Wireless Router

[sksjasams]

We have verizon internet service, high speed but not the super fast kind, just the $19.99 plan which is great for us. My son has convinced me to buy a router so he will have wifi on his ps3, etc. I have researched routers to death and still can not make a decision.
I am going to get a Linksys brand, either WRT54G(or wrt54g2, or wrt 54gs2, or wrt54gl), or the wrt120n, or wrt160n, or possibly wrt400n if it were worth the extra money.
OR...Otherwise verizon has the Actiontec GT704WGB, which is a modem and router combined.
Any info or opinions on any of these particular routers would be much appreciated.

Thank you in adavnce!!

 

[solfan68]

We have had the WRT54G for some time now and we're quite happy with it. DW uses it with her laptop. My iTouch is able to tap into apps and games that hit the Internet. We also use it to supplement games on our Wii and ds7's DS. Its been great to get Olympic info while watching the various competitions from the living room !

 

[ohlas]

We have this one too WRT54G works find sometimes we have to had it reset to factor couple of times and ps3 get upset about the higher security settings. but i love mine its nice for the laptops too

 

[j's m]

I bought the Linksys WRTN160 for my DS's PS3. It did not work properly, wouldn't always connect and was a royal pain.

We returned it and bought a DIR-615 D-Link from Office Max. We've had it about 2 months now and it's great. A couple of times, it wouldn't connect to the PS3 and we re-set/unplugged it and it's fine. The router is downstairs at one end of the house, and the PS3 is upstairs at the other end of the house.

 

[bonoriffic]

Unless you have very specific needs (such as gigabit switch instead of the usual 10/100) most brand name wireless routers will do you just fine. Loyalty to certain brands are like cellphones, and you will find thousands of reviews from glowing to crap. The WRT54G is a workhorse router. There have been dozens of revisions and depending on which one you get the quality/reliability also differs.

Your best bet is find one that meets your needs for feature and cost and just go with it. It is impossible to compare some people's issues with a router against your own as the devices by nature are much more subject to individual user setups. Just because the device is working horribly for one person can't be taken at face value. Did their house have unique RF challenges, multiple conflicting devices in the area, and do the live next to a microwave testing facility? All relevant information and rarely shared, or even useful in a comparison against your own experiences.

As long as the device reviews don't say that it falls apart when touched, breaks, gives off a foul odor, or otherwise is subject to catching on fire there is strong chance it will serve you just fine.

Just make sure you get one that supports the G standard at minimum, wireless N is nice as a 3 year future proof investment.

 

[jedijill]

WRT54G is a great router. Easy to setup the security and use. Very plug and play. I personally wouldn't buy a N router now....I don't have any devices that are N compliant and the prices on the N routers will certainly drop by the time I do.

Jill in CO

 

[sksjasams]

Thanks for all the comments so far!

So no one out there has any experience with the Actiontec GT704WGB?

The Linksys WRT54G is getting lots of favorable reports. I'm sure that a G router would be sufficient for us. How would I choose which version of the WRT54G? There are at least 4 different models out there.

Thanks again!

 

[jedijill]

Thanks for all the comments so far!

So no one out there has any experience with the Actiontec GT704WGB?

The Linksys WRT54G is getting lots of favorable reports. I'm sure that a G router would be sufficient for us. How would I choose which version of the WRT54G? There are at least 4 different models out there.

Thanks again!

I just have the WRT54G2. I run a lot of devices off my router and have zero issues with the router.

Jill in CO

 

[Diabolicdesire]

I used to have the Linksys WRT54G, it was a pain in the butt. I have ATT DSL and it seemed that my modem and router would sometimes, especially after the power blinked out, have to be reconfigured. I finally got fed up and called ATT and asked them to send me the wireless modem and I have been so very happy with it


Have you called your provider and asked if they have any deals on them? When I called I told them that I really wanted a wireless modem and that I was considering changing to Time Warner because they'd give me a free wireless modem, they waived the cost of the equipment and sent it out free



( oh and btw, we have a desktop, 2 laptops, a netbook, 2 ipod touches, a Nintendo Wii, DSI and a PS3 and have never had a problem using any of them )

 

[jsmith]

....I don't have any devices that are N compliant and the prices on the N routers will certainly drop by the time I do.

Really? i have an off the shelf Toshiba laptop that is more than a year and half old that has an N band card in it. dont own gaming systems but i would certainly think that PS3s are N band. The cards are backward compatible so an N band device will work with a G band card-but the range on N is much greater-i can take myN band laptop to the pool where i live and it will pick up my N band network ( i use a dual band router)

 

[jedijill]

Really? i have an off the shelf Toshiba laptop that is more than a year and half old that has an N band card in it. dont own gaming systems but i would certainly think that PS3s are N band. The cards are backward compatible so an N band device will work with a G band card-but the range on N is much greater-i can take myN band laptop to the pool where i live and it will pick up my N band network ( i use a dual band router)

Yes, really. I didn't see the need to spend another $75 for something that I would negligible benefit for. Of course, everyone's situations are different but my g router works great for my situation.

Jill in CO

 

[sksjasams]

Have you called your provider and asked if they have any deals on them? When I called I told them that I really wanted a wireless modem and that I was considering changing to Time Warner because they'd give me a free wireless modem, they waived the cost of the equipment and sent it out free

I did call verizon and the one they have is the model I asked about Actiontec GT704WGB. It is not free though, but thats ok, I just want to get a good one. No one seems to have any experience with it though...

dont own gaming systems but i would certainly think that PS3s are N band.

Actually, surprisingly enough PS3's are g band, but as you said n bands are backward compatable anyway. I am open to g or n, just want a good one that's easy to hook up and keeps the connection. Not too pricey either.

Any one else have more feedback on some of the particular models of the Linksys WRT54G?

Thank you!!

 

[Purseval]

I've had 4 different brands of wireless routers and they have all failed. I keep a standard Linksys non-wireless router as a backup in case this latest one fails. Right now we are using a Netgear. It's a N type but we have a G card on a PC that connects to it with no problems. It's only about 12 feet away so that may help. My wife's laptop has a N card and she wanders all around the house with it.

 

[feezle]

I have a WRT54G myself. I've had it for years and it still works great.

Just stay away from Netgear. I'm not sure what is worse, their product or the incompetence of their support.

 

[sksjasams]

I have a WRT54G myself. I've had it for years and it still works great.

Just stay away from Netgear. I'm not sure what is worse, their product or the incompetence of their support.

Another pp posted they have specifically WRT54G2...do you have WRT54G with no extra letters or numbers, just the original model? There several different models available...

Thank you!

 

[feezle]

I'm not at home right now and don't recall the version number. I bought it back in '03ish so I'm sure my specific model isn't still available.

 

[Kies99]

I have the Verizon plan that's $19.99 a month for two years. The free modem that came with my package is also a wireless router. I have my Wii hooked up to it.

 

[Kies99]

Sorry, forgot to mention the one I got is the Versalink 7500.

 

[sksjasams]

I have the Verizon plan that's $19.99 a month for two years. The free modem that came with my package is also a wireless router. I have my Wii hooked up to it.

I just called verizon again and said I had "talked" to someone who got a free modem with wireless router when they signed up for the $19.99 plan. They said no, that I got the free modem(wired) and my only option for modem/wirelss router is the Actiontec which is $69.99. No discount and not free

I am definitely leaning towards one of the models of the linksys WRT54G. Anyone else have any input?

Thanks again!