Should I Buy A Wireless Router ?

Question

I am going to be a freshman in college this fall, and the school that I'm going to only has WiFi access in certain buildings, but the dorms aren't those certain buildings. However, each room in the dorm is set up for ethernet/high speed internet access. If I connect my ethernet cord to a wireless router, will I be able use my ethernet connection from my computer? (Given the fact that my computer comes equipt with a wireless card, &c) Or is buying a wireless router a waste of time and money?

Answer 1

I would say that it's a waste. You're going to have a faster connection if you hook your computer directly up to your school's high speed internet with an ethernet cable, and odds are your dorm room isn't so big that a long enough ethernet cable won't reach anywhere in the room. The ethernet cable is just a cheaper, better option.

Answer 2

First of all, there's never been an A+G router, ever. A was the first wireless protocol, and has been completely abandoned for years now. The first B routers also included A, but that was also a few years back. All G routers also can communicate with B cards. Also, there is an extremely new protocol, N, that is up to 6 times as fast as G. It isn't cheap, but it's also 3 times as fast as non-wireless, so it's something to look into. Most people today buy either 54 Mb/sec. G or 108 Mb/sec. Super G, which is slightly more expensive than G, but is also twice as fast. The speed of your router only applies to how fast your router communicates with the computers that are communicating with it. How could it make your internet connection faster? By the way, if you're only wanting to give multiple computers internet access, through your DSL or cable modem, just stick with 54 Mb/sec G, since it costs the least, and is roughly 10 times as fast as your cable modem or DSL connection. If you're also going to be sharing files between the computers, or sharing drives over the network, you'll probably want to invest in a MIMO router and NIC's (Network Interface Card). That will alleviate dead spots, and will give you maximum performance, no matter where in the house the computer is located. Oh, and definitely get a PCI card for the desktop computers, and a PCMCIA card for the laptops. You'll not only get much better performance, they are less trouble, from my experience.

Answer 3

You can still use the wireless router. Connect the ethernet cable from the wall to the router. You don't have to have a wireless router. The ethernet cable can be plugged in to your computer ethernet port (if it has one). You may want to check with the administrator for the settings. If they have a router at their end then ther is no point in you having one because it will have a hard time connecting.. If they don't then you can purchase either a wireless or a wired router based on your preference.

Answer 4

Dorm rooms are fairly small. Why use a router? 15 ft of ethernet cable should get you connected. However a router wireless or otherwise may protect you from being hacked by your fellow students and are there two connections in a dorm room? One for your roommate and one for you? Maybe a wired router would be a good idea.

If you do use a wireless router, be sure to turn on the wireless security to keep everyone else from getting to your computer.

Answer 5

I have a wireless router FROM LINKSYS (which is also a modem). It's well worth the money if you ask me, you can connect mulitple computers into it using no wires of kind. You will also still be able to connect thru ethernet using the wireless router (up to 4)

--Rich

Answer 6

If you have the connection available through a cat5 cable in your dorm room, then you do not need a wireless router, but if it's not in you room and its wireless in another, then all you need is a wireless PC card for your PC, so that it will pick up signals from the wireless router in the other room(s). I recommend linksys for all your network needs. They are number 1.

Answer 7

Of course you can. The signal that goes to your computer is the same signal that routers use. Watch out, though, because most colleges don't allow you to rebroadcast your internet connection. Also, make sure to set a password on the wireless connection.

Answer 8

it depends on where the ethernet plug is and how much you'll be using it. if you'll be online constantly and your roomie also wants to be online constantly then it's a good idea. but if you'll just be online casually like for research than you could probably do without.
most routers come with a 4 port hub on the back so you can hook up a wired device as well. you can pick up routers for around $60 too so you won't exactly be breaking the bank by buying one.

Answer 9

Wireless router is cool when used for a notebook or any other portable computer, because it does not restrict your mobility.

However I think you will be using a desktop computer and if you already have high speed wired access, I don't think you need to buy a wireless router.

Answer 10

Wireless routers come for 25- 30 u can get one...if you wish! else wired ethernet shouls be good enough
anyways check out
netgear.com
deals2buy.com