Need a good Wireless Router

gtghmgtghm New
edited September 2004 in Science & Tech
Which ones are the best?

What about Microsofts? The MN-700 I think it is?

"g"

Comments

  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited September 2004
    I have only had direct experience with SMC through 3 routers of which 2 have been wireless.

    After 1.5 years the SMC 7004AWBR (802.11b) cooked itself which isn't uncommon for any router. It slowly died. In the 1.5 years it was operational it did work well for me though configuring full security settings for wireless connections was a bit clunky.

    I replaced it with the SMC 802.11G 2804WBR-CA Barricade-g 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Cable/DSL Broadband Router which has been operation for 2 months now. SMC has streamlined the admin interface greatly and it is MUCH easier to work with for securing both hard wired and wireless connections.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    I've had fantastic luck with a Linksys WRT54G, until the wireless portion choked on maple/oak dust and died. ;D
  • tcithtcith Sydney, Australia Member
    edited September 2004
    I personally have a preference for Netgear routers
    Have had zero issues with my previous WGR614 (now happily serving my parents) and now use a WGT624

    Both gave excellent coverage - find the throughput on the new one excellent as I stream video/movies from a central server to my plasma screen T.V about 20 metres away
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    Netgear. I hate my linksys. Dlink sucks. Microsoft sucks.
  • DexterDexter Vancouver, BC Canada
    edited September 2004
    I just replaced a one year old D-link wireless for a customer. The Wireless portion worked great. However, 3 out of 4 wired ports were dead. Since they needed 3 wired ports, this is a bad thing. We put in a Linksys 802.11b model (don't have the model # in front of me.) I normally have had good luck with Linksys routers, but they just called me yesterday and I am heading over their tonight to have a look at it, seems it is overheating and cutting out sporadically... :(

    I have the SMC at home, same model as the first one in MM's post. Have had for anout 9 months, works great. I don't use the wireless much, as I don't have any wireless NIC's, but I have the odd customer laptop in the house, and test their wireless on my router, and it works great.

    I'd recommend either the Linksys (pending the results of tonight's investigation ;) ) or the SMC. I just can't recommend DLink any more, I have replaced way too many wired ones for customers, and now the one Wireless one. Netgear I have no experience with their Wireless, but I have installed their wired ones in a couple of locations, and they seem to be great, nice small footprint to them too.

    Dexter...
  • PreacherPreacher Potomac, MD Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    I've used 3 Netgears, two wired and 1 wireless, but just upgraded to a 802.11g Linksys WRT54GS. The Netgears worked very well until the 802.11b failed last year. Netgear tech support was quick and sent me a new one in 3 days with a box to return the old broken one.

    Now though, the Linksys got much better user and tech writer reviews than the comparable Netgear. The Linksys was cheaper and for the week I've had it has been flawless. It was easy to setup and configure and performance/coverage has been very good.
  • maxanonmaxanon Montreal
    edited September 2004
    That's interesting, I think it depends on the models/revisions of the things. I've had problems with almost all brands, and I've also had no worries with almost all brands(D-Link, SMC, LinKsys, MS, Netgear).

    I find that the wireless AP need to be able to breathe. They get pretty hot. Just remember that these won't last forever. The best that you can hope for is a couple of years. MS is plug and play (with almost no settings, mind you). The others need a couple of minutes of concentration to set up. Make sure that the 2 components (access point and transmit/reciever) are of the same brand/chipset. That's where the majority of problems occur.
  • gtghmgtghm New
    edited September 2004
    maxanon wrote:
    Make sure that the 2 components (access point and transmit/reciever) are of the same brand/chipset. That's where the majority of problems occur.

    Not sure what you are saying? The wireless card in my notbook is the Intel Pro 2200 802.11 b/g @54mbps are you suggesting that I need an Intell wireless router?

    Sorry if I am missunderstaning things here but I'm totaly new at the wireless thing...

    Thanks,
    "g"
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    I've used Netgear with great luck. I didn't have so much luck on Microsoft. They're discontinuing their wireless networking stuff, I've heard.
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited September 2004
    I've set up a Belkin brand wireless router earlier this week. No complaints so far.
  • PreacherPreacher Potomac, MD Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    gtghm wrote:
    Not sure what you are saying? The wireless card in my notbook is the Intel Pro 2200 802.11 b/g @54mbps are you suggesting that I need an Intell wireless router?

    Sorry if I am missunderstaning things here but I'm totaly new at the wireless thing...

    Thanks,
    "g"
    gtghm,
    I agree with maxanon. While never a requirement and if you already have a wireless card, an intel wireless NIC should "probably work" with another company's router/AP as long as the are based on compatible standards. I have had more problems though when I mix company's then when I buy all parts from the same one. FYI, although their effectiveness is nowhere near the claims...Speedbooster by Linksys and SuperG by Netgear only work with the respective cards/routers from the same company.
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