wifi use for the Apache

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ReaperZ

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#9956 26-Oct-2006 13:03

hi guys, just a few quick questions..

with connecting the Apache to my PC via wifi,

i dont have a wifi router .. and dont have a lot of money so i was thinking

- can i buy an PCI wifi card for my pc and use ad-hoc mode ?

or will i need a wifi router for them to be able to communicate

is there any advantages of doing it one way over the other ? apart from obviously with a router i could have multiple wifi devices.

- is the range the same for a PCI wifi card ? - will i get 50metres+ on it ?

thanks guys :-)

oddly my apache seems a LOT slower than my Harrier

- if i get rid of my apache .. and buy a wifi card for the Harrier, is the range the same with the sdio wifi cards ?

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Hawkes Bay
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#49798 26-Oct-2006 13:10

My Apache is slower than the Harrier it replaced too. I think the cpu is about the same speed, but WM5 might be a bit more resource hungry.

The benefits of the Apache far outweigh the slowness for me.

Really - you should get even a secondhand WiFi router - using PCI and ad-hoc is only going to be a headache for most people. You can get a DLINK for $115 or a no-name for $95, and then jstuse infrastructure mode, and probably get better reception, as your aerial wont be attached to the back of your tin.

Ad-hoc willtake more setting up, and will *require* your PC to be running for the Apache to connect.

If your PC crashes and burns, you would forever be kicking yourself for not getting an AP so that you could use the Apache for surfing/email until you fix your PC.

My $0.02

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#49800 26-Oct-2006 13:12

A Dick Smith-branded wi-fi router will be almost the same price as a PCI card, and much easier to use. Ad-hoc will be a pain...

ReaperZ

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#49802 26-Oct-2006 13:13

setting up ad-hoc mode wont be an issue for me, as im a network engineer - just never dealt with WiFi

PC is on 24/7 and stable running *nix or have another windows machine i can put the wifi card into ..

tonyhughes

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#49804 26-Oct-2006 13:15

Surprisingly enough the DSE brand router is $148, about $20 more than a netgear from the same store.
Granted, the DSE will also act as a wireless repeater which is cool... I might buy a couple and some panel aerials and see if I can feed internet to my sis in law a few blocks away...

tonyhughes

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#49813 26-Oct-2006 13:26

I generally go with "What would I tell my client to do" - thats always a good place to start...

If you feel comfy doing the ad-hoc thing, go hard, but lesser men have fought bravely only to come off second best :-P

It may work with little time spent, and you come out on top, or you might spend hours with zero luck, give up, and buy an AP anyway.

Pick the most likely scenario in your, and you will have your answer. (In my world, things always go Murphy on me)

NZHarrier

77 posts

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#49969 27-Oct-2006 12:41

tonyhughes: My Apache is slower than the Harrier it replaced too. I think the cpu is about the same speed, but WM5 might be a bit more resource hungry.

Hi tonyhughes,

I also had a Harrier and now have the Apache in regards to the slowness of the Apache from what I have been told it is because of the RAM v's ROM, as the Harrier uses RAM rather than ROM to store and use programes while WM5 needs to use ROM and that is slower than RAM, the Apache still uses the RAM in the same way a PC does but it stores programes in the ROM. And you are right the Apache is by far better even if spped is a bit slower than the Harrier (must admit that it has gotten faster since I updated the AKU)

Cheers

Jace

Now in regards to Wifi on the Apache I have never used Wifi before only Bluetooth, I have a DLink Wireless router and only have it connected to my PC via ethernet (still waiting till next month to either get a USB Adptor or PCI card? which is better?) can I still connect my Apache via the DLINK to access my broadband for free rather than as an Access Point and be charge via download data rates on the Apache...

Cheers

Wifi-wanabe

NZHarrier

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#49971 27-Oct-2006 12:46

Forgot I got a great deal going through Telecom $100.00 for the D-LINK Wireless Router kit saved $99.00 so you might want to keep an eye / ear our if the do it again...

Just thought you might want to know

Equinox IT

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freitasm

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#49972 27-Oct-2006 12:46

Go for the PCI adapter... And yes, you can just connect to Wi-fi with your Apache and use your wired broadband instead of the mobile allowance.

ReaperZ

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#49976 27-Oct-2006 13:04

have just purchased a cheapie Wifi Access point

a Belkin one

will update specs and how it goes soon :-)

freitasm

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#49977 27-Oct-2006 13:05

I have a Belkin access point here, and I connect my Apache, Jasjar, tablet PC wirelessly, plus three PCs over the ethernet. Very good router...

ReaperZ

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#49993 27-Oct-2006 16:20

after configging the Belkin Router with my cable modem - i just say its awesome !!!!

signal strength is over 60% EVERYWHERE in the house, and outdoors too

drops to 35-60% in the garage which is some type of steel i suspect - very amazing !

now .. what cool stuff can i do with my wifi'd Apache ? :-) i want into this new world :D:D

NZHarrier

77 posts

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#50001 27-Oct-2006 19:34

Hi all

Can some one please explain to me how to set up my Apache on a D-Link wifi router step by step? as per my above post I currently do not have my PC connected via wifi (next month) I have tried and I did connect to the internet but I thought it had connected via cell line (*777) and not wifi as I don't want to pay for the casual data rate (ouch $8 a mb) but want to access via my broadband connection.

Thanks heaps in advance

Cheers

Jace

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#50003 27-Oct-2006 19:50

Nothing much to configure... Once you have your Access Point installed and working ok, simply tap in the connection icon on your Apache

It will open the Conn Manager:

Tap the WiFi button (the green one in my screenshot). This will turn Wi-Fi on and off. When if finds your access point (assuming it's broadcasting its SSID) it will show you a popup asking if you want to connect, if it's Internet or Work (choose Internet) and a WEP key if needed. It will then try to connect. That's all.

To confirm it's actually connected, tap Settings | Wi-Fi and you will see something like this:

Good luck.

paradoxsm

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#50005 27-Oct-2006 20:05

Did you ever get the harrier working again?

ReaperZ

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#50026 27-Oct-2006 23:55

paradoxsm: Did you ever get the harrier working again?

nope its sitting as a brick next to me. still looks cool in the cradle though !

must figure out a way to control winamp from my apache :) .. also any top10 apps u guys reccomend ?

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