Wireless Routers-Any info?

[wbatl1]

Do any of you knowledgable folks have any info on wireless routers that would help a wireless rookie like me buy a good one? Are there any better/worse routers? Do you have any prefered location (online or real store) that has better and/or cheaper routers?

Thanks ahead of time

[Antmeister]

Well, I often like to use Fry's Electronics for my needs and the wireless router made by Belkin is fairly inexpensive and seems to work well. I am not sure how much knowledge you have on wireless routers (as I had to just deal with it recently), but you need to buy a router and a wireless adapter.

The wireless adapter depends on your needs/wants. If you have a notebook, you can use a wireless notebook adapter or even a wireless USB adapter (just slide this into an available USB slot). If you are using it for the desktop, you would use a wireless desktop adapter or the USB as well.

Plus check to see the range of the router if you are going to have this in a seperate room. It will usually show how many feet the router could send its signal.

Besides that, Belkin seemed inexpensive and reliable in my short experience with it.

[Yellow5]

I've been happy with my Netgear WGU624 wireless router. Signal is strong and I've had no problems with it. The bios upgrades have been easy and their support has been great.

Location is important! I have mine placed in a central location of the house so the signal is strong in every room. I use mine with my laptop, pocketpc and for xbox live.

Only thing that can cause problems are phones that operate in the 2.4 Ghz range and some microwaves. :) If someone is on the phone or using the microwave I notice signal drops on the router.

Please make sure you read all of the instructions no matter what you decide to buy and secure it!! A lot of people don't secure their wireless networks and that is just bad bad bad bad.

[Barkeep49]

Agreed that securing your network is a really good idea. If you want a larger range you should get a MIMO router and card rather than 802.1g or super 802.1g. I just made this change and I went from having little or no connection today to having excellent connection just a few moments later.

[wbatl1]

Thanks very much for the advice.

[sterlingice]

I really like the Linksys WRT54G that we have. My wife occasionally has problems in her room but I think that's because of her D-Link USB adapter. I'll be further away with my laptop and Netgear USB adapter and the only time I have problems is if I bump the adapter and it comes out of the USB port. Keep in mind, we're in an apartment so the furthest you get from the router is maybe 15'. Not sure how it works on ranges longer than that.

SI

[BuffaloHuskey]

I just set up the Linksys router identified by Icy for my dad. It took ten minutes and I was all good with and encrypted signal. Believe me I am no tech genius either.