I currently have a home network based on 3.2Ghz P4 on Dialup Internet 10/100 Hub Switch and 4 other desktops. I also have an 802.11a/b wireless access point connected to the hub and use this with an older PII Toshiba Laptop with a PCMCIA wireless card.

It all works well. I do not rely on DNS and have allocated IP numbers manually to all machines. This also allows me to ping each machine and access point if there is any doubt that a particular machine is connected.

I have recently purchased an HP DV9218tx Laptop which has 802.11a/b/g capabilities and I am currently connected to my home network wirelessly over 802.11b.

I am contemplating purchasing an 802.11g wireless access point to take advantage of the higher speeds. I am not yet prepared to go to 802.11n and I don't think the laptop is compatible with this standard.

I note that when I connect the HP dv9218tx via the wired network connection, that the wireless connection is also present. Wired connection = 192.168.0.6 Wireless connection = 192.168.0.5. Both connections work but it would appear that the wired connection takes precedence.

I still would like to use the older PII laptop (at the lower speed of 10Mb/s) and the newer laptop at 54Mb/s (theoretical speeds off course).

My questions are these; Will adding the 802.11g access point mess up my networked paradise? Will the newer laptop attempt to make and maintain network connections via both access points or will it automatically select the strongest signal/highest speed.

Re: Blended Wireless Network 802.11b + 802.11g

PS. I know that my hub/switch connects the 100Mb/s network and the 10Mb/s Wireless Access point (802.11b) and manages it all ok. ie. No apparent conflict/clash of speeds between 10/100Mb/s devices.

Will a 802.11g wireless access point be able to talk to both 802.11b and 802.11g devices at the same time and at their maximum possible speeds or will it all default to the lowest common speed?

Re: Blended Wireless Network 802.11b + 802.11g

The answer is yes.

I have recently purchased a DLink Kit DWL-923 which runs on 802.11g which contains a router/switch and a PCMCIA Card.

Once installed as an access point the wireless router/switch was used by both laptops to access the network/internet each at its specified speed that is, the dv9218tx laptop (802.11g) at 54Mb/s and the PII laptop (802.11b) at 11Mb/s. It did not appear that the network degraded or defaulted to (802.11b ) 11Mb/s.

I tested the system by accessing a movie on a network drive from the dv9218tx. This was impossible under 802.11b but reasonable under802.11g. The performance was not as good as the wired lan 100Mb/s and there was only occasional stuttering of the video and audio playback.

I then installed the PCMCIA wireless card into the PII laptop and was also able to simultaneously access the movie wirelessly. Video and audio stuttering marginally increased.

I would say that I have improved my home network with 802.11g and I am glad to day that it all works as best can be expected.

Now to find out what sort of range I have around the house and what effect walls have on the signal.