Looking for a Wireless router-any suggestions?

[Gary S]

Hi everyone.

I've been using a D-Link #Dl 604 hardwired router for years without problems but now I need a wireless
router for a notebook-a Macbook Pro running 10.5.

I'm with Charter communications and I'll be calling them soon and don't know if I'll hit a customer service
person who knows much so I thought I'd ask TS first and I can get some advice from those of you who have Mac
experience.

One question I have is can I use 2 routers...one hardwired and one wireless. I have one ethernet line that presently
runs into my D-Link router and then connects to 2 Macs and it works so great I hate to fool around with it.

My son changed his mind and is going to college here in town at U of Wisconsin Stevens Point and uses the
Macbook Pro. He's whining he needs wireless. What to do?!!

Any suggestions or comments are appreciated. TIA

[Bruce_F]

If you can afford it, go with the AirPort Extreme Base Station with Gigabit Ethernet and take advantage of the faster wireless that your MacBook Pro is capable of.

My son preferred to get the AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes.

[daryl66]

QUOTE(Gary S @ Aug 14 2008, 09:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've been using a D-Link #Dl 604 hardwired router for years without problems


One question I have is can I use 2 routers...one hardwired and one wireless.

Gary:  I have been using a D-Link  Dl-524 wireless router for over 3 years and it has never once  even burped.  I can access it from anyplace in the house.(IPod touch and or G4 PB)  It has 4 Ethernet hardwire ports in addition to the wireless, I think it cost about 60 bucks.

Don't know the answer re the 2 routers question.

Daryl

[Gary S]

Thanks Bruce and daryl66.

Airport Extreme seems a bit of overkill for this house.

The D-Link Dl-524 wireless router sounds good. I'll look into it. I was just at Best Buy and I think They had something similar.

Do you know if it works with the Apple wireless card in the new Macbook Pros offhand ?

Thanks again.

[Xairbusdriver]

Ethernet routers usually have one jack for connecting another router. It may be labeled "WAN." For as I know there is no practical limit as to how many routers can be connected like this. If they both have four jacks plus the WAN, you could connect eight Ethernet devices with two routers. If they don't have that "WAN" connection, they are probably not made to 'daisy chain.'

I'll admit the above is pretty much from memory, haven't used a wired router for a couple of years...

[RNKIII]

Gary,

I initially had an ethernet router for connection to the web, primarily for it's built in firewall...  (This being some time ago before OSx)...
Then when we went wireless, I just added the Air Port Extreme on behind the other router.  But I noticed that the speed off the Air Port was down significantly.  I talked to an Apple service rep. here in town and he told me to get rid of the first router, as having them connected in tandem dropped internet speeds by up to 30%.
I did that and have always had great speed through put and no firewall problems since....

My suggestion is to NOT run multiple routers in tandem... YMMV

Bob K.   rnkiii

[Paddy]

Gary, I know the Apple router is more expensive, but having gone through the hair-pulling exercise of using three other, supposedly reputable, third party routers, I finally decided to just give in and get the Apple Extreme Base Station (an earlier version than the current ones). End of problems - can't be happier. And that was over two years ago.

Obviously, your mileage may vary - others here have had no problems using third party routers. They're certainly not difficult to configure - they just weren't reliable in my experience. I even had issues with the WIRED portion of a wireless router in the end - and that was what finally sent me 'round the bend, as my G5 is always hard-wired.

[chriskleeman]

Hi Gary,

Pretty much all Apple Base stations, all the time. Have had Netgear, Linksys, all had problems at some point, Apple Extreme has never failed me (knock on wood!). And the newer ones give you more options than the version I have.

Just one more opinion.

Chris K

[Mayo]

After two Linksys routers I gave up and got an AEBS.  I prefer the look of a flying saucer over a gadget that resembles a trigger for a nuclear bomb... (Too bad that Apple changed the AEBS so it looks like a Mac Mini!) I needed a wireless router that was compatible with AppleTalk so I could network my circa 1995 Apple LaserWriter 360. I also have an Airport Express for streaming audio to my living room sound system and it also extends the range of my network.

