Matching a wireless card to a router?

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tgfontherun

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Aug 6, 2011
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Hey people, I built my computer a few years ago, and have been using a wired connection. I now need to purchase a wireless card. How do I know if a wireless card will work with my router? Right now I am using a linksys WRT54G2, but the modem that comcast gave us apparently also works as a router. What do I need to know in order to determine whether a wireless card will work with a certain router? Thanks!
 
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Wireless standards are backward compatible so there is no reason Comcast would send you a wireless router that was also not backward compatible. If you have wireless in your computer already, it should work perfectly fine with what Comcast has provided you. The only reason to upgrade would be to improve speed or signal strength. Sometimes you can simply replace an antenna on a wireless device to improve signal strength or quality, but you must replace the device to improve it's wireless speed and standards it supports.

The device you received should list the standard it adheres to, be it AC, N, A, B, or G. If you choose to purchase a new wireless access card for your computer, just match it to the standard supported by your new router...
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Bean007

Bean007

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Feb 18, 2005
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Without knowing your Modem/Router that Comcast gave you it would be hard to tell but your Linksys is very old. You can purchase if I'm not mistaken any wireless card or USB stick and work fine but you're still limited to 2.4 Ghz and the max possible speed of 54Mbps. Do you really need to go wireless? Granted the wired ports on your Linksys are old as well but. If you're renting or were giving the modem that ComCast gave you then I would suggest you use that. If you're renting I would suggest looking at buying a new modem as it will pay for itself many times over paying a rental fee from your ISP. I stopped renting my modem long long time ago and purchased a Motorola modem. I could have purchased several modems for the time it took me to replace my older Motorola versus renting from the cable company. However you can still use a N wireless adapter with a older router for most of what's on the market.
 
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bigpinkdragon286

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Oct 3, 2012
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Wireless standards are backward compatible so there is no reason Comcast would send you a wireless router that was also not backward compatible. If you have wireless in your computer already, it should work perfectly fine with what Comcast has provided you. The only reason to upgrade would be to improve speed or signal strength. Sometimes you can simply replace an antenna on a wireless device to improve signal strength or quality, but you must replace the device to improve it's wireless speed and standards it supports.

The device you received should list the standard it adheres to, be it AC, N, A, B, or G. If you choose to purchase a new wireless access card for your computer, just match it to the standard supported by your new router.

Most modem / router / wireless combinations still have wired Ethernet ports on them, so maybe you can still enjoy a wired connection? Also, if you have ports, but not enough, you can always use a non-router, Ethernet switch to expand the number of available wired ports.
 
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