Are these Netgear wireless products any good?

[ArcticFox]

I'm now the next person to go wireless, and my granny said she would by me a wireless card for my laptop and a router. So, here is what I've picked out:

Netgear WG511 PC/Card

Netgear WGR614 Router

And eventually:

Netgear WG311NA

Are these any good? I can't afford Proxim stuff, no matter how much I'd like to. But I currently have a Netgear switch, hub, lots of their NICs, and a PCCard that work with blissful uneventfullness (that's a good thing). Anyone else have opinions on the performance of this router and PCCard?

[John Prophet]

one thing you could do is go find em on amazon and/or newegg and check out the reviews

edit------------

oh, lol..I see the links are newegg..at least the 614 router....looks like it got good reviews

[ArcticFox]

Yeah I haven't been able to find may reviews...except for the ones on Amazon that I already saw.

[John Prophet]

511 review

614 review

311 review, sorta, lol

[ArcticFox]

Alright, thanks for those. Looks my purchase should satisfy my need for speed... Oh, and one more thing - do you know of replacement antennas that would improve my range/speed? They obviously need to be compatible with that router and the PCI card I plan on getting.

[John Prophet]

I have seen some reviews etc...but personally I would try it straight first and see whats up...if it works fine that way you dont need an antenna....PLUS the hotter you make that signal, the more lowlifes can try to hack you.

[ArcticFox]

True, very true. I have been thinking about security, as I live in the heart of a residential district of nothing but homes (literally, I think I am really in the center of the district in my hometown). I don't know how many people around me have wireless setups, probably because I only know our neighbors accross from us that don't even have a computer. Should I get a dedicated firewall to add to the one built into the router, or is that one enough?

[John Prophet]

Well its more the wep crap, lol...I have no clue about it myself....but mainly its just having it set where they cant just easily make their own account on it. (I think, lol)

Are you asking protection from the internet or the wireless?


for protection with the wireless the new standard for protection should be rolling out with the new G wireless routers. WPA. that has flaws but most people when they see WEP and WPA they dont even bother trying to access the network

[ArcticFox]

Originally posted by GroundZero3
Are you asking protection from the internet or the wireless?

I have the internet protection covered, but it's wireless security that I have to worry about now. I noticed the Netgear card only has 128-bit WEP protection, not 152. But - the router I'm getting supports 152bit, so....does that mean it bumps down to 128?

Edit - Also, will I be able to enjoy WPA protection with a firmware update, or will I be forced to buy a new router?