Question about wireless routers

[User 1019]

Many of them, actually.

I have a high-speed wire running into the house and want to get a wireless router, so I can post on sj while the wife uses her own laptop from the couch.

What do I need to look for in one (funky numbers I don't understand, jigawat processing speed, etc.)? How much should I pay?

I'd like to buy one soon. Possibly tomorrow if tonight I can find the info I need. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[wickedwritah]

Make sure you do not get a 2.4GHz cordless phone. Get it on the wrong channel, and it will play massive havoc with your wireless router, especially if you get a cheaper one.

 

[Write-brained]

Mine's from Belkin. Don't remember how much we paid for it a few years back, but it wasn't a whole lot - $60 to $80, maybe. And the best thing about Belkin is they have reliable customer service if and when your service is knocked offline.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Many of them, actually.

I have a high-speed wire running into the house and want to get a wireless router, so I can post on sj while the wife uses her own laptop from the couch.

What do I need to look for in one (funky numbers I don't understand, jigawat processing speed, etc.)? How much should I pay?

I'd like to buy one soon. Possibly tomorrow if tonight I can find the info I need. Any help would be appreciated.

ONE-POINT-TWENTY-ONE GIGAWATTS!!! GREAT SCOTT!!!

 

[EStreetJoe]

Many of them, actually.

I have a high-speed wire running into the house and want to get a wireless router, so I can post on sj while the wife uses her own laptop from the couch.

What do I need to look for in one (funky numbers I don't understand, jigawat processing speed, etc.)? How much should I pay?

I'd like to buy one soon. Possibly tomorrow if tonight I can find the info I need. Any help would be appreciated.

Make sure it comes with some kind of firewall or password protection.
Last thing you want is your neighbors hijacking your wireless signal or getting a free ride on it.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/computers/wireless-routers/index.html

 

[Kid Bro Sweets]

I recommend the Apple Airport Express. We got this bad boy for $79. It works with two Apples, a Windows machine and an XBox 360 concurrently.

 

[User 1019]

I wish I could understand all the jibberish found in reviews and "how to choose wireless router" links.

 

[Rosie]

Go to Wal-Mart, Target or Best Buy.

Get a Belkin wireless router in the $40 range.

It will set up very nicely. Read the instruction book on how to set a password so that your neighbors can't steal your connection.

PM me with any other questions.

 

[fishwrapper]

Don't screw around.
This is the product, especially for the novice:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6304082&type=product&id=1074787298555

Sets up wireless network for you. Dummy-proof software holds your hand through the whole process.
13 digit, WI-FI encryption. No one can steal your signal or "drive-by."
You and can surf at the highest cable/DSL speed your processor will allow. Works great with Vista, if you're running Vista. We have one computer on Vista, one off.
This router has the speed booster, too. No dead spots in the house.

I highly recommend. You will finder cheaper routers. But, you won't find a better one for the price.
Seriously.

Here is the same router for $50. No booster, but doesn't matter unless you're doing high-graphic gaming.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5250774&type=product&id=1051384663529

EDIT: I just noticed that this router was on Frank's customer review site.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Agree with the Best Buy recommendation. Strongly disagree with the Belkin recommendation. Belkin makes nice USB hubs, but it's hard to mess those up.

Get a Linksys WRT54G 802.11g wireless router]. I've had one for two years with no problems and lots of speed --- it's literally faster than your broadband connection (unless you have a T1 coming into the house). Linksys is a subsidiary of Cisco Systems, a company which knows a little bit about networking. Ignore the models with Speedbooster, which is nothing more than BS. Ignore the Wireless N models, which are based on a wireless spec that won't be finalized for another 18 months.

 

[User 1019]

Thanks for all the help, guys.

 

[slappy4428]

OK, now tell me how to scrap a network(s) and start them all over from scratch.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

OK, now tell me how to scrap a network(s) and start them all over from scratch.

EMP.

Takes out all the networks.

Er ... was that what you had in mind?

 

[wickedwritah]

With my routers, I've rarely actually gone through the step of hooking it up and running the software... usually your wireless card will pick it up if it has a strong signal.

 

[fishwrapper]

OK, now tell me how to scrap a network(s) and start them all over from scratch.

CONTROL PANEL
Add/remove all old router software.

The Linksys software will help you through that, too.

 

[slappy4428]

OK, now tell me how to scrap a network(s) and start them all over from scratch.

EMP.

Takes out all the networks.

Er ... was that what you had in mind?

Yes. yes it was.

 

[fishwrapper]

With my routers, I've rarely actually gone through the step of hooking it up and running the software... usually your wireless card will pick it up if it has a strong signal.

And others can reach your unsecured network.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

With my routers, I've rarely actually gone through the step of hooking it up and running the software... usually your wireless card will pick it up if it has a strong signal.

Without running the software (the Linksys' setup is actually done via a WWW browser), you can't set up a secured network.

 

[slappy4428]

OK, now tell me how to scrap a network(s) and start them all over from scratch.

CONTROL PANEL
Add/remove all old router software.

The Linksys software will help you through that, too.

Actually no.
I have a Vista desktop and an XP laptop. When my old computer was the server, it worked great,
Now that I replaced the desktop with a new one, the networks are inconsistent. I cant use the printers from the laptop anymore because the two computers dont always find each other...
So I want to delete all the networks and start from scratch.
Last time I tried it, I had to go to the restore point because my linksys network suddenly limited itself to local only