which wireless networking brand would you buy?

[garytmib]

i am new to wireless networking and wanted your opinions on brands. i also need to know if the routers can be wired to your main computer or do you have to use it wirelessly also.
tia for your advice,
garytmib

 

[JackMDS]

This week I would buy this Wireless Router.

SleepSteam 2626Wireless Router.

There is $30 rebate which bring the price down to $47. (Else where it is sold for over $120).

Wireless Client Card I would buy this:

Orinoco Gold PCMCIA Wireless Card

Why?

Given what ever Access Point, or Wireless Cable/DSL Router, you have, among the Entry Level 802.11b cards the Orinoco PCMCIA Gold is the champ.


One of the ways to augment Wireless is by using a better Antenna then the stick that come on the regular Wireless hardware. The typical "stick" is about 2.2dbi, a good Antenna would be 5dbi and above.

While most of the Access Points have a removable Antenna, most Wireless Cable/DSL Routers do not.

The Speedstream 2624 has two advantages.

1. The Antenna is removable.
2. The original Antenna is 5dbi.


==============================================
Otherwise if you buy in your local Mega store I would go with the lowest price, and the decor:

If you need Blue, get Linksys.

Nice Gray a Silver, get D-Link.

Futuristic look, get Belkin.

Stylish, get Microsoft.

Battleship Gray, get SMC.

In other words there are no real differences between the above.

 

[NeoMadHatter]

whatever router is cheapest. i own a D-Link DI-614+ and it's great. i like it.
i'd go with D-Link, Microsoft or Linksys as first option. and then Siemens, and Netgear. but that's personal bias.

 

[garytmib]

thansk for the advice.

 

[ericboo]

Linksys are great when they work, but I have had problems with their products.

Netgear has been working fine for me. SMC, etc. Any of those with a cheap pricetag should be fine.

 

[kjacobs]

I Like Linksys. You wire one PC to the router and then the others connect using wireless adapters. My older PC would not recognize a USB port card so I swapped out the USB adapter with a PCI adapter and they work great! I love being able to share printers, copy files, and share the internet.

Linksys had a rebate going but not sure if it is still valid. (I got $10 off the router and $10 off the adapter.

Ken

 

[kjacobs]

Check out this thread in the Hot Deals forum

D-link 614+ Wireless Router for $52 After $30MIR + $25Coupon at OD


Don;t know anything about the product myself.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
This week I would buy this Wireless Router.

SleepSteam 2626Wireless Router.

There is $30 rebate which bring the price down to $47. (Else where it is sold for over $120).

Wireless Client Card I would buy this:

Orinoco Gold PCMCIA Wireless Card

Why?

Given what ever Access Point, or Wireless Cable/DSL Router, you have, among the Entry Level 802.11b cards the Orinoco PCMCIA Gold is the champ.


One of the ways to augment Wireless is by using a better Antenna then the stick that come on the regular Wireless hardware. The typical "stick" is about 2.2dbi, a good Antenna would be 5dbi and above.

While most of the Access Points have a removable Antenna, most Wireless Cable/DSL Routers do not.

The Speedstream 2624 has two advantages.

1. The Antenna is removable.
2. The original Antenna is 5dbi.


==============================================
Otherwise if you buy in your local Mega store I would go with the lowest price, and the decor:

If you need Blue, get Linksys.

Nice Gray a Silver, get D-Link.

Futuristic look, get Belkin.

Stylish, get Microsoft.

Battleship Gray, get SMC.

In other words there are no real differences between the above.

D-link now has an external aimable antenna as well.