Best internet solution?

[Florindel]

Hi everyone.
I'd like to get a new internet connexion. I currently have a "phone using" modem and I'd like something a bit faster and unlimited, but not too extensive. I tought about ADSL, but I have many computers at home and I'd like to have all of them connected. I heard there was a "zone" connexion that allowed all machines with a proper card to connect on internet without cables. What is it exactly?
Thanks for reading

[Betamax]

Sounds like WiFi. Basically it's a lan which operates on 2.4 gb radio banwidth (the unlicenced part of the radio spectrum) Speeds are around 10 MBS however if you want ou can set it so that you sacrifice speed for quality of signal. AFAIK you could use this kind of setup if you get an adsl/Wifi router box and then install wifi cards in you computers. However I haven't tried it so I cannot be entirly sure about that.

Also if you go this way effectively you are broadcasting your internet connection, so anyone could pick it up as long as they're within a reasonable distance from your home (eg parked in a white van on your road). So it is best to use some sort of encryption also.

[Chrono Archangel]

i have cable here and its really good. i have a 10gb download limit per month that sucks but other then that its good

[Florindel]

Thanks for answearing.
The WiFi connexion sounds good. But what about the price?
And what is best, cable or ADSL (I don't want a really fast connection but I want it unlimited, not too expensive, and possible to use with many computers)?

[n_w95482]

well the thing with cable is that the line in the neighborhood is shared, so the more ppl with cable hop onto the net and surf around, the slower it will go. so if you live in the city or some other densely populated area, go with adsl, but if you live in a small town, take a look at cable. my friend lives in a small town and he has cable, so it goes VERY fast (constant 450k/sec dl rate), and he has 2 comps hooked up to the net using a 4 port router hooked up to the cable modem. both cable and dsl will let you hook up multiple comps to the connection. as for the unlimited connection, ask the dsl and cable providers in your area about their policy. also, cable and dsl are *about* the same price (please correct me on any of this if i'm wrong).
the components for wifi are more expensive than the wired versions. according to the november 2002 edition of pcgamer, a wireless router is $150 and a usb adapter is $150 each. the prices have probably gone down a LOT since then, so it's a good idea to shop around and check prices on everything. the components pcgamer sez you'll need is:
2 or more pc and/or laptops
a wireless router or access point
firewall software (may come with the router)
network interface card
network drop cable
wireless adapters for each extra pc
if you want, i can scan pics of the section on wireless lan.

[Florindel]

Again, thanks a lot.
I live in a big city, so I guess I'll go for ADSL, and maybe wifi (if not too expensive ).
One more question: I heard WiFi disconnects often. Is it true?

[Drack]

>One more question: I heard WiFi disconnects often. Is it true?

Not in my experience, I think that if you were transmitting over long distances or through major opsticles you might have problems, but for most home use it wold be fine.

I found a list of descriptions of the differernt wireless LAN types for ya.

802.11 -- applies to wireless LANs and provides 1 or 2 Mbps transmission in the 2.4 GHz band using either frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) or direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS).
802.11a -- an extension to 802.11 that applies to wireless LANs and provides up to 54 Mbps in the 5GHz band. 802.11a uses an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing encoding scheme rather than FHSS or DSSS.
802.11b (also referred to as 802.11 High Rate or Wi-Fi) -- an extension to 802.11 that applies to wireless LANS and provides 11 Mbps transmission (with a fallback to 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps) in the 2.4 GHz band. 802.11b uses only DSSS. 802.11b was a 1999 ratification to the original 802.11 standard, allowing wireless functionality comparable to Ethernet.
802.11g -- applies to wireless LANs and provides 20+ Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band (I don't think this is implimented, not sure tho)

[felinusz]

I hate to semi-revive a semi-dead thread, but there is a really god ISP called Magma, it is identical to sympatico except that it is $10 cheaper and has a 40 gig D/Load limit (IIRC). It might be worth your time to google it (several of my friends use it, I have old-fashioned parents who won't even let me pay for it myself, and refuse to get a high-speed connection so we're stuck w/56k)

[Florindel]

Thanks a lot, guys. I'll check

[Chinoz]

802.11g - the next big thing in WiFi industry
If you want to start using WiFi, skip .11b and go straight for .11g
And make sure you include necessary security precautions before hand