I currently have a wired Westell router and its solid as a rock. I dont really want to ditch it but I just bought a laptop over the weekend so I really need to upgrade to wireless now. At the moment all 4 ports are used on my router, but Id like to switch my parents PC to wireless to save having a cable running across the landing.

I personally favour sticking to my Westell and plugging in a access point. Does this simply stick into one of the ports and voila? Im aware I can get routers for the same price but Im very happy with what Ive got currently. Let me know what you guys think!

You can just plug an access point in like you said and voila (almost, you might have to play a bit with wireless security settings etc.).

A different option is to buy a wireless router for the same money and set it up as an access point. That way you have the option later of using it as a router. This approach takes a bit more playing to get it to work, but will be more flexible in the future, its up to you.

If you need any hints for getting the second method to work, just ask  

The thing with a access point is wont it be sharing that ports speed over how all the wireless connections?

True, but that would only impact on network speed, youdd still be able to use the internet just as fast as with a wired connection. Also you could probably connect a couple of wireless pcs without noticing any drop in network speed.

Well Im gonna with a new wireless router but I want something really solid. The only thing Ive found to be highly recommended is the Draytek Vigor 2800 but thats gonna set me back Ã,£100+

Quote from: FuMaNThe thing with a access point is wont it be sharing that ports speed over how all the wireless connections?

Yes... but then at a guess the ports on your router are 100Mbit and the wireless is 54Mbit.

Whether you have 1 or 100 people connected to the wireless its only ever going to use 54Mbit (an access point is like a Hub, not a switch)

Ignoring all that a wireless router is just a router + wireless access point in the same box, the access point is still effectivly plugged into a port on the switch (anyone thats flashed a linksys wrt with openwrt will know that)

My advice is that if you have a router you are happy with then get an access point.

Cornet

For now Ive bidded for a Westell Versalink on Ebay as I want to stick with Westell.

The Draytek is just too expensive and not within my budget right now. If I fail to get the Westell Ill just opt for a access point then.

Ive got a Versalink. Got it free as I used to work for a Westell distributor. Been the best wireless router Ive ever had by a mile. They dont make them anymore though - shame.

Its alright, I won the bid, only cost me Ã,£15 including p&p! So chuffed.

I have a Network drive connected to the router but when I try and watch a video from this on my laptop it doesnt stream smoothly. This is with 11g too and in the same room which I dont understand!

I had the same problem with mine.... just thought the wireless was too slow ?  never speed tested it tbh.

tho I guess if you can copy the film to your laptop HD in less time than the film lasts then it should be fast enough....?

so if you copy a 1 hour film in 10 min then suerly its fast enough to stream it properly ?

hmm that shouldnt be. I have a desktop with 54mb wireless upstairs which connects to my versalink downstairs. I can sit anywhere with my 11mb laptop wireless connection and stream video fine...