Recommend a Wireless Access Point

[BDawg]

My Dell TrueMobile 2300 died today during a power outage and they no longer sell that model.

I have a Cisco SOHO 91 for my router, so I'm not really looking to get a wireless router, just an access point.

Can anyone make a recommendation? I'd like to spend $150 but would like something that is decently secure. Are all the consumer brands like Netgear, Linksys, and D-Link pretty much the same? What about Buffalo Technologies?

 

[JackMDS]

I would highly recommend the Buffalo tech.

However, Wireless Cable/DSL Routers are less expensive than Access Point.

Wireless Cable/DSL Router or Access Point ? What should I get?


Therefore, you can buy a Wireless Router and use it as a switch with an Access Point.

Here how, Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

:sun:

 

[BDawg]

What makes the Buffalo Tech superior? I remember reading a review of some of their products before that was favorable.

My last wireless device was actually a router, so I just set it up like an AP. I figured I would be wasting less money if I just bought for the needed application though.

 

[InlineFour]

3com officeconnects are pretty good too.

 

[Madwand1]

I think that most of the current ones are going to be obsolete pretty soon, with the upcoming 802.11n and even gigabit networking becoming more important.

So I'd recommend something tried and true and not expensive (and old, but still supported with current firmware and features) such as the Linksys WRT54G. It supports WPA2 and AES. However, if long-range support is essential to your deployment, then from what I've heard, you'd probably be better off with something else; perhaps a pre-n product.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: BDawg
What makes the Buffalo Tech superior? I remember reading a review of some of their products before that was favorable.

Superior?!?:shocked:

There is No superior, for practical purposes, the differences in performance between the Brand name Wireless devices is very small to none exsistance.

However (as an example), it seems that there are a big differences in QA. I.e. you buy 10 Buffalo Tech devices and 9 out of 10 would work as expected. You buy an other Brand and it might be only 7 out of 10 or worse.

Buffalo is fully compatible with Windows Zero Configuration and it WDS out of the Box (I.e. you can keep the flashing to the bathroom rather then to Wireless Devices j/k).

My last wireless device was actually a router, so I just set it up like an AP. I figured I would be wasting less money if I just bought for the needed application though.

It is not a mtter of Verbal Logic, in most cases, a Wireless Cable/DSL Router is less expensive then Access Point of the same brand.

:sun:

 

[Metron]

Originally posted by: Madwand1
I think that most of the current ones are going to be obsolete pretty soon, with the upcoming 802.11n and even gigabit networking becoming more important.

... perhaps a pre-n product.

I've used this Belkin Pre-N successfully in a few installations... great speed and range with multi-floor coverage.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Madwand1
I think that most of the current ones are going to be obsolete pretty soon, with the upcoming 802.11n and even gigabit networking becoming more important.

Not accurate! Nothing would be obsolete. The current Wireless Devices would not be upgradeable to 802.11n but the 802.11n is downward compatible.

I.e. if you would get standard 802.11n in the future, it would do 802.11b with 802.11b hardware and so on.

Since 99% of users are having Internet connection that is less then 10Mb/sec. and most of Wireless is used of Internet surfing the whole thing is Not so crucial.

In other word do not waste your money right now buy inexpensive (there are decent Wireless hardware devices for less the $20-$30 on sale) and wait to the real preN to come out in few months.

Real preN what the hack Jack you are talking about?

My guess is that in the summer we would start to see preN standard (the current preN does not conform with any standard) that would be able to be upgraded to final 802.11n hardware that probably would be out by the end of the year.
:sun:

 

[Metron]

Real Pre-N?

Yes, the standard isn't yet finalized. Once the standard is set, you'll see 802.11 N wireless routers selling.

Give you a hint though... as long as you don't buy a Linksys with a haxx0red firmware update process (like their current MIMO G router), a firmware update will be all that you need to upgrade your Pre-N to N.

 

[PC Freak]

Linksys