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#296041 - 30/03/2007 00:38 802.11a
pca
old hand

Registered: 20/07/1999
Posts: 1102
Loc: UK
Hi.

Can anyone recommend a good, reasonably low cost 802.11a access point and PCMCIA card? I want to replace my ageing 802.11b system, and also shift frequencies, as the number of neighbours with wireless has grown markedly recently. There won't be anyone on 5.8GHz clogging the airwaves but me

What I'm probably going to do is play around with firewalls and routers to allow the 802.11b to be connected to the cable modem but not to the rest of my network, and leave it open. The 802.11a would be all mine, and locked down. That way guests can come and go without hassle, and I'll be all warm and secure(ish).

pca
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Experience is what you get just after it would have helped...

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#296042 - 30/03/2007 00:51 Re: 802.11a [Re: pca]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Supposedly, the higher frequency significantly reduces the range on 802.11a products. How's your range with b/g stuff?
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

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#296043 - 30/03/2007 01:12 Re: 802.11a [Re: wfaulk]
pca
old hand

Registered: 20/07/1999
Posts: 1102
Loc: UK
It was exceptionally good, before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon Now there's so much stuff around it's becoming annoying.

5.8GHz certainly won't penetrate as well as 2.4GHz, which in itself doesn't go through much, but the wood and plasterboard construction of the very small house I have is fairly RF-transparent, at least internally. My 5.8GHz video senders, for instance, work from anywhere to anywhere in the house on less than 10mW with perfect picture quality. I'm not too fussed if it doesn't go very far outside.

pca
_________________________
Experience is what you get just after it would have helped...

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#296044 - 30/03/2007 01:42 Re: 802.11a [Re: pca]
drakino
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
Depending on your budget, an 802.11n router might work well for you. The ones that I have seen offer compatibility with b, g and a, and can run on both 5.8 and 2.4 ranges. The range is supposed to be better then a or g even without n equipment in the clients.

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#296045 - 30/03/2007 02:55 Re: 802.11a [Re: pca]
matthew_k
pooh-bah

Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
I did the same thing when I lived in an apartment complex. I never noticed anyone else even try to connect. Range wasn't an issue, as the apartment was about 750 square feet.

I've still got the netgear AP I used. I think I even tried to give it away on here before. Unfortunately the shipping probably be more expensive than you buying one there...

Matthew

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#296046 - 30/03/2007 05:26 Re: 802.11a [Re: pca]
MarkM
stranger

Registered: 11/12/2000
Posts: 105
Loc: Seattle, WA USA
I've been pretty happy with Linksys gear.

Linksys Dual Band 802.11a/g Wireless Access Point
Part #: WAP55AG

Amazon UK has a few used 802.11a Cisco cards.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing...456&sr=1-21

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