omaradib
join:2009-06-28
1 edit | Wireless router buying suggestion needed
Hi all,
I am planning to buy a wireless router. I need the expert opinions of you guys.
My internet is Shaw Canada around 10Mbps. Modem has Ethernet connection. Located at upstairs. I stay mostly at downstairs, about 25-30 feet away I guess.
I need connections to two of my laptops. One is HP pavilion dv6000 using Windows Vista. Another one is Macbook Pro.
Can you guys suggest which router I should buy? |
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jimbopalmer
Tsar of all the Rushers
join:2008-06-02
Greenwood, MS
 ·Windjammer Cable
| No, but I suggest you run a wire downstairs and put the router on the same floor as the users.
Most router's antennas only really work in a horizontal plane.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnidirect···_antenna
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I tried to remain child-like, all I achieved was childish. |
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fonzbear2000
Premium
join:2005-08-09
Saint Paul, MN
| reply to omaradib
How much do you want to spend? If around $80, I VERY HIGHLY recommend this Belkin N+ router: »www.google.com/products/catalog?···esnum=4#
If you go to this thread I started, you will see that I bought it and am VERY happy with it: »Are there any HIGHLY rated wireless N routers for under $50?
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»Check this out! |
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omaradib
join:2009-06-28 | reply to omaradib
Thanks guys.
Horizontal thing is really scary and a lot disappointing. |
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stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·VoicePulse
| said by omaradib  :Thanks guys. Horizontal thing is really scary and a lot disappointing. It won't matter that much. Don't worry.
Just get a name brand 11g wireless router.
Linksys, Belkin, Buffalo.
US$40 or so. |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to jimbopalmer
No, but I suggest you run a wire downstairs and put the router on the same floor as the users.
Most router's antennas only really work in a horizontal plane. I can connect throughout the house with no problem. It does drop off if I try to take the laptop outdoors, probably because of the aluminum siding.
I just purchased a ZYXel NBG334W router, but I don't have enough experience yet to recommend it.
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AT&T dsl; Speedstream 5100b modem; openSuSE 11.0; firefox 3.0.11 |
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omaradib
join:2009-06-28 | reply to stevech0
Thanks.
If I buy 11n, is there any chance that I lose any benefit taht 11g would have provided? (silly Q?) |
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omaradib
join:2009-06-28 | reply to nwrickert
Thanks |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
|  reply to nwrickert
Currrent home network |
said by nwrickert :I just purchased a ZYXel NBG334W router, but I don't have enough experience yet to recommend it. I bought one of those just before Christmas. Great little router IMHO. It has dual wireless network functionality so you can isolate guests from the regular wired/wireless network if desired. See the screen shot for my current usage.
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience |
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stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·VoicePulse
| reply to omaradib
said by omaradib :Thanks. If I buy 11n, is there any chance that I lose any benefit taht 11g would have provided? (silly Q?) 1) Unless most/all of your client PCs are upgraded to 11n, no benefit.
2) With all-11n, likely no significant benefit. |
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omaradib
join:2009-06-28
| reply to SoonerAl
This zyxel thing seems to be a hotcake. Anyone tried that in upstairs (router) downstairs (computer) with 1 wall, 1 roof and 1 mattress in-between (or so) osituation 
thanks Stevech0 and SoonerAll |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| Mine in used in a single story home. In between the router (at the front of the house) and my wife's wireless XP Pro desktop we have a 50 inch HDTV/cable set-top-box/DVD player and assorted walls, furniture, etc. Probably about 25 feet or so in straight line distance.
No mattress... 
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience |
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kg4mtq
join:2001-12-18
Loretto, TN | reply to stevech0
said by stevech0 :
Don't worry.
Just get a name brand 11g wireless router.
Linksys, Belkin, Buffalo.
US$40 or so.
I am agree with everything but Buffalo. |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| said by kg4mtq : said by stevech0 :
Don't worry.
Just get a name brand 11g wireless router.
Linksys, Belkin, Buffalo.
US$40 or so.
I am agree with everything but Buffalo. I had a Buffalo WBR-G54 that worked real well for me and that I liked very much before I bricked it screwing around with DD-WRT... 
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience |
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stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA
1 edit | In the 802.11g era, these three vendors used the same design/board (Broadcom). Just the GUI and skins differed.
See DD-WRT user forum for how to reinstall original factory firmware. |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| said by stevech0 :See DD-WRT user forum for how to reinstall original factory firmware. Did all of that but no go in the end. Bottom line is the Buffalo device went to the landfill a couple of years ago as a result...
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| I can say N is stable now if setup correctly. You might as well get N router as it doesn't make much sense not to take on the features of N. If you don't use N now you can still use G until you get N adapters.
I recommend Belkin N+ 150/300mbps wireless N, 10/100/1000mbps Gig wired ports. Very fast LAN to WAN and WAN to LAN, 266MHz, 32MB of RAM and 8MB for Flash. It's also has NAS-Ready Storage using USB Flash SD/SDHC or USB External HDD.
As for DD-WRT, it only enable features that your router has hidden by default that are disabled by the maker firmware. It doesn't enhance the hardware. This is where most users get confused to what it really does. But DD-WRT will work the router harder and in time will start to fail soon or later. I have it on 3 Buffalo routers/client bridge. From 2005 - 2006. They still work but I am still not impress with the full router features where it tends to hiccup and high speed WMM doesn't seem to work so smoothly. |
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