[LUNI] WiFi + Linux

[Beach, Ken]

> From: Jeff Gutierrez [mailto:jeff at mapua.org]
> 
> Option #2: Buy a wireless AP
> - If I go this route, I'm planning on buying either a Linksys 
> AP or a D-Link AP since they're the cheapest that support 
> 802.11b, and also have wired/router capabilities.  (I still 
> have a few boxes that I won't be able to buy wireless cards 
> for -- of course, due to limited budget ;).  So whatever 
> wireless network I endup with, it needs to be able to work 
> with a wired network.)

I've worked with 2 different SOHO quality (cheap) 802.11b access points, the
3com "Home Wireless Gateway" (3crwe50194), and the D-Link DWL-1000AP.

3com: The 3COM has some good points and bad points. It contains it's own
DHCP server, but you are stuck using the subnet that it decides you want
(192.168.2.0/24) and no way to set the range. It is also a gateway rather
than an access point. On the plus side, it's administered using a web
interface... makes it far more cross platform compatible. All in all, I
didn't like this unit, and don't recommend it.

D-Link DWL-1000AP: This is a transparent accesspoint. It passes DHCP to the
NICs from a DHCP server on the network. It has some good features: The
ability to accept only connections from cards with approved MAC addresses,
cell roaming, and the ability to bind all the access points in one location
into a single unit (part of the cell roaming feature). The biggest downside
I see is the administrative interface... works well, but windows only. 

After doing site surveys with both units, I've found they both have nearly
identical range.
 
> I'd like to go with Option #1 since it's the cheapest option. 
>  Also, regardless of which option I go, I'll need a WiFi PC 
> Card for my Linux-based laptop.  I've looked at the LinkSys, 
> and D-Link PC Cards but they don't seem to have good Linux 
> driver support.  The only one I can find which seems to have 
> a good, and matured Linux driver support (and is near my 
> budget) is the Lucent WaveLAN/PC Card.  Do you guys know of 
> other el-cheapo cards that have nice Linux driver support 
> (WEP included)?   I'll need three (3) WiFi PC Cards (one for 
> me, two for my wife) so I need to go cheap ;)

The two cards I've gotten running with Linux are the Proxim RangeLAN-DS PC
CARD, and the D-Link DWL-650. Both use Prism II chipset.

Cheers,
Ken