get?
>
> Many thanks and regards, etc.
Any router will work fine.
I reccomend using an openwrt-compatible router, such as the linksys models
you mentioned.
The benefits of openwrt are numerous. Basically, you can do REALLY advanced
networking stuff otherwise impossible. I have mine in a wireless client
mode, grabbing internet via pppoe over wireless, and sharing to all the
computers on the other side, with firewall features and everything.
You don't have to do THAT, but you definitely can get great features.
poly-p man
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| Poly-poly man 2006-08-20, 1:15 pm |
| Captain Dondo wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:04:23 +0000, MS wrote:
>
>
>
> OpenWrt has a large Euro community. Try posting on the general forum.
>
> forums.OpenWrt.org IIRC...
>
close, forum.openwrt.org .
poly-p man
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