Solved Wireless-G Router with Windows 7

[Aurora]

I have Windows 7 computers X4 through the house. Everything is hardwired from wall ports back to a wired D-Link router in my office. Since the house was set up this way, I stayed with wired computers. I bought a wireless router several years ago but have never hooked it up. Planning on doing this for Christmas this year. This new wireless router is a:

Linksys WRV54G Wireless-G, 2.4 Hertz, VPN Broadband Router

However, it does not show a Windows 7 OS hook-up in the instructions. It shows all the previous Operating Systems; 98, Millenium, Windows 2000 and XP generalized instructions but not Windows 7. Before I unplug everything, will this VPN Wireless-G work with all my Windows 7 computers after set-up? I think I bought this router about 4 years ago. It's still new in package but I never set it up. Hoping I can still use this wireless equipment? Thank you.

 

[Night Hawk]

G type routers are no longer manufactured. I just recently replaced a G type with the newer N type and now have a firewall seen. That is both hard wired and WiFi capable Linksys E2500 Multiple User N600 Wi-Fi Wireless Router. You can make a usb set up key with a small flash and any desktop or laptop will see that used with a master password you change to your own to connect through the guest network connection.

The G type is the wide open type there. "Anyone" sitting in car outside can connect through the router you have. Of the WiI WiFi gaming system will too! Unfortunately it won't on the N type here to get past the firewall apparently. But the router is more secure as well for things like online banking.

For any laptops the WiFi adapters they come with should work without a hitch once you go through the Network & Sharing Center troubleshooter if no immediate connection is seen. For the desktops unplugged from the RJ-45 ethernet cabling you would need to attain a dual band type usb WiFi adapter for each that is G as well as N type capable sold at Staple as well as other places. Netgear as well as Cisco(LinkSys) has those as well.

By the way the G type is identical to the one replaced here for seeing the faster connection speed that was being limited by the old router itself since the ISP changed plans here to see the Voice over IP(VoIP) service added on. $50 for the old out a Walmart and $69.99 at a Staples for the new N type router. If you going to unplug al the desktops to go WiFi I would recommend a router upgrade as well to allow for any faster speed support needed.

 

[Aurora]

Thank you Night Hawk! I will look for an N type. I always thought my speed was coming from the ISP I pay each month. Didn't know I could get my speed from the router itself. Can I reduce my speed (1 meg) through my ISP and just pay the lowest rate they offer and get a good speed through the router?

 

[Night Hawk]

The speed depends on whether or not the addon which would be a router impedes or supports the ISP's provided. For example with cable internet you are looking at 25-30gb top but would never see that with a router limited down to 10-12gb as the max. For dsl which would be much slower the router may have worked well.

The N type I have now supports a faster FOIS speed then presently available where once FOIS comes in eventually I won't have any worry about not seeing any benefit. There you have to look at the type of service to see an upgrade will make the difference for you by finding out what your ISP offers speedwise.

I know here the G type had to go when the ISP went from a home plan to the business class deal they have been promoting lately while I am not seeing the new customer price however. Have to cut back on some of those extra channels never watched I guess! :sarc:

 

[Aurora]

Thanks! I am on a dsl line at 1 meg. The highest I can go in my area is about 3 megbytes I think. They say the telephone lines in the ground are only good enough for that speed. My DSl is unlimited download though. Good Lord, you have a very, very fast speed! I have checked out our cable internet and it is fast(not your fast!) but it is limited. Many have to pay extra for going over their limit so haven't gone with a cable modem. Thanks for all the good information!

 

[Night Hawk]

You can't always go by the advertised speed as I should mention here. Even one of the ISP's own techs informed me my best would be about 20-25 not more while the tv spots state 30!

I was on dsl just a few years back and found I couldn't even get online with the 64bit 7 beta! That didn't go over too well here being stuck with the old 2Wire Legacy to 32bit only type usb driver! Once I had cable the connection was instant and even the other OSs could connect for the first time! The outdate dsl here was then soon gone for good!

For you the G type would still work since the older model router was capable of upto about 10 or so. That will get you past while the N type or other G model may have a firewall protection inplace to consider. Won't make it easy for any WII(pronounced wee) gaming system however.

 

[Aurora]

Thanks NightHawk, yes, that's correct. I never get the full 1 meg speed even though that's what they advertise and I pay for. It comes in at about 840-900kb. I did have 3 meg at one time and that came in at about 2800kbps. Disconnected that as to expensive at about $100. per month just for the speed. 1 megabyte is fast enough for me.

Doesn't the Paradyne Modem provided by the ISP have a built-in firewall?


May I ask if your cable modem service has a limited download? It certainly
is limited in my area. I am in digital paint groups and I need to download kits and graphics to do my hobby work. I am not making a living with my computer or anything so I don't need super fast. Thank you!

 

[Night Hawk]

I have XFinity Comcast here that is estimated at 3mb per second as the download speed. The peak however is much higher when performing the download-upload test seeing 58.03 download and 11.02 for the upload speeds. Even that will vary since the second run shows 58.83mbps for the download and down a little to 10.98 for the upload.

Your average peaks will of course always vary regardless of the ISP due to traffic and how bogged down or light any particular server is including the ISP's host and mail servers. When previously having dsl here the delays were more noticable however! A turtle could crawl faster! :sarc:

As for any limitations the recommendation to go from Home to Business is seen when seeing a high volume of downloads. As of May the upgrade was seen when adding voice onto the account when an offer to see more for the same pricing was dicussed with one of their reps. I then had to call back to see a $5 additional charge to see the VoIP number become unlisted when I kept getting annoying telemarketing calls from one source! Grrrrr.. pain in der.... I settled that one fast!

As far as the ISP provided modem the model number would need to be looked up. When simply typing that brand as Paradyne Modem firewall I ran into one model at the DSLDepot site listing it as having one. DSLDepot.com Paradyne 6381 ADSL Modem filter, driver, & manual

 

[Aurora]

Thank You NightHawk, I followed your link and my Paradyne modem does have a firewall. I may still try the older router and put that into service. I can always go get an 'N' router if necessary. Thanks so much. Give this man another badge!!

 

[Night Hawk]

The LinkSys model I had here looked about the same as the one you have and that worked well for everything. With your LinkSys not having a firewall either you should be able to run with that for some until you either swap ISPs to upgrade or the ISP upgrades the service at their end.

But when the IEP plan was changed from Home to Business class I found I wouldn't be seeing the full peak speeds I could without the necessary upgrade for cable however. I then simply grabbed a newer N type router from Cisco and even some dual band usb Wi-Fi adapters as well. The drawback for the new router and firewall you also found there as well was no longer being able to use the WII gaming systems that had shared the connection with the old router.