I currently have a WiFi network at home that serves two PC’s, a Laptop (all SUSE 11.3) and a couple of WiFi radios. I also use IPCop as the Firewall.
The system currently uses 802.11g, but the PC’s and Laptop really struggle to achieve any reasonable internet data speeds, particularly as their RF range to the Wireless Router is very disappointing, so I have a couple Wireless Access Points. Unfortunately, whilst these WAPs might slightly improve RF coverage, connecting to the Router via one of them only serves to slow down the internet upload and download speeds even further. (Not much point in paying for expensive 4M internet access if I am only achieving a typical download of 500-600k!)
I want to completely replace my 802.11g with 802.11n - to both improve range and throughput.
I’m looking at the ‘Netgear Range Max Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router’ as this also has 2.4GHz (my WiFI radios are only 2.4GHz compatible). Unless, of course, anyone has any good reason to recommend I DON’T purchase it?
My problem is that I am struggling to find up to date, accurate information that can advise me on which 802.11n (2.4GHz and 5GHz) PCI cards, PCMCIA and USB Adapters are compatible with SUSE.
YeboElectronics wrote:
>
> I currently have a WiFi network at home that serves two PC’s, a Laptop
> (all SUSE 11.3) and a couple of WiFi radios. I also use IPCop as the
> Firewall.
>
> The system currently uses 802.11g, but the PC’s and Laptop really
> struggle to achieve any reasonable internet data speeds, particularly as
> their RF range to the Wireless Router is very disappointing, so I have a
> couple Wireless Access Points. Unfortunately, whilst these WAPs might
> slightly improve RF coverage, connecting to the Router via one of them
> only serves to slow down the internet upload and download speeds even
> further. (Not much point in paying for expensive 4M internet access if I
> am only achieving a typical download of 500-600k!)
>
> I want to completely replace my 802.11g with 802.11n - to both improve
> range and throughput.
>
> I’m looking at the ‘Netgear Range Max Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit
> Router’ as this also has 2.4GHz (my WiFI radios are only 2.4GHz
> compatible). Unless, of course, anyone has any good reason to recommend
> I DON’T purchase it?
>
> My problem is that I am struggling to find up to date, accurate
> information that can advise me on which 802.11n (2.4GHz and 5GHz) PCI
> cards, PCMCIA and USB Adapters are compatible with SUSE.
>
>
check out this site, it’s the one i use to find out what is and is not
supported by linux http://linuxwireless.org/ also check out opensuse’s
HCL http://en.opensuse.org/HCL
Many thanks for the info. I found Welcome - Linux Wireless particularly useful and have now successfully used the DWA-160 (dual band, n/g/b/a compatible) with a simple download and Yast installation of the AR9170 driver.
I have yet to upgrade the Wifi Router (to n and 5GHz), but already I have MUCH better RF range from my PCs and Laptop, using the DWA-160 (g, 2.4GHz). The old PCI cards achieved no more than 62%, whereas the DWA-160 achieves near 100%.
Going the USB (DWA-160) route is definitely recommended.