I need a router ...

[Alex2507]

I just got a high speed internet service of 10 Mb/s upload and 2 Mb/s download. I need to get a wireless router to make my laptop work. I think I would like to just drive up to BB and buy one today. I'm dumb as a stump and feeling pretty lazy too ...

If it matters at all I will be using the laptop for Netflix 'watch instantly' programs once I get that figured out and this is the laptop:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/asus-x83vm-x1-core/4505-3121_7-33361040.html?tag=dtBody;[object%20NodeList]

 

[Adam]

I repped you for actually paying for internet.

BTW - the king is dead, long live the king.

 

[Adam]

One piece of advice - be sure to password protect the wireless portion. After all, you wouldn't want some unscrupulous neighbor using your bandwidth...

 

[Alex2507]

One piece of advice - be sure to password protect the wireless portion. After all, you wouldn't want some unscrupulous neighbor using your bandwidth...

OMG ... You're so funnnnyyyyyy !!!

 

[Alex2507]

Has something happened to the computer guys? I just checked cnet's reviews and realized that there was stuff to know but going back to being lazy and waiting for somebody like MDS to come along and say 'get this one'.

I'm going to watch a movie and not do any research whatsoever.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Has something happened to the computer guys? I just checked cnet's reviews and realized that there was stuff to know but going back to being lazy and waiting for somebody like MDS to come along and say 'get this one'.

I'm going to watch a movie and not do any research whatsoever.

All the computer geeks are probably in the boring thread.




(bump)

 

[strube]

Hey Alex, I am a computer geek. Don't tell anyone.

Sorry I didn't get to you earlier - I was re-building and power washing my fence to get it ready for sealant tomorrow, plus I don't look outside of the boring thread much so you got lucky.



I recommend this even if there is a remote chance you will ever want to have wired networking as well, because it has gigabit (1000 Mbits/sec) wired ports, which are damn nice for transferring music, movies, etc. between two computers, but it is a bit more spendy. It also has 802.11n-spec wireless, which just got standardized and is much faster with better range than 802.11g or 802.11b (if you have the money, I would definitely say this is the way to go).
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-655-Extreme-Wireless-Router/dp/B000LIFB7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1249184913&sr=8-1

I have always had D-Link routers and have had great luck with them. I did have one D-Link switch die on me, but it wasn't a big deal because I got it replaced really fast on warranty.



Or a little cheaper is this one. It has 100 Mbit/sec wired ports and a bit slower (and less range) 802.11g wireless, but is very highly rated.
http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Cisco-WRT54GL-Wireless-G-Broadband-Compatible/dp/B000BTL0OA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1249184857&sr=8-1

Linksys goes up and down on quality and customer service, but this particular unit is the best selling router with wireless on Newegg.com, which is definitely saying something.




EDIT: Almost forgot. This is the one I got for my birthday, but I haven't used it yet. I will though, I just need to think of something to use it for...

 

[alexwakelin]

I have a linksys, it's been pretty much trouble free for me for about 2 years now. I owned a couple netgear routers, which I would advise people to stay away from. They're tempting because they're cheap, but I never had one last more then a year. Every few months the linksys needs to be reset, but it's been powered on 24/7 since I bought it with no problems.

 

[Alex2507]

EDIT: Almost forgot. This is the one I got for my birthday, but I haven't used it yet. I will though, I just need to think of something to use it for...

I got all excited thinking that you could sell it to me ...

I actually had to go and read up on this a little bit due to the lack of responses.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=30162

Section 2 explained a couple of things to me. I could probably help you with the other router as I have owned a few and used a few dozen professionally ... but I'm not proud of it.

The other Alex,

I'm surprised to hear that about NetGear because I am pretty sure MDS said he uses them but that was a couple of years ago. I'm liking Strube's D-Link suggestion because (I think) it puts me on technologies cutting edge for an extra thirty odd dollars.

 

[Rickster71]

That D-Link DIR-655 Extreme a very good router.

(to the other Adam)
Adam, I've heard they have bad overheating problems.
A buddy of mine got one, it ran very hot and he exchanged it and the replacement also ran hot.
The wireless portion starting running intermittently when it got hot.

 

[Alex2507]

(to the other Adam)

You mean 'the other Alex' but it's not your fault.
That groggy feeling will ease up after a few breakfast beers.
Hey, it's alright. It's the weekend and it's summer.

 

[Rickster71]

You mean 'the other Alex' but it's not your fault.
That groggy feeling will ease up after a few breakfast beers.
Hey, it's alright. It's the weekend and it's summer.

My bad, I thought strube was the other Adam

 

[TLS Guy]

Hey Alex, I am a computer geek. Don't tell anyone.

Sorry I didn't get to you earlier - I was re-building and power washing my fence to get it ready for sealant tomorrow, plus I don't look outside of the boring thread much so you got lucky.



I recommend this even if there is a remote chance you will ever want to have wired networking as well, because it has gigabit (1000 Mbits/sec) wired ports, which are damn nice for transferring music, movies, etc. between two computers, but it is a bit more spendy. It also has 802.11n-spec wireless, which just got standardized and is much faster with better range than 802.11g or 802.11b (if you have the money, I would definitely say this is the way to go).
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-655-Extreme-Wireless-Router/dp/B000LIFB7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1249184913&sr=8-1

I have always had D-Link routers and have had great luck with them. I did have one D-Link switch die on me, but it wasn't a big deal because I got it replaced really fast on warranty.



Or a little cheaper is this one. It has 100 Mbit/sec wired ports and a bit slower (and less range) 802.11g wireless, but is very highly rated.
http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Cisco-WRT54GL-Wireless-G-Broadband-Compatible/dp/B000BTL0OA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1249184857&sr=8-1

Linksys goes up and down on quality and customer service, but this particular unit is the best selling router with wireless on Newegg.com, which is definitely saying something.




EDIT: Almost forgot. This is the one I got for my birthday, but I haven't used it yet. I will though, I just need to think of something to use it for...

I agree with using Linksys or D-Link. I use Linksys at both my places. It so happened I kitted my farther out with D-Link. They both work fine.

 

[Alex2507]

I've heard they have bad overheating problems.

What has overheating problems?

 

[Rickster71]

What has overheating problems?

The first one that strube linked to, overheats.
Don't get me wrong, I think strube gave all good suggestions. It just so happens that I had some info on that one model I wanted to share.


Below is a link to it's Customer Reviews where it mentions the same problem that my buddy had with his:
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-655-Extreme-Wireless-Router/product-reviews/B000LIFB7S/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_summary?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

 

[strube]

The first one that strube linked to, overheats.
Don't get me wrong, I think strube gave all good suggestions. It just so happens that I had some info on that one model I wanted to share.


Below is a link to it's Customer Reviews where it mentions the same problem that my buddy had with his:
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-655-Extreme-Wireless-Router/product-reviews/B000LIFB7S/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_summary?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Thanks for the info, Rick. I wasn't aware of that issue with this router, but the switch I had in the past had a similar one. The warranty replacement did not. I almost wonder if they are made in multiple places and that one of them has some QC issues - especially because some of the comments on that very review say the router runs quite cool, and the one I installed for my friend does as well, but your friend has heat issues too. I think it might just be a crap shoot which one you get, unfortunately, because the specs on the router for the price are excellent. It may be worth the risk of a lemon for me - it still has 4 stars from 702 reviews on Cramazon, which is not to shabby...

It also might have something to do with mounting it vertically or horizontally. My current D-Link router is mounted vertically, but I don't know if I would have problems if it was flat, because I have never tested it out.

 

[strube]

I got all excited thinking that you could sell it to me ...

I actually had to go and read up on this a little bit due to the lack of responses.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=30162

Section 2 explained a couple of things to me. I could probably help you with the other router as I have owned a few and used a few dozen professionally ... but I'm not proud of it.

notebookreview is a great place. It is like the Audioholics forum but for laptops - can't beat that!

I might be talking to you for some router tips in the future. I just need something to build and money for some decent pieces of tree.
Why are you ashamed of your professional router skills?

 

[Alex2507]

Why are you ashamed of your professional router skills?

It's kind of like sex. Being a pro just looks bad.

I just want to make sure that that's all I need for this to fly. For streaming Netflix I may hardwire my laptop to the router (if it makes it better) and wonder what that wire would be and if Amazon has it. The other stuff listed along with it is hopefully not something that I would need, right? My laptop had no trouble hooking up to my neighbors router so I should be good to go?

 

[majorloser]

And here I was thinking Alex was going to bring up a manly subject like "power tools".

 

[strube]

It's kind of like sex. Being a pro just looks bad.

I just want to make sure that that's all I need for this to fly. For streaming Netflix I may hardwire my laptop to the router (if it makes it better) and wonder what that wire would be and if Amazon has it. The other stuff listed along with it is hopefully not something that I would need, right? My laptop had no trouble hooking up to my neighbors router so I should be good to go?

Ah, I understand.


All you need is the router and Cat5e ethernet patch cables for your laptop for hard-wiring - I would buy at least two. I like to get my cables at Monoprice, but any two (of the length you desire) at this Amazon search will be fine (Belkin ones are decent - maybe get a short one from your cable modem to the router and a longer one for the router to your laptop), and you won't have to order from two different places.

Your wireless speed will still be much faster than your high-speed internet connection so you don't have to wire it to stream Netflix, but I personally prefer wired when I have the opportunity for when I stream music or hi-def video between my Denon and my computer, or between two computers, plus, nobody can hack into a wire from the street in front of your house, but they can jack your wireless connection (that is why I only do internet banking and stuff on my desktop, or on my laptop wired up and with wireless turned off).

I will help you set up the router and your laptop with wireless security and whatnot when you get it.