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Wireless Routers
By David on 28/09/2008
I need to find a good wireless router. As of right now, my MacBook Pro is sharing it's internet connection to the laptops of my brother and father.
I've looked at the signal strength each laptop receives and it's not spectacular. When my dad goes to the dining room to work, he loses connection, which is probably less than 30 feet away from where my computer is. My brother who is in the next room over, doesn't even have excellent signal strength, granted the signal is going through walls/out doors down the hall and then into his room. Either way, I'm not going to be happy when I move into my room and have a crappy connection.
I'm not 100% sure if the weaker signal is because I'm broadcasting from a laptop, which might give out a weaker signal than a router, or if it's something to do with the ISP or something else.
In any case, I'm just wondering if anyone knows of some top-notch routers, or really good brands that gives out great signal even at somewhat large distances.
If you need measurements here are some rough estimates:
The room the router will be in is about 15-20 feet from my room. The router will be close to the door of the broadcasting room, and my computer will also be close to my bedroom door. Let's assume in both cases that the doors are closed, because more often than not mine will be closed.
Anyway, suggestions please?
By Type Z Z Z on 28/09/2008
If you get the top of the range NetGear router..Maybe looking at about £200-£350 ($400-$700) then you should have no problems, but imo if you want the best go to a shop which has a good rep and get a router which is well priced.
By David on 28/09/2008
Haha, $700 for a router is just a little to much for me, but love the effort.
I will do that, but I'd also like some people's opinions as well.
By RobbieThe1st on 28/09/2008
I am going to suggest first off that you see about setting up a wired router and some cable. Yea, it seems old fashioned, but its far faster, and I personally have had horrible luck with wireless of any sort, and I have run into all sorts of people with problems(generally disconnection) with their wireless setups, even people I know to have competently installed their router.
It is also cheaper, and while you might think it will be a hassle to run the cable... you already have a power cable running to your laptop - Is a second cable that much trouble?
If you *need* to use wireless, Yea, you need to get a good router, one with an antenna sticking out the side or top.
A laptop/usb stick wireless card is very low powered, and generally has a small antenna, which isn't good if you are attempting to transmit data over it(Think of what happens when you close the antenna on your portable radio - It gets harder to hear, right?)
-RobbieThe1st
By David on 28/09/2008
When you say set up a wire router and some cable, are you speaking of old-fashioned ethernet? If so, I don't think we could do that. If not, then please explain what you mean.
Chances are we will just go with wireless regardless, because of my dad wanting to work in various places, and friends bringing laptops over. Stuff like that amongst other things.
I'm planning on getting one with an antenna because I know the signal is stronger.
Thanks for clearing up the whole laptop/broadcasting thing. I was worried that the router would be the same and thus I'd have a terrible connection in my room.
By RobbieThe1st on 28/09/2008
| QUOTE (1colonel1 @ September 28, 2008 10:19 am) |
When you say set up a wire router and some cable, are you speaking of old-fashioned ethernet? If so, I don't think we could do that. If not, then please explain what you mean.
Chances are we will just go with wireless regardless, because of my dad wanting to work in various places, and friends bringing laptops over. Stuff like that amongst other things.
I'm planning on getting one with an antenna because I know the signal is stronger.
Thanks for clearing up the whole laptop/broadcasting thing. I was worried that the router would be the same and thus I'd have a terrible connection in my room. |
Ethernet(at least the stuff I am talking about) isn't exactly old fashioned, considering you can get up to 10gbits/sec throughput now with Cat6/Cat6-a copper wire, and even a cheap router will do 100mbits/sec, almost twice the speed of the fastest wireless network(54mbits).
Why not simply keep a couple of 25, 50, or even 100-foot cables around for use with peoples laptops? I haven't seen a laptop so far that doesn't have a RJ45 Ethernet port.
You won't have to worry about your neighbors leeching your internet, or the hassles of setting up a proper locked down system(which you would then have to set up any friends laptops up to also), which isn't nearly as easy as simply grabbing a cable, plugging one end into the router, one end into your computer.
