New router

[Mackan]

Hi,
I will soon need to get a router (I think?). Atm, I'd like to connect one laptop and one stationary PC to same IP, so I suppose I need a router for that? The laptop has WLAN support, so it would be nice to have it on WLAN too and preferably the stationary connected with a cable. That for two reasons, increased stability and I don't want to "waste" a USB-port for a wireless adapter.

I'm a PC noob, so it should also be easy to manage and easy to set up a protected wireless network.

Price, a low price is preferable lol. I don't want to spend a fortune on a router.


Good suggestions are much appreciated :)

[CV-FreaX]

hi, i got a new router 1 month ago, before it i had no idea about routers but now i did set up a 3 pc + 1 laptop network alone, half wireless half with cable... i worked my way throught it so i think i know how to set it up now... even able to host with router now ;D but its bit complicated, would be easier to talk about it in msn... bxflo87@hotmail.com if you dont have it yet, if you need help, just contact me there ;-)

[007bond007]

Well, Personally I like Linksys routers - as Linksys is a sub-division of Cisco (they make the very expensive routers that internet providers use) so they know what they are doing when it comes to routers. I've had a D-Link 604 router (garbage.. rebooted randomly after the first few months), and I now have a Linksys WRT54G which has been working perfect for the past 4 years or so :). I hear Netgear also makes good routers.

When your looking for a router with wireless lan, make sure the router supports WPA encryption - and use that. WPA is much more secure than WEP. I just checked and a store around here (in Ontario, Canada) sells the WRT54G for $59.99, which is fairly cheap for a router - not sure what it would be around there but my friends have all bought the WRT54G and have had no problems with it whatsoever.

Also, if you want to get more technical with it, there are many custom firmware (the software that runs on the router) packages out there for this router which add a great deal of features only found on expensive high-end routers.

The WRT54G supports Wireless B and G devices, so if your looking for those newer 108mbps + wireless routers this may not be the one, but honestly 54mbps (G) is good enough for most things you'll ever do with the wireless connection.

Also I just googled this handy site: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/compu ... index.html gives reviews on different wireless routers - might be of some use to you.

Good luck!

[Mackan]

Hi and many thanks to both of you!

It is still a few weeks away before I'll order a new router. I wil probarly be looking for one with a faster WLAN support because I'll have a fast connection too, but it depends on the price, of course.

Again, thanks!

[Tras]

Why didn't you ask to me? lol. I have one and if you are going to put it far from your computer, its better that you get one that allows to change its antenna, strong signal gain (dBi), various kind of connection (802.11ABG) and latest encryption methods.
The best you can do is showing here which ones you are choosing to get.

[Mackan]

thanks tres, yes, I will put here a list when I have a few I'm choosing between. Also yes, I would also ask you when it was getting closer, but you normally reply faster then I expect answers here :)