[sandyman]

Although I'm using a Linksys at the moment I usually recommend Netgear to friends, family and customers.  I've never had any problems with their kit. They are not difficult to set up and the one I used to have was very reliable.  I only moved to a Linksys because

1) I was given one free
2) It can run DD-WRT

I'm sure the Airport Extreme is a nice piece of kit but I would be hard pressed to justify paying nearly double for something which does the same job.

Sandy

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

I would be hard pressed to justify paying nearly double for something which does the same job.

Sounds like we need to rush a transfusion of Apple colored blood across the seas!

In all honesty, I suspect that "Apple" doesn't actually build these routers. They for sure design them and add certain bits of ROM to make things more compatible with their computers, But I suspect they are produced in the same foreign factories that Linksys, NetGear, etc. are also made.

The fact is, Apple does a few things to assure that the hardware works well with Apple's hardware. The others don't do that. YMMV.

[RHPConsult]

Ditto, Gary.

Years ago I had – courtesy of my eldest's Windoze (sob) bias –a NetGear ethernet router, to which we later added several PowerLine "repeaters" not the correct term.

It was pluperfect hell getting NetGear's South Asia tech "support" to understand I was over my head, but we finally got them working.

When wireless came along I went with the AEBS/"Yurt" and when the latest square-box w/11n appeared I got it because of the USB port. Best decision I ever made. We have the AEBS (in our office) + an Apple Express (in our 50+' distant breakfast room next to the kitchen w/microwave and wireless phone) for perfect coverage. When I leave town, I take the Express to turn hotel rooms with cable modems into a personal hotspot for greatwire;ess results.

If you're interested, I think I still have that "Yurt" (which Mayo called a Flying Saucer, take yur choice) stored around the house somewhere. You cold have it for the shipping, if you'd like. I think you'd be glad you did. Send me an e-missive.

[sandyman]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Aug 15 2008, 08:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE

I would be hard pressed to justify paying nearly double for something which does the same job.

Sounds like we need to rush a transfusion of Apple colored blood across the seas!

In all honesty, I suspect that "Apple" doesn't actually build these routers. They for sure design them and add certain bits of ROM to make things more compatible with their computers, But I suspect they are produced in the same foreign factories that Linksys, NetGear, etc. are also made.

The fact is, Apple does a few things to assure that the hardware works well with Apple's hardware. The others don't do that. YMMV.

I don't think the transfusion would agree with all the pills I have to take

QUOTE

The fact is, Apple does a few things to assure that the hardware works well with Apple's hardware. The others don't do that

Unless you need Appletalk, like Mayo, or a "Wizard" style setup there's not much else that Apple can do to Tweak things.

OS X is based on FreeBSD and uses it's TCP/IP stack, indeed many of the routers out there are based on FreeBSD. So it all comes down to routing data and that is the same whichever OS is involved (lets not get into too much theory, please )

IIRC at one time even Microsoft used the FreeBSD stack as well, although they never actually admitted it


Sandy

[sandbox]

If you're using 2.4 Ghz phones or other stuff, buy a 5.8 Ghz router for the best performance and reliability.
I choose to use 5.8 ghz phones so I use 2.4 ghz routers. Yes they are slower than 5.8 but with MiMo you can stream video pretty well.

I've used Netgear WGR614 from a suggestion thay Kelly made years ago 2003? the router still works perfectly today.
I have been given other routers or found them at Flee Markets or Yard Sales to test and give away through the years.
Like sandyman, I recommend Netgear to my friends and associates or people who inquire online.
They have a large variety to choose from, some with USB sockets for printer servers. FWG114P
or the WGPS606 which I happen to be using right now.
They have great range and reliability with a good software