Please recommend a cable/dsl router

[Blu Titan]

Hey guys, my wife recently signed up with Comcast cable for my Internet and cable needs. Anyways, the switch to cable doesn't bother me cause I rarely watch tv (only Blu). However, not having wireless is driving me nuts. I have a desktop and laptop running Vista and two PS3 consoles. I am not a computer guy, so please recommend a good router for my needs. Thanks!

[Grumpz]

This is an excellent router at any cost. I paid 100 bucks canadian on sale, and seeing your in the US, you can probably get it for 70 or 80.

It's easy to set up and reviews very well. I love it. It handles my PS3, PC, Wii and streaming video to the PS3 as well.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=530

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Hey guys, my wife recently signed up with Comcast cable for my Internet and cable needs. Anyways, the switch to cable doesn't bother me cause I rarely watch tv (only Blu). However, not having wireless is driving me nuts. I have a desktop and laptop running Vista and two PS3 consoles. I am not a computer guy, so please recommend a good router for my needs. Thanks!

Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router...this is the one I use, had for a year now and never had a problem with it...

Wireless G would server your needs.

[Diesel]

Wireless G or Enhanced G is what you want, since the PS3 picks up on G signals and not the N drafts.

I use the Dynex Enhanced G (DX-WEGRTR) router.

Since the PS3 is G and not enhanced G it limits the possible connection speed of the entire network to standard G's maximum (54 mbps).

I have a two desktops, a laptop, and the PS3 running off of this router and have not had one problem with it since I got it and not one speed issue at all.

The 54 mbps is constant whereas with my old standard G router my speed varied from 13 mbps to 1mbps


Edit: Also with enhanced G you'll get a larger coverage area, more than you'll need actually.

[Blu Titan]

Hey thank you all for the information. I learned a lot for Diesel's post . I will go with Moe's recommendation since it is on sale on Best Buy for $50 and it is compatible with Vista. All of the comments suggest an easy setup which is what I want. Will buy it on the way from work tomorrow and hook it up. I appreciate all the help.

[Diesel]

The WRT54G is what I was using before


Here's hoping you have better speeds and satisfaction with it than I did.


There are different versions however, mine was a little older, v5.0. Not sure what the current version is, but they may have improved it by the current version.

[Icecoldblue]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

compatible with Vista

Any networking hardware would be compatible with Vista/XP/7/OSX/Linux. That's just a marketing gimmick.

[Diesel]

$50 you say?

You mean this one?


If so that is the WRT54G2, I didn't have that model, this is the one I had.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Grumpz

This is an excellent router at any cost. I paid 100 bucks canadian on sale, and seeing your in the US, you can probably get it for 70 or 80.

It's easy to set up and reviews very well. I love it. It handles my PS3, PC, Wii and streaming video to the PS3 as well.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=530

Same one I have.

[Grumpz]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Same one I have.

That's makes 2 perfect members I can think of!

[kingofgrills]

This thread is perfect, because I just switched to Comcast for cable, internet, and telephone service. Mostly to save money for a couple of years, while also increasing my internet speed. I replaced Qwest DSL as well as Dish Network.

Anyway, I'm in the same boat needing to get a wireless router, and the installer recommended I get one made by either Net Gear or Belkin. He said in his experience, those two suffered the least amount of dropped connections or slowdown.

I need to exchange a Motorola Gateway modem/wireless router at Best Buy buy tonight to get a wireless router. Any thoughts on what the installer said about Net Gear or Belkin?

[Grumpz]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

This thread is perfect, because I just switched to Comcast for cable, internet, and telephone service. Mostly to save money for a couple of years, while also increasing my internet speed. I replaced Qwest DSL as well as Dish Network.

Anyway, I'm in the same boat needing to get a wireless router, and the installer recommended I get one made by either Net Gear or Belkin. He said in his experience, those two suffered the least amount of dropped connections or slowdown.

I need to exchange a Motorola Gateway modem/wireless router at Best Buy buy tonight to get a wireless router. Any thoughts on what the installer said about Net Gear or Belkin?

Ok, for the record, Belkin is garbage in terms of routers and hubs. Not too many people "in the know" would recommend them. You're installer is talkin out of his A$$! I've got no exepience with Net Gear.

Trust me, go with the router I've recommended. My router is placed in my basement in the laundry room above my electrical panel. Been there for over a yr, and haven't had an issue.

Check it's reviews. They are stellar, but be careful. A lot of reviews are from 2007. At that time, the wireless spec was undetermined, and it cost $180 bucks.

[brettallica]

I had a terrible experience with DLink's customer service, so that's why I never recommend them. When my DLink router was working, it was fantastic, but then all hell broke loose when it went down and DLink didn't stand behind a product that was still under warranty. I don't know if I just happened to get the service and customer support technicians who just so happened to be having bad days on the same days, but the consistency of their attitudes was there — and it was consistently $hitty.

I was a Linksys guy before that DLink router, and have since gone back to Linksys with absolutely zero issues. The DLink router I had was given to me as a gift to upgrade my network because the older Linksys router I had was not a wireless one, and the DLink that was given to me was. That's a terribly worded sentence, so pardon that, but I think you get the idea.

I would go with what Diesel says and get the Linksys WRT54G (it's also the one I have. ).

[Grumpz]

Originally Posted by brettallica

I had a terrible experience with DLink's customer service, so that's why I never recommend them. When my DLink router was working, it was fantastic, but then all hell broke loose when it went down and DLink didn't stand behind a product that was still under warranty. I don't know if I just happened to get the service and customer support technicians who just so happened to be having bad days on the same days, but the consistency of their attitudes was there — and it was consistently $hitty.

I was a Linksys guy before that DLink router, and have since gone back to Linksys with absolutely zero issues. The DLink router I had was given to me as a gift to upgrade my network because the older Linksys router I had was not a wireless one, and the DLink that was given to me was. That's a terribly worded sentence, so pardon that, but I think you get the idea.

I would go with what Diesel says and get the Linksys WRT54G (it's also the one I have. ).

Customer service is a huge part of product loyalty. If I have a problem and also get screwdover, I won't be buying D-Link again. Thanks for the headsup.

[mikejet]

I use a Linksys one I got for like $60 bucks. No problems whatsoever. The few connection issues I've had are because Vista is stupid.

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by Grumpz

Customer service is a huge part of product loyalty. If I have a problem and also get screwdover, I won't be buying D-Link again. Thanks for the headsup.

Yeah, see that was just my experience. I realize that there's good and bad in every product. I was sooooo pissed at the way I was treated that I simply could not go back.

To touch on the Netgear brand, we have several switches here at work of varying models and ages, and not one has ever had a problem. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Netgear router if there was a deal on one and I was in the market.

[Sylin]

I'm very much anti-Linksys, having owned many of their products in the past both personally and professionally, and having rotten experiences with all of them.

They are very easy to use, and you can hack the firmware on many of their models to turn a $50 router into a $300 router, but IMO, their signal strength is crap and they do NOT deal well with interference. So if there are more than 2-3 neighbors also using wireless routers expect to have connection issues.

For a few years at the house, we used the Apple Airport Extreme. However, when we got Vonage, and I learned the AE doesn't support QoS, I sold it.

Personally, I'm a big fan of D-Link routers, but you have to buy the right one. Their low cost models are no better than a Linksys or a Belkin. But their DGL-4300 ($149) and the DIR-655 ($99)... I have owned both and never had a problem with either of them. Rock-solid performance. Easy to set up. And I've never had to troubleshoot a single thing with them.

That said, no matter which make/model you purchase, a few tips:

(1) Do NOT be fooled by gimmicks. There is no such thing as a "Windows-compatible" router or a "Mac compatible", etc. It's all marketing. It's like buying a cordless phone and having it say "Vista compatible"--it has nothing to do with the OS you use.
(2) DO pay attention to security features. Even in suburbia, bored teens and curious neighbors had wreak havoc on your network. IMO, WEP is worthless. WPA or WPA2 are better. MAC address filtering is OK, but MAC addresses can be spoofed very easily.
(3) Do NOT feel as though you have to have a Draft N-capable router. VERY few devices actually utilize N, and if you have any B or G devices on your network (like your PS3), N-capable devices dumb themselves down to G speed whenever a G devices is transmitting packets on the network.

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by Sylin

I'm very much anti-Linksys, having owned many of their products in the past both personally and professionally, and having rotten experiences with all of them.

They are very easy to use, and you can hack the firmware on many of their models to turn a $50 router into a $300 router, but IMO, their signal strength is crap and they do NOT deal well with interference. So if there are more than 2-3 neighbors also using wireless routers expect to have connection issues.

For a few years at the house, we used the Apple Airport Extreme. However, when we got Vonage, and I learned the AE doesn't support QoS, I sold it.

Personally, I'm a big fan of D-Link routers, but you have to buy the right one. Their low cost models are no better than a Linksys or a Belkin. But their DGL-4300 ($149) and the DIR-655 ($99)... I have owned both and never had a problem with either of them. Rock-solid performance. Easy to set up. And I've never had to troubleshoot a single thing with them.

That said, no matter which make/model you purchase, a few tips:

(1) Do NOT be fooled by gimmicks. There is no such thing as a "Windows-compatible" router or a "Mac compatible", etc. It's all marketing. It's like buying a cordless phone and having it say "Vista compatible"--it has nothing to do with the OS you use.
(2) DO pay attention to security features. Even in suburbia, bored teens and curious neighbors had wreak havoc on your network. IMO, WEP is worthless. WPA or WPA2 are better. MAC address filtering is OK, but MAC addresses can be spoofed very easily.
(3) Do NOT feel as though you have to have a Draft N-capable router. VERY few devices actually utilize N, and if you have any B or G devices on your network (like your PS3), N-capable devices dumb themselves down to G speed whenever a G devices is transmitting packets on the network.

Great advice all around! I think the OP is more than well-equipped now to make his purchase. Nice work.

Quick question on the dumbing-down comment, though. Even though a draft-N router dumbs-down to G speed when G devices are in use on the network; doesn't the N router still give you N-type range? That is to say, G speed, but with greater range than a typical G router.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by brettallica

Great advice all around! I think the OP is more than well-equipped now to make his purchase. Nice work.

Quick question on the dumbing-down comment, though. Even though a draft-N router dumbs-down to G speed when G devices are in use on the network; doesn't the N router still give you N-type range? That is to say, G speed, but with greater range than a typical G router.

Yes, you still get the range, the speed is what is lowered. At least I think so.

[bandit29]

I have a Zoom ADSL X6 wireless router at home and at work. Wireless B & G. You can set it to B only or G only.

Also uses WEP, WPA 1 & 2 keys , MAC Filtering etc. No problems really. The only thing I noticed was that my PS3 and iPod touch preferred WPA keys. Our Asus netbook didn't care what kind of encryption we had.

About 100.00 at Best Buy when they are on sale