how do I detect the wireless frequency?

[ChingChang]

I don't use wireless networking, but my friend does, so I have no idea about this stuff. I am going to be building him a new comp in a couple weeks and he wants to go wireless. He says he has a wireless router in his basement. I'm going to check it out in a couple days to find out what frequency (or maybe I should say standard?) it is (I'm guessing 802.11b or 802.11g), so I can buy him a compatable card.

 

[sandmanx]

102.11b and g run at the same frequency(2.4GHz). There is 802.11a as well, which does run on a different freq range(5GHz). The router should say what standard it is on it, my guess is 802.11b(if it's been sitting around for a while) or 802.11g(if newer) since they are much cheaper than the 5GHz routers.

 

[randyc]

If it turns out to Wireless B or Wireless G just go ahead and buy a Wireless G card for his computer, the two technologies are cross compatible, and G is the better of the two. So he'll be cross compatible and future proofed.

 

[ChingChang]

Thanks for the help guys