Wireless Router Suggestions?

[SPKrazy]

I've seen prices range from $30 to $180 in stores

I know there are differences in the broadcast power

I don't need one that sends a signal very far really

just downstairs

Any suggestions?

brands

what is really needed?

[bicentennial_baby]

1. I have this one:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2...

[SPKrazy]

5. thanks for the suggestion!

[petronius]

8. I have that one as well - I can easily get a signal from downstairs on the lawn,

and I haven't had to touch it or reset it for at least a year...

[SPKrazy]

10. cool!

thanks!

[Orsino]

12. I have that one, or its moral equivalent...

...and it has worked fine for years. Hundreds of feet of range, at least, which means we have to keep it locked down tight in our new neighborhood.

[Coyote_Bandit]

16. Me too and

you should know that the easy install software that comes with it is not Vista compatible. It does work juet fine with Vista after you do the manual install. And it has fairly decent range. Mine is at the south end of the house and the laptop is most frequently used at the north end of the house. Signal has to travel down a hallway and through several walls. I have had to reset it several times. But I've only had to reinstall it once and that was after a bad storm and a prolonged power outage.

[SPKrazy]

17. good to know

have vista

[Coyote_Bandit]

19. The manual install

is not hard. There is an online tech person who can walk you through it. And they may have updated the software since I purchased mine (September?). Since I learned how to do the manual install I haven't bothered to check. I just mention it because I know some of my family members would have major problems doing a manual install. Your mileage may vary. It is just something to be aware of while shopping. I have been very happy with the router otherwise.

edit for bad spelling caused by typing with burned fingers......

[flvegan]

2. Call your provider and see if they'll upgrade you for free?

When I bought this place, I got the whole FiOS set up. While they were installing it, I asked if they had a router/modem that was also wireless. They hooked me up with the snazzy one I have now for free.

Just an idea.

[SPKrazy]

3. that's a thought

when i got the modem (cable) they sold it to me and i thought it was wireless but i was wrong

so i own it, whether they will upgrade or not i don't know

good thought though

thanks

[flvegan]

11. The other nice thing is packaged tech support.

No "well, we can ping your router so it's not our problem. Good luck!" anymore.

[MrCoffee]

4. not a bad idea...i had a wifi modem for a while...it worked pretty well

the modem had a wifi router built in. i also have a linksys 802.11b wifi router that i use now, and it does everything i need it to. i connect with the laptop and run a vonage line through it, so i'm not all that high-use with it, but it works just fine.

[SPKrazy]

9. I had DSL

at my house

but for some reason when I moved out, the apartment I moved into isn't able to get DSL

So I had to get cable

[LeftyMom]

18. Comcast charges me $2/mo

But they tech support it and replace it if it goes out (had to do that once) which makes it the best $2 I've spent in some time.

I'd second the "let your isp deal with it" suggestion.

[DS1]

6. they're all the same at the 40-50 dollar level

[SPKrazy]

7. okay,

is that a good level to look at for what i'm thinking of?

just a small area to cover really

don't need to broadcast a signal far at all

[DS1]

13. something that doesn't broadcast the signal far at all

they're all faster than your cable/dsl line anyway

[GOPisEvil]

14. I've had Linksys and Netgear. Both work very well for me.

I have a Linksys right now. It broadcasts throughout my house and has given me no trouble in the year that I've owned it. It's not a top of the line model, but it works. Setup was pretty easy too.

[SPKrazy]

15. thanks!