Wireless Router

[link00seven]

Hello guys,

I currently have an old TrendNet wireless router that just doesn't work very well. Always have to restart it due to slow speeds and unreliable connections.

I'm looking to get a new one. Do you guys think I should look into Wireless N (I have some devices that support it, but more devices that still use B/G) and if so, what do you recommended at the sub $100 level?

Thanks!

[xcorvis]

Before you trade it out, try upgrading the firmware and playing with the antenna position, or maybe making a reflector for the antenna.

[computoman]

Every once in a while frys will sell the airlink ar420w for 20 dollars or so and dd-wrt and can be installed on it. I know i did mine, but it is slower than most other routers, Buffalo seemed to make the best routers till they were hit with a patent law suit. hopefully they will be back at it soon. They are usually faster than most of the others. The best thing to do if you have removable antenna is to look on the web for homemade replacements or add-ons. Wireless technology will probably change again very soon, so I would wait on the wireless "n". Stores are beginning to discount that technology too. One thing to remember the wireless "n" will not do much good if you do not have systems equiped to use it. You will have to replace not only the router but all the wireless cards and adapters to use the now aging "n" technology. I would check to see if your router supports signal strength adjustment. If it does consider raising the power on it.

www.dd-wrt.com has alternative firmware for the most popular routers.

[kathyum08]

At home I have an internet connection but it is a dedicated line. Now I want to go wireless. Has anybody suggestions according a suitable router? I am an absolute newbie. Is there anything to consider when buying such a router? How much is such a gadget (just the range would be okay)? I would appreciate valuable tips. thx in advance

[xcorvis]

At home I have an internet connection but it is a dedicated line. Now I want to go wireless. Has anybody suggestions according a suitable router? I am an absolute newbie. Is there anything to consider when buying such a router? How much is such a gadget (just the range would be okay)? I would appreciate valuable tips. thx in advance

I could easily be mistaken, but you don't sound like a power user, so just about any wireless router is probably going to be just fine for you. Prices can go from, say, $30 to $150+, with many good ones around $50-70.

What I would do personally is go to Newegg.com and search for wireless routers with good reviews, then read up more on them before making a decision. There are two other options - go to your nearest retail store and get whatever is on sale - if it doesn't work, take it back. Or, you can contact your DSL/Cable company and tell them you want wireless. It'll cost you more to have them set it up, but hopefully it will work well with their system.

[computoman]

Ethernet is ethernet is ethernet. You can get the eight wire cables with rj45 ends almost anywhere. They are standardized for hardwired computer networking. I do not think at the retail level anyone sells anything else. Being all things are equal, you should be able to connect anything wired that supports tcpip.Once caveat thought if you have a nic (network interface card) that is 1gigabit and you router only supports 1oo megabit, the the 1gbit card will only work at the slower 100 megabit speed. !00 mbit cards will still only work at 100mbit even if your router is 1gbit. Anything wireless that supports tcpip and the particular secuity method the router supports. The only place where I have seen a snag is with M$ version of tcpip ipv6. It screws up all networking on a M$ system. Some older routers may or may not support it much less the other systems on your network Even if they do you will have to reconfigure all systems on the network for ipv6. Ipv6 is coming anyway so it is something to think about getting ready for. Make sure your router supports it before purchasing one. Also too in September, there will be an adoption of the wireless "n" standard. Most routers that have the "n" type are not all compatible yet unless you use all the same name wireless equipment. If it were me I would wait if I could till then and not get stuck with an incompatible router.

[computoman]

Every once in a while frys will sell the airlink ar420w for 20 dollars or so and dd-wrt and can be installed on it. I know i did mine, but it is slower than most other routers, Buffalo seemed to make the best routers till they were hit with a patent law suit. hopefully they will be back at it soon. They are usually faster than most of the others. The best thing to do if you have removable antenna is to look on the web for homemade replacements or add-ons. Wireless technology will probably change again very soon, so I would wait on the wireless "n". Stores are beginning to discount that technology too. One thing to remember the wireless "n" will not do much good if you do not have systems equiped to use it. You will have to replace not only the router but all the wireless cards and adapters to use the now aging "n" technology. I would check to see if your router supports signal strength adjustment. If it does consider raising the power on it.

www.dd-wrt.com has alternative firmware for the most popular routers.

Correction: it was the ar430w that dd-wrt was installed, not the ar420w. To my knowledge, they are not sold anymore anyway by Frys..