Add wireless access to home network

Steve,

Given the pricing of network equipment these days, it's probably cheaper to
simply buy a new wireless router (and if you like, dump the old one on
eBay), it will be close to a wash in terms of cost. Adding an "access
point" will be expensive because these standalone devices, while they will
work, are intended to support many clients, extend the wireless range, and
lots of other features. The "access point" you find in a consumer model
router is a "watered down" version, which is why these routers are so
CHEAP!!! But for the purposes of simply connecting some wireless clients to
a home network, it's more than enough. If *then* you find you want/need to
extend the wireless router's range, for example, invest in a REAL AP.

I know it sounds wasteful and unintuitive, but it's going to be pointless to
go any other route. Heck, Outpost.com is currently selling a 4-port,
802.11b wireless router for $10 (after rebate)!

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3677005" target="_blank">http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3677005</a>

Netgear, D-Link, Linsys, SMC, all of them are dumping the 802.11b stuff for
$20-30 (AR) (any pure AP is going to cost you $100 or more!), and the
802.11b/g can be had for $40-50 (AR):

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008SCFL/ref%3Dnosim/bensbargaicenter/104-4222909-5616757" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008SCFL/ref%3Dnosim/bensbarg...enter/1</a>

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006HYKM/ref%3Dnosim/bensbargaicenter/104-4222909-5616757" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006HYKM/ref%3Dnosim/bensbarg...enter/1</a>

Check the following sites regularly for similar bargains:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.techbargains.com/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.techbargains.com/index.htm</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.bensbargains.net/" target="_blank">http://www.bensbargains.net/</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.xpbargains.com/" target="_blank">http://www.xpbargains.com/</a>

So bite the bullet, dump your current router, and start comparing features
(I prefer the D-Link DI-624 myself). If the new laptop has *integrated*
wireless (e.g., Centrino), look for Wi-Fi compatibility, if it's an add-on,
like Linksys, Netgear, whatever, cardbus adapter, then it probably makes
sense to pick a router of the same brand. Also determine whether the laptop
is simple 802.11b (11mpbs), or has faster capabilities, like 802.11g
(54mbps), so you can better "match" router to wireless adapter, and obtain
the best performance available.

HTH

Jim


"Steve" <sskl1998(no spam)@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f387c.118514$TxJ.10590@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
 > I have an existing home network with 3 PCs sharing cable interent
connection
 > through a Linksys router. My son is buying a new laptop with wireless
LAN.
 > What is the easiest way to add a wireless access point to the existing
 > router?
 >
 > Thanks...
 >
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