Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: mbailey on November 01, 2010, 06:01:12 AM
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Im in the market for a good wireless router. It would be for my kids PCs (2). I currently have a DSL connection to the computer in my home office, but the kids just got a couple of PCs. They didnt come with the wireless hardware in the computer so ill also have to buy 2 of those usb plug in wireless signal componants.
They dont do any on line gaming or video streaming, ( just internet and school stuff ) and i need it to still have my pc hard wired to the router ( for work and the game )
Any suggestions? Id like to keep it under $100. And ease of set up is really important ( im not that computer savy)
<S>'
Mbailey
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i recommend cisco Valet plus runs gigabit ports and dual band wireless can be had for 99ish
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I'd have to recommend the D-Link DIR-615. Newegg has it for $50 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127241), but I got it on sale a couple of years ago at one of the OfficeMax/Depot places for $30.
I know D-link isn't known for being the 'professional' tools for the networking guys, at I was hesitant to purchase it, due to issues with D-Link, Linksys, and Belkin in the past (the three main brands you'd find at Worst Buy) but I've been using mine for almost three years now without a single glitch. I even used to play AH wirelessly with it regularly in the past and never got disconnected.
Now I haven't used Cisco in years. I know they USED to be good, but they also used to be very expensive, due to only making 'professional grade' equipment. They were bullet-proof and could provide functions that consumer-grade routers could only DREAM OF, but the simple fact is that the average consumer will never take advantage of those functions, and keep in mind this is pure speculation, but I have a feeling that Cisco has had to drop the quality of their consumer-grade equipment once they decided to enter the consumer marketplace, I mean they would have had to. It wasn't too long ago that their 'basic' router would have cost several hundred dollars, now they offer the "Valet" for under $100? If you look at newegg's Cisco router selection, you'll find three options. One for over $6000, one for almost $1500, and one for just over $100. One of these things is not like the others?
Being that it is obvious that their consumer grade equipment HAS to be inferior to their professional grade equipment, the question is - At twice the price, are they really any better than other consumer grade brands?
Personally, there is no way I'd spend more than $40-50 on a router. I just don't need anything better. I have a feeling that two kids won't need anything better either.
As for making their computers wireless, I'd have to recommend a PCI card over a USB device. You'll find the internet to be more 'snappy' and with a stronger signal this way, and the PCI cards are not usually any more expensive.
Newegg has PCI wireless cards starting at $12,
PCI Express wireless cards starting at $20,
and USB Wireless devices starting at $10
Again, personally, I've always done fine just throwing in the cheapest wireless card I could find. I've never had one die yet, and while the software they want you to install is usually flaky at best (works, but it looks like it was build by a five year old with poor engrish skills) - you can let Windows take over that part and it usually works just fine.
Personally, if I had to buy one, I'd go with THIS ONE (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704059) - Inexpensive, PCIe, and supports "n" (albeit single channel, but no internet connection out there supports more than 150Mbps anyway that I'm aware of). That would put all of your needs - router and two wireless cards... below your $100 mark and still leave room for you to buy a network cable if need be without going over budget.