-RobbieThe1st
By David on 28/09/2008
| QUOTE (RobbieThe1st @ September 28, 2008 12:35 pm) |
| QUOTE (1colonel1 @ September 28, 2008 10:19 am) | When you say set up a wire router and some cable, are you speaking of old-fashioned ethernet? If so, I don't think we could do that. If not, then please explain what you mean.
Chances are we will just go with wireless regardless, because of my dad wanting to work in various places, and friends bringing laptops over. Stuff like that amongst other things.
I'm planning on getting one with an antenna because I know the signal is stronger.
Thanks for clearing up the whole laptop/broadcasting thing. I was worried that the router would be the same and thus I'd have a terrible connection in my room. |
Ethernet(at least the stuff I am talking about) isn't exactly old fashioned, considering you can get up to 10gbits/sec throughput now with Cat6/Cat6-a copper wire, and even a cheap router will do 100mbits/sec, almost twice the speed of the fastest wireless network(54mbits).
Why not simply keep a couple of 25, 50, or even 100-foot cables around for use with peoples laptops? I haven't seen a laptop so far that doesn't have a RJ45 Ethernet port.
You won't have to worry about your neighbors leeching your internet, or the hassles of setting up a proper locked down system(which you would then have to set up any friends laptops up to also), which isn't nearly as easy as simply grabbing a cable, plugging one end into the router, one end into your computer.
-RobbieThe1st
|
I'd love to do that, but there's no way my parents wouldn't let it slide, especially my mom who's always about how the house looks.
I mean, I'm willing to do the set-up and all that, because it really is my only option.
Trust me, I'd love to use ethernet, and if it were up to me I'd use it because it is more stable. I just can't because of my parents.
By Samurai-JM on 28/09/2008
I'm happy with my cheap-o linksys lol. It's what everybody around here has, I pick up linksys's on my wireless laptop all over the place. TBH though Robbie's idea is great, even with a wireless computer those cables really boost the speed lol.
I STILL WANT FIBER OPTICS THOUGH. ><
By Ranma344 on 28/09/2008
| QUOTE (RobbieThe1st @ September 28, 2008 06:35 am) |
| QUOTE (1colonel1 @ September 28, 2008 10:19 am) | When you say set up a wire router and some cable, are you speaking of old-fashioned ethernet? If so, I don't think we could do that. If not, then please explain what you mean.
Chances are we will just go with wireless regardless, because of my dad wanting to work in various places, and friends bringing laptops over. Stuff like that amongst other things.
I'm planning on getting one with an antenna because I know the signal is stronger.
Thanks for clearing up the whole laptop/broadcasting thing. I was worried that the router would be the same and thus I'd have a terrible connection in my room. |
Ethernet(at least the stuff I am talking about) isn't exactly old fashioned, considering you can get up to 10gbits/sec throughput now with Cat6/Cat6-a copper wire, and even a cheap router will do 100mbits/sec, almost twice the speed of the fastest wireless network(54mbits).
Why not simply keep a couple of 25, 50, or even 100-foot cables around for use with peoples laptops? I haven't seen a laptop so far that doesn't have a RJ45 Ethernet port.
You won't have to worry about your neighbors leeching your internet, or the hassles of setting up a proper locked down system(which you would then have to set up any friends laptops up to also), which isn't nearly as easy as simply grabbing a cable, plugging one end into the router, one end into your computer.
-RobbieThe1st
|
You haven't seen the one my dad's work gave him then lol.
By Ikahigurashi on 29/09/2008
You just need a Linksys Wireless-N router. If you hardwire some, get the gigabit one.
It costs about $80 for a standard, and $150 for the gigabit. That's what they cost at circuit city anyways.
By Georgio9 on 10/10/2008
| QUOTE (Ranma344 @ September 28, 2008 04:09 pm) |
| QUOTE (RobbieThe1st @ September 28, 2008 06:35 am) | | QUOTE (1colonel1 @ September 28, 2008 10:19 am) | When you say set up a wire router and some cable, are you speaking of old-fashioned ethernet? If so, I don't think we could do that. If not, then please explain what you mean.
Chances are we will just go with wireless regardless, because of my dad wanting to work in various places, and friends bringing laptops over. Stuff like that amongst other things.
