Now need advice on a wireless router...

[DeAnna]

I've heard bad things about Linksys and Belkin - which brand would you guys recommend?

I saw these from Netgear but not sure what the difference is between the different models

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=Browse&Manufactory=1233&Subcategory=145

one is $36 and others higher. If I already have a firewall on my desktop, do I need a router with firewall built in? Seems like overkill.

Our house if pretty large so would like to be able to use the laptop upstairs (while the cable modem is downstairs in the den).

Thanks for any suggestions!

P.S. - Also, what's all this MIMO stuff they talk about?

 

[Ryanwb]

I have had bad experiences with D-link and Belkin, just about anything you get will have the same features so it really is a matter of personal choice. I have a netgear router that I got at Costco. It has been trouble free since I got it. I did have trouble connecting from downstairs via my laptop so I upgraded the firmware and it works great now. Motorolla is supposed to be coming out with this really nice wireless router/modem combo, I'm going to check those out.

You do want to enable the firewall on your router and keep the one on your desktop enabled as well. I have my router really locked down so I don't run a firewall on my desktop any more. I don't know you or your husband's skill level but definately take advantage of all the security features. Use 128 bit encripted WEP, don't broadcast and hardcode the router to only recognize the MAC addresses of your home computers.

 

[Ryanwb]

P.S. - Also, what's all this MIMO stuff they talk about?

MIMO = Multiple Input, Multiple Output... It's basically the use of multiple antennas to improve the wireless link

 

[Chaz]

Yea. Netgear is good.

I like D-link ok as well.

There are (currently) three wireless standards. a/b/g. b/g are 2.4 Ghz and will probably work with your laptop. They are compatable with each other the 'g' are just faster. The 'a' standard is 5Ghz and unless you have the wireless adapter that is 'a' capable don't worry about that.

Do you have a hardware firewall or do you mean a software firewall on the computer?
The hardware router/firewall units are nice because you can easily connect multiple computers to the internet.

Without the router/firewall it is called just an access point. You can connect an access point to an existing hardware firewall but if you only have the software version I would recommend getting the router type access point.

 

[Ryanwb]

As far as recommendations go:

I would get a router that supports 802.11b as well as 802.11g
Has 128 bit WEP encription
transfer-rates of atleast 54mbps
Also, look for a model that TELLS YOU, what the expected operating range is for both indoor and outdoors. If it only gives outdoors the rule of thumb is that you get 3 times the range outdoors vs indoors. So if you get 300 feet outdoors, expect only 100 ft indoors

 

[CatBoxBackFan]

I've heard bad things about Linksys and Belkin - which brand would you guys recommend?

I saw these from Netgear but not sure what the difference is between the different models

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=Browse&Manufactory=1233&Subcategory=145

one is $36 and others higher. If I already have a firewall on my desktop, do I need a router with firewall built in? Seems like overkill.

Our house if pretty large so would like to be able to use the laptop upstairs (while the cable modem is downstairs in the den).

Thanks for any suggestions!

P.S. - Also, what's all this MIMO stuff they talk about?

Do you rent your modem or store bought?if renting,I would go with this SBG900 I had a Linksys for 4 months and then nothing,no signal.Tech support could not fix it and when replaced,it lasted 3 months.Then I heard about this modem/Gateway combo so I gave it a try and now my download and upload speeds have increased and the wireless signal is stronger. The price is more than a router but the savings on the modem rental will make up the difference.

 

[DeAnna]

Do you have a hardware firewall or do you mean a software firewall on the computer?QUOTE]

I have software firewall on each computer so do still need the hardware firewall?

 

[DeAnna]

Do you rent your modem or store bought?if renting,I would go with this SBG900 I had a Linksys for 4 months and then nothing,no signal.

I'm assuming we're renting since we pay Cox $49/month. Cox has an offer for a LAN but you have to pay an extra monthly charge for each computer!

EDIT: Ok, verified that we own the cable modem from Cox but I ain't paying them an extra $4/month to add another computer

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I'm surfing the net from my living room right now with one of those Netgear ones

Mike

 

[CQ]

I'm surfing the net from my living room right now with one of those Netgear ones

Mike

And here I sit surfing from my living room using a Lynksis one. I honestly don't know anything about any of them, other than what I have works great!!!

 

[DeAnna]

I'm surfing the net from my living room right now with one of those Netgear ones
Mike

Oh, I've been able to do that already - seems like one of our neighbors forgot to secure his wireless network we we've been...<ahem>...kinda of using it!

But I'd rather get my own!

 

[Chaz]

I have software firewall on each computer so do still need the hardware firewall?

So you have one computer connected to the internet at your house?


I believe Cox gives you more IP addresses for that $4. With a hardware router you can just use one Internet address for several computers.

If you get a router/access point do it saves you from the extra $4 a month.
Just connect the router to the cable modem and all your computers can connect to the router.


I have no real problem with Linksys either.

My equipment is all kinds. SMC firewall, D-link modem, U.S. Robotics wireless AP.

Usually with computer stuff you get what you pay for. The trick is knowing when not to pay too much.

 

[DeAnna]

So you have one computer connected to the internet at your house?

Yep, our desktop in the den has the Cox Hi-Speed. I think I'm gonna go with this one from NetGear but it doesn't say how long the range is:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833122016

But I can get it (slightly used) on Ebay. Can't go wrong for $10!

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[CardFan67]

As far as recommendations go:

I would get a router that supports 802.11b as well as 802.11g
Has 128 bit WEP encription
transfer-rates of atleast 54mbps
Also, look for a model that TELLS YOU, what the expected operating range is for both indoor and outdoors. If it only gives outdoors the rule of thumb is that you get 3 times the range outdoors vs indoors. So if you get 300 feet outdoors, expect only 100 ft indoors

ditto to all of this...

Also, I have never had any problems with Linksys... I have set up probably 13 or 14 wireless networks using their products and have only had one faulty router, exchanged and worked fine there after...

I have had some problems with netgear, but only in security issues... for some reason if the power went out on one location I set up, the default admin log in would come back...

If there are range issues there are a million extenders and most of them work pretty well...

 

[bratwurst]

I've been using a Linksys for a couple years now but I got two proxim enterprise class AP's from my old job for free I am going to install at my new house. Going to do WPA and hook right into my active directory infrastructure. No neighbors are going to steal my bandwidth!

I'm a total nerd.

 

[Ryanwb]

I have heard that the government is going to start cracking down on people who do not secure their wireless networks. I have two that I can connect to in my 'hood. Then I have the "Batcave" that shows up on my connection list, I've been trying to hack into it for like 2 years now. I must know what is in the "batcave"

 

[bratwurst]

Have you tried using airsnort to sniff the wep key?

 

[DeAnna]

So I ended up getting a Belkin Wireless G router from Best Buy - $30

Had to call their tech support 'cause it wouldn't recognize the internet connection so they helped me manually configure the router.

Then my network wouldn't show up from 'available networks' so had to call Dell support for that part. Turns out I had turned off SSID broadcasting so my laptop wasn't picking it up.

But it's finally up and running now - so much for the "easy to install in 1 hour" since I had to spend more than a day trying to get thru the various support desks!