wireless router ???

[aprilvaca04]

We just purchased a laptop for our HS senior for Christmas thinking those deals wouldn't be around come graduation time. So now we need to get the wireless router but are not sure what the difference in price gets you? Do the 40.00 ones work as well as the 100.00? Just clueless as to where to begin with this, any info would be appreciated. TIA

 

[mrsklamc]

Is this for college? Will he be living in a dorm? Just want to make sure as they weren't allowed in ours.

 

[ElizK]

We did the same thing for DD17. Computer is paid for and put away until May!

My nephew's dorm didn't allow a wireless router, either. My parents bought him a wireless printer, but he had to get cables for it because of the dorm's rules.

 

[3boymthr]

Just one tip before you buy, some computers come with 802.11a wireless cards other have 802.11g and some newer ones have 802.11n and those little letters that come after the 802.11 are important so make sure the router you buy has the capability of working on mutiple 802.11 platforms or you could end up with a surprise later on down the line.

We have a Westell VersaLink and have never had any trouble with it but it came for free with our internet service so I can't comment on the price.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

I definitely do not know the ends and outs but have personal experience to share. This is related to home not dorm. We did the wireless g router for our home network and it worked fine for years. (Bought one of the least expensive on sale) However when we added a computer upstairs it would lose connection so we upgraded to a wireless N router during the Black Friday sale. We have 5 computers, 2 printers, and a wii all working wirelessly off the router that was regularly @$60 that we got on sale for $20. We only upgraded one adapter to N. We play games like Toontown online without any problems. So I think our speed is still okay. There are no computers hooked up to the router, the only computer on the same floor is an old one that we just use to retrieve old files (lol). Laptop roams. 2 computers, printer,wii in basement work fine- 1 computer upstairs with printer seemed to need the N vs. the G router for the distance.

 

[aprilvaca04]

It would be for our home so she can use it before she leaves or is home on break. All the schools she is looking at are wireless. Right now we only have a desktop but when my oldest comes home from school she'll have her laptop too so we would be looking at using it for 2 laptops during different times of the year.

 

[aprilvaca04]

I definitely do not know the ends and outs but have personal experience to share. This is related to home not dorm. We did the wireless g router for our home network and it worked fine for years. (Bought one of the least expensive on sale) However when we added a computer upstairs it would lose connection so we upgraded to a wireless N router during the Black Friday sale. We have 5 computers, 2 printers, and a wii all working wirelessly off the router that was regularly @$60 that we got on sale for $20. We only upgraded one adapter to N. We play games like Toontown online without any problems. So I think our speed is still okay. There are no computers hooked up to the router, the only computer on the same floor is an old one that we just use to retrieve old files (lol). Laptop roams. 2 computers, printer,wii in basement work fine- 1 computer upstairs with printer seemed to need the N vs. the G router for the distance.

So is N better than G? Sorry so many questions I'm just a real newbie at this, we've only had desktops in the past.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

It would be for our home so she can use it before she leaves or is home on break. All the schools she is looking at are wireless. Right now we only have a desktop but when my oldest comes home from school she'll have her laptop too so we would be looking at using it for 2 laptops during different times of the year.

I would look for a good sell. If you are not in a hurry, wait! They will go on sale. I have made all our computer related purchases during amazing sales. If you can find a N router on sale- go for that. The speed and range is better than a G. Make sure when you set it up to set a WEP or WPA security code. When your children our home they would need to enter that code to connect to your wireless network but this helps prevent outsiders from logging on to your network.

 

[3boymthr]

OOOH! Just a thought. Check with your internet provider. As I mentioned we got our router for free from verizon who is our dsl provider and my parents got their's as an upgrade from their internet provider for like $20. Your provider may also have one that's either free or cheap.

 

[jsmith]

If you can find a N router on sale- go for that. The speed and range is better than a G. Make sure when you set it up to set a WEP or WPA security code.

Maybe-what kind of router you need is determined by the card in the laptop-a laptop with a g card can not even see an n router-but the cards are back ward compatible-i.e if you have a g router a laptop with an n card can see it. any laptops you are currently purchasing are going to be n or g-anything purchased in the last 30 months should be g-older than that is going to be b. those are evolutions od the wireless protocols.

 

[aprilvaca04]

Maybe-what kind of router you need is determined by the card in the laptop-a laptop with a g card can not even see an n router-but the cards are back ward compatible-i.e if you have a g router a laptop with an n card can see it. any laptops you are currently purchasing are going to be n or g-anything purchased in the last 30 months should be g-older than that is going to be b. those are evolutions od the wireless protocols.

Great helpful information...thanks

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

We have a G with 5 computers and the Wii plus a few iPods. No problems here. We do run them at the same time.

 

[aprilvaca04]

Thanks to everyone for all their helpful input. We successfully purchased and installed the wireless router and I have teo very happy DD's. I knew I could count on the DIS

 

[ski_mom]

I definitely do not know the ends and outs but have personal experience to share. This is related to home not dorm. We did the wireless g router for our home network and it worked fine for years. (Bought one of the least expensive on sale) However when we added a computer upstairs it would lose connection so we upgraded to a wireless N router during the Black Friday sale. We have 5 computers, 2 printers, and a wii all working wirelessly off the router that was regularly @$60 that we got on sale for $20. We only upgraded one adapter to N. We play games like Toontown online without any problems. So I think our speed is still okay. There are no computers hooked up to the router, the only computer on the same floor is an old one that we just use to retrieve old files (lol). Laptop roams. 2 computers, printer,wii in basement work fine- 1 computer upstairs with printer seemed to need the N vs. the G router for the distance.

Ok, I'm sure this is a dumb question, but how do you hook a router up when it's not hooked to a computer? We currently have a G router - it is hooked into our DSL box and then into one of our computers. We also have one other desktop, a laptop and 3 ipod touches that use the router to access wifi. It seems to work ok, but, when the girls are in their bedroom on their ipod touches, they said they don't have much signal and sometime cuts them off. Just wondering about moving the router to a more central location, but I wasn't aware that you could do that.

 

[3boymthr]

You can move it to a more central location. Run a second DSL modem up to the middle of your attic and connect the router there. You will need a stronger router and one that is designed to work thru walls. Also be aware that even if the location is more central this may not solve your problem. Houses with heavy insulation between walls and floors, sound proofing in the walls, ceiling and floors or with brick or cement walls or a lot of layers of plaster and wall paper, just don't have good wireless because all that insulation is interfering.

You might be able to solve the problem simply by upgrading your wireless router to one with a stronger signal.

 

[j's m]

Thanks to everyone for all their helpful input. We successfully purchased and installed the wireless router and I have teo very happy DD's. I knew I could count on the DIS

What router did you buy?

I bought a Linksys on sale at BB on Black Friday. It was a nightmare, wouldn't connect to PS3, Wii, or even the new Ipod sitting next to it. It then decided to not even let the computer hard wired to it work. It was returned to BB, but now we still need to buy a new one.

 

[SaraJayne]

What router did you buy?

I bought a Linksys on sale at BB on Black Friday. It was a nightmare, wouldn't connect to PS3, Wii, or even the new Ipod sitting next to it. It then decided to not even let the computer hard wired to it work. It was returned to BB, but now we still need to buy a new one.

We just bought a Belkin N router through Best Buy. It was $49.99 and so far, works great.

 

[aprilvaca04]

What router did you buy?

I bought a Linksys on sale at BB on Black Friday. It was a nightmare, wouldn't connect to PS3, Wii, or even the new Ipod sitting next to it. It then decided to not even let the computer hard wired to it work. It was returned to BB, but now we still need to buy a new one.

We bought a Belkin g router at Best Buy,,,so far it works like a charm

 

[Mulan2]

We are in the same predicament. We need WiFi so we bought a Linksys and when we tried to install it, it said that we already had a router! We have DSL from Fairpoint who took over for Verizon. I called up tech support at FP and they said I should switch out my old modem for a newer modem. They said if I connected the Linksys it might not work in half the cases. I don't know if they are just saying it so I would get a new modem from them or not. Anyone ever hear of these routers not working or causing problems with their set ups?