I'm planning on getting one with an antenna because I know the signal is stronger.
Thanks for clearing up the whole laptop/broadcasting thing. I was worried that the router would be the same and thus I'd have a terrible connection in my room. |
Ethernet(at least the stuff I am talking about) isn't exactly old fashioned, considering you can get up to 10gbits/sec throughput now with Cat6/Cat6-a copper wire, and even a cheap router will do 100mbits/sec, almost twice the speed of the fastest wireless network(54mbits).
Why not simply keep a couple of 25, 50, or even 100-foot cables around for use with peoples laptops? I haven't seen a laptop so far that doesn't have a RJ45 Ethernet port.
You won't have to worry about your neighbors leeching your internet, or the hassles of setting up a proper locked down system(which you would then have to set up any friends laptops up to also), which isn't nearly as easy as simply grabbing a cable, plugging one end into the router, one end into your computer.
-RobbieThe1st
|
You haven't seen the one my dad's work gave him then lol.
|
Neither of you have seen the experimental stuff I saw being tested for Cisco Systems at work this summer.
Honestly, just get a linksys WRT54G. If you can avoid getting the new version, WRT54G2 as it has major cooling problems and is a bit more expensive for what is essentially the same as the WRT54G.
WRT54G cost me $40 CAD
WRT54G2 I saw in stores for $60
Don't bother going for the wireless N standard yet. You're laptops probably can't even support N, so its just a waste in my opinion. G is still fine for another year at least.
By Sithofwookie on 10/10/2008
| QUOTE (Georgio9 @ October 09, 2008 11:35 pm) |
| QUOTE (Ranma344 @ September 28, 2008 04:09 pm) | | QUOTE (RobbieThe1st @ September 28, 2008 06:35 am) | | QUOTE (1colonel1 @ September 28, 2008 10:19 am) | When you say set up a wire router and some cable, are you speaking of old-fashioned ethernet? If so, I don't think we could do that. If not, then please explain what you mean.
Chances are we will just go with wireless regardless, because of my dad wanting to work in various places, and friends bringing laptops over. Stuff like that amongst other things.
I'm planning on getting one with an antenna because I know the signal is stronger.
Thanks for clearing up the whole laptop/broadcasting thing. I was worried that the router would be the same and thus I'd have a terrible connection in my room. |
Ethernet(at least the stuff I am talking about) isn't exactly old fashioned, considering you can get up to 10gbits/sec throughput now with Cat6/Cat6-a copper wire, and even a cheap router will do 100mbits/sec, almost twice the speed of the fastest wireless network(54mbits).
Why not simply keep a couple of 25, 50, or even 100-foot cables around for use with peoples laptops? I haven't seen a laptop so far that doesn't have a RJ45 Ethernet port.
You won't have to worry about your neighbors leeching your internet, or the hassles of setting up a proper locked down system(which you would then have to set up any friends laptops up to also), which isn't nearly as easy as simply grabbing a cable, plugging one end into the router, one end into your computer.
-RobbieThe1st
|
You haven't seen the one my dad's work gave him then lol.
|
Neither of you have seen the experimental stuff I saw being tested for Cisco Systems at work this summer.
Honestly, just get a linksys WRT54G. If you can avoid getting the new version, WRT54G2 as it has major cooling problems and is a bit more expensive for what is essentially the same as the WRT54G.
WRT54G cost me $40 CAD
WRT54G2 I saw in stores for $60
Don't bother going for the wireless N standard yet. You're laptops probably can't even support N, so its just a waste in my opinion. G is still fine for another year at least.
|
I have the linksys WRT54G and it works quite well, I haven't had any problems at all yet, hope that helps some.
By David on 10/10/2008
I ended up just getting Apple's Airport Extreme Base Station. After a few hiccups I finally got everything set up in under 5 minutes.
It supports a/b/g/n. As of right now my MBP is the only computer that can actually use N, but after the 14th, it's possible there will be two because my dad might be getting me the new MBP because he needs a laptop and feels he doesn't need one like the new MBP, so mine goes to him.
In any case, thanks for all the suggestions guys.
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