I think I'm getting a laptop for myself, for Christmas. BUT I need to know what are some really good routers. I was looking at this Linksys router at their website what do you think about it??? http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1144763513404&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper Also, I'm looking for a WiFi router that will really have some 'muscles' to pump out WiFi throughout my house. Do you think that the Linksys router i mentioned above would be sufficient??
Linksys is owned by Cisco and is their Consumer Products division, personally I say you can't go wrong with them. Now keep in mind that 802.11x works in the 2.4xGHz frequency range, which is apt for interference and easily gets stopped by walls, if you find that you buy a router that doesn't have the "muscles" then by all means buy the extended antennas that Linksys offers as they may fill the last few gaps. Best of Luck to you bud.
Agree with nKrypteD1 I have been home networking for years, using SMC, Belkin, Netgear are some of the ones I remember....I am currently using a Linksys 802.11G router with a laptop connected via 802.11G pcmcia card, a PC hardwired to the router and a printer hanging off the newtwork using a printserver. No complaints about Linksys's products at all.
Another question, the router I posted above is a Wireless-N router, is the N just a part of the name, or does it have to do with the signal it uses?? Because the laptop I might get uses a Internal Intel PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card. Will the wifi router posted above work with my laptop??????
The N-part is the name of a newer system, I believe. It is called Pre-N and is generally supposed to have greater range and faster speeds...I think that's right. Also, I have not heard bad things about Linksys. I have never used a Linksys before myself, I have, however, used D-Link and now use Netgear. All the advice I can give you is not to get a D-Link. I have yet to have a problem with Netgear. When I decided on routers, it was a tough call between Linksys and Netgear for me. Good luck and let us know what you do!
Presently, the 802.11n draft is before the appropriate IEEE committee for standardization. Everything with -N is prestandard, but include 802.11g and 802.11b. Since Intel wireless card in your laptop has G, that's the fastest common standard with your proposed router at 54 Mbps. (Faster than your ISP connection, I expect.) Linksys, consumer division of Cisco, is good about getting out firmware updates. It should be possible to go from pre-N to N-standard soon after IEEE committee approval. COtech member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Unfortunately even with the firmware upgrade, you'll still probably need to purchase and aftermarket wireless network card to use N once it's standardized since your adapter most likely will not be capable to transmit/receive at that frequency.
As others have said, the 802.11n routers, while promising, are not standard yet. Current devices are being built to the draft specification, which is likely to change before being ratified as a standard. According to this Wikipedia article, the final standard is not expected to be approved before July 2007. This means that there is no guarantee that even a firmware upgrade will make devices currently being sold as "Draft-N" conform to the standard. If you really want to be "bleeding edge", go ahead and buy the router you have linked to. Again, as others have said, you won't get the benefit of 802.11n's increased speed and range (relative to 802.11g) unless your wireless devices are also 802.11n-capable. For example, to get 802.11n performance, you would need to add a "Draft-N" wireless card to your new laptop even though it has 802.11a/b/g built-in. If you want to stick with the tried and true, this 802.11b/g router is one of the more popular and highly rated Linksys products. SW
I am using the Netgear Rangemax, which is I believe like a Pre-N standard unit. I do know if you want the faster speed transfer which is suppose to be 108Kbps on my unit, you need to have the compatiable adaptor. I tried the Belkin Pre-N & the signal was poor on the 2nd floor of my house, with this unit I have full signal on the 2nd floor & in the basement. I think the Linksys is a well know & good unit as well & think you can't go wrong with them, but figured I would give my opinion on the Netgear as well.
Ahh yes the WRT54G, a very well known router, and if you're really there are a ton of firmware flashes for it to get it to do different things. Btw this is the same router I have.
