Wireless router

[Glennbear]

I use a Linksys wireless -G router. In NJ I used it with a high speed cable connection and here in VA it is hooked to my satellite modem. This unit has always worked well for me and has sufficient range that I have been able to take the laptop to the further reaches of the property and still have a connection solid enough to broadcast video. The only problem I have is that occasionaly a storm coming from the south gets between my rooftop dish and the satellite thus confusing the router when the modem drops out. It is just a simple matter of resetting the router when this happens.

Update at 8PM, after 6 years of faithful service the router just quit, replaced it with the same model and all working fine again

[TracyP]

Originally Posted by mshel

Since I am not as proficient with computer hardware as I am with a chisel and stuff, one of the computers has this installed:

Wireless Adapter: 802.11n (pre-n) Dual Band Wireless LAN (Mini PCIe)

and as for the other one, I don't know if it has a wireless adapter or not. But it is my understanding that only one of the computers has to have a wireless card. Is this true?

This is gonna happen, I just don't want to make a mistake when I purchase the router. So, lets make this as easy (for me) as possible.

Here are a couple I found while surfing around and I am sure there are many more that are just as good, maybe even better. So, hop on and help me get the right one.

Belkin G+ MIMO Wireless Router


Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router

Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster


D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router

Mike

You must have a wireless card in any computer that is going to be hooked wireless to the net, they have to be able to "talk" to the router. If you want to take advantage of the "n" speed, the ones you posted will work backwards compatible but do not have the advantages of the "n" technology.

[Glennbear]

One of my machines is hardwired to the router and the other is used wirelessly.

[sapwood]

Originally Posted by Glennbear

One of my machines is hardwired to the router and the other is used wirelessly.

I use a similar setup up with a 5-year old linksys 802.11b. Since the unit is a router I connect two Macs to router via hardwired ethernet and roam wireless with my laptop. I do have to reset occasionally. Like Don, I tend to blame that on TW, but it could be the linksys overheating

Roger

[GeorgeL]

Mike,

I've owned LinkSys, D-Link and even Microsoft Broadband wireless routers, other than range they all pretty much work fine. The real differences I've seen are in the configurability of the router for file sharing networks. Not that I would EVER do that!

George

[AndyBarnhart]

Originally Posted by GeorgeL

Mike,

I've owned LinkSys, D-Link and even Microsoft Broadband wireless routers, other than range they all pretty much work fine. The real differences I've seen are in the configurability of the router for file sharing networks. Not that I would EVER do that!

George

That reminds me of another difference. Some gather statistics, generate reports on who tried to get on your network (just IP addresses), let you limit access to certain hours, include or exclude acess to certain domains based on login, etc. You should figure out if any of that is important to you. I don't care that much about reporting; as long as it is a good lock I am not too concerned about who jiggles the handle. I do look at the history of sites visited every now and then and make sure the kids know there is such a thing. I haven't been locking them out of things yet and they have been good about telling me when they stumble into things. I did a very unscientific test of locking down access and found it made research almost impossible.

[garymuto]

I have a Linksys wireless G router tha tcame with my Vonage account that I've used for the last 2 1/2 years. It works but the signal is weak. BTW, Vonage was problematic for the first 6-9 months, but now both are working OK. The nice thing was that I got the wireless router free while saving money on our phone bill. We use it for 2 laptops, the phone connection TiVo and a wireless printer router.

[AndyBarnhart]

One last comment - about brands...

By now you are probably really confused about which ones are good. The answer (IMO) is that nearly all of them are. They all have pretty low failure rates, but if you have a failure it usually means it won't work at all and due to costs and changing technology, it rarely makes sense to try to get one serviced even if it is under warranty. There is no substitute - you can't shim your rabbit ears until you get another router; until you get another router your netwrok is down. Routers give access to multiple computers, so a failure usually affects multiple people, some of whom may question your judgement in selecting the previous router. I think you get the picture - it is a bad situation and it will make you detest the maker of the one that dies on you. As I said earlier, failure is pretty rare with all brands. But if you get one, it's like having your Chevy break down on the way to the prom; it will make you a Ford man for life. I have used several routers at different times and places - Blitzz (company defunct), Dell, Belkin, Linksys, NetGear and D-Link. I have not had one die on me yet.