I'm thoroughly confused as to the difference between the following
equipment:

-- Linksys Broadband Router WRT54G

-- Linksys Access Point WAP11

-- Linksys Wireless Access Point BEFW1154

All I want is a router which will turn a Comcast modem into a wireless
network, but I don't know which to get.

As far as I know the difference is this.

The both WRT54G and the BEFW1154 will allow you to share a cable modem
connection with more than one computer as well as create a wireless
network. The difference between the two is that the WRT54G uses the
802.11g (54mps) which is faster but sounds like the limitation in
your system will be the Comcast connection anyway (somewhere between 1
and 1.5 mps usually) while the BEFW1154 uses the more widely used
802.11b system which is only 11 mps but still faster than anything the
cable connection will provide. Which to choose depends also on what
wireless card you have in your computer. By the way the WRT54G also
supports the 802.11b format but I imagine it is more expensive.

The WAP11 is, I think, only for creating a wireless network but won't
allow you to share the cable modem connection with more than one
computer.

By the way,
Linksys has a PDF guide explaining (somewhat) the different models at
http://www.linksys.com/products/

Hope that helps


"

"Peter Zima" <pzima2001@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:601e7cc5.0310170803.46461a5b@posting.google.c om...
The reason to go to the wireless router like the BEFW1154 or the WRT54G is
that they will be the firewall, and provide DHCP and NAT for multiple
computers in your home. You should check with Comcast as some CATV
providers object to multiple computers being hooked via a NAT server. They
want more money for that.

Rich

Peter -- Yes, it helps a great deal. I think I'll go with the B technology.
-- Ray
"Peter Zima" <pzima2001@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:601e7cc5.0310170803.46461a5b@posting.google.c om...

What we routinely call a "router" is actually 2 devices in the same box,
those being a true router and also a switch. These components actually
can be bought separately, but it usually doesn't make sense to do so in
a home network. Still, it's important to understand that there are two
devices in that box, and what they are. This gives you a complete wired
nework.

A "wireless router" adds a 3rd device to the box, that being a Wireless
Access point. Again, wireless access points can be bought as physically
separate devices. Adding a wireless access point to a router/switch
network is what makes a wireless network. Logically, the access point
is connected to one port of the switch.

When dealing with wireless networks, there are 3 flavors of 802.11, they
are 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g. You should probably ignore the "a"
standard, it's the most expensive and least common, with the shortest
range. The "b" flavor is the older standard, while the "g" flavor is
the newer, faster and more expensive standard. You need to make the
choice between "b" and "g" before you begin buying hardware. See:

http://www.linksys.com/edu/wirelessstandards.asp

WAP11 is a stand-alone wireless access point for 802.11b. For most
people, the better option is to purchase a wireless router, which has
built-in router/switch/access point, instead of any of the separate
components. The exception to this is if you need more than 4 WIRED
ports, then you might purchase a BEFSR81 (8-port router-switch) and a
separate WAP11. I deeply regret that Linksys does not offer the
"wireless routers" in an 8-port version, but at this time, they don't.

WRT54G is a 4-port Wireless router for the 802.11g standard. This has
all 3 components (switch/router/access point) built-in. This is
probably what you want IF you want to use the "g" standard.

I believe that you made a mistake in your post, you said BEFW1154, but I
believe that it should be BEFW11S4. This is the 802.11b equivalent to
WRT54G, a similar product (less expensive) for the 802.11b standard
instead of the 802.11g standard. Functionally, it's the same item, it
just works with the "b" standard, which is slower than 802.11g, but
since it's still faster than either cable modem or DSL connections, the
speed difference is often irrelevant.


Ray Jenkins wrote: