need help choosing a wireless router

[NICKG]

i just got a g band dell laptop so i want to upgrade my current network to a new wireless/wired combo. I was looking at either a lynksis wr54(maybe the 55 with the speed booster) or a belkin pre-n(which is supposed to have a much greater range and higher transfer rate) which is a better unit? i have a lynksis for a year with no problems on my high cable internet...anyone?

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

From a previous discussion, but is this really what you needed to know?(I'm NOT the expert):

G is faster than B, but G is backwards compatible with B. I would get a G router if possible. Note, however, that if you have a G router and a B NIC, you are still bound by the B speed, so if you have a B NIC, you'll need a G NIC in addition to the G router. As for security, doesn't matter. Winblows is the weak point no matter what you do. For the love of God, please make sure you're on WinXP Service Pack 2. I also highly recommend an inexpensive software piece called NetPeeker. ($30 download). Good firewall program with a small footprint and no performance hits on the PC. I also reocmmend Eset Software's NOD32 antivirus program. It's also not very expensive, relatively unnoticeable footprint (Unlike Symantec which seems to suck half of your resources just to start up), and a really fine software package.

[NICKG]

ok, i was gonna get a g..my laptop is a/b/g. I was hoping to get the faster one of the bunch, i will get those programs for security thanks!(on xp sp2)

[rattlsnak]

ive used the linksys wr54g for quite a few networks with no problems. Ive had multiple issues with Dlink.

[HardDrive]

2 years on a D-link. Very happy with it. Excellent signal strength.

[cantdrv55]

I've got a Netgear MR814v2. It's been great and was really easy to set up. I have a tri-level house and I've got it on the bottom level. My son's study is on the third floor and he gets great reception too.

[steve911]

Linksys WR54g here also. I have a wireless linksys print server and linksys wireless cards for all our PCs and laptops. No problems - though every once in a while I have to unplug the router and plug it back in again to reacquire the connection.

[TWork]

There's no reason big reason to go with an 802.11(g) router unless you can use the additional range it provides. The (b) routers are usually a bit cheaper. Although (g) provides better range and speed, if it's just a home network, you'll never pull enough data to actually take advantage of speed benefits of (g) over (b) and you may not want the additional range as it could go far enough that neighbors would pick up your signal.

YMMV,

T.

[Eric Coffey]

Not sure who makes the internals, but my Dell 2300 (a/b/g) has performed flawlessly for 3+ years.

[Dave L]

Originally posted by TWork
There's no reason big reason to go with an 802.11(g) router unless you can use the additional range it provides. The (b) routers are usually a bit cheaper. Although (g) provides better range and speed, if it's just a home network, you'll never pull enough data to actually take advantage of speed benefits of (g) over (b) and you may not want the additional range as it could go far enough that neighbors would pick up your signal.

YMMV,

T.

I think it depends on placement and what you would like. I had my router on the 2nd floor at the front of the house and it wouldn't (G router) reliably reach my basement home office at the rear of the house. I have since relocated it to the main floor and it works well through out the house and outside (back deck, garage)

I would go with a G router, they really arent that more expensive. I have a dlink, it works fine.

[s_wilwerding]

Linksys all the way. I've bought multiple networking accessories (routers, wireless routers, wireless cards, NIC cards) - all Linksys, and all have performed flawlessly.

[coloradoporsche]

Aint nuthin but a G thing, baby.

[NKN84944]

I would stay far away from D-Link... personally I have had and seen many problems with their routers. Recently I came across this article on BBC news that might explain why http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4906138.stm

[NICKG]

well, i do not even have a wireless router, i just got the wifi laptop and want to upgrade my network to have wifi. the laptop is a dell with the a/b/g cards (highspeed etc etc) my original question is what one is better the lynksis or the belkin pre n, both look to fit the bill nicely, but belkin says that it has a 108 mbs rate where the lynksis is 54

[TerryH]

I have the Linksys WRT54GS and use it with my laptop and Xbox360. Unforntunately, there are several walls along the 70 ft path of connection and it shows. I get at most 40% connection and sometimes it drops completely on my laptop.

Does anyone here know if those range expander/extenders work very well? The way my home is constructed, the path is through a few walls, including exterior stucco (concrete).

[Howard Agency]

Linksys here, too. OK for home, but wouldn't trust it for serious business use. My experience has been the worst wired network is much better than the best wireless.

Most laptop's built in wireless cards are pretty crappy. Adding a plug in one (I used a Belkin) helped.

[EdT82SC]

Originally posted by NICKG
well, i do not even have a wireless router, i just got the wifi laptop and want to upgrade my network to have wifi. the laptop is a dell with the a/b/g cards (highspeed etc etc) my original question is what one is better the lynksis or the belkin pre n, both look to fit the bill nicely, but belkin says that it has a 108 mbs rate where the lynksis is 54

The wrt54gs from linksys does the same double speed boost. That only works for really good signal strength. So if your laptop is in the same room you can see 108, but probably not oterwise.

I like the linksys in part because there is third party firmware with more features available for it. Check out this link on the linksys web site for more information.

[EdT82SC]

Originally posted by TerryH
I have the Linksys WRT54GS and use it with my laptop and Xbox360. Unforntunately, there are several walls along the 70 ft path of connection and it shows. I get at most 40% connection and sometimes it drops completely on my laptop.

Does anyone here know if those range expander/extenders work very well? The way my home is constructed, the path is through a few walls, including exterior stucco (concrete).

There are multiple ways to go about improving wireless reception. There are wireless repeaters, larger antennas for both the router and PC (though I don't know of any for laptop adapters), and there is 3rd party firmware (see my post above) that allows you to increase the transmit power.

For a antenna check out the HGA7T from Linksys. For a repeater check out the WRE54G. There is information on both on linksys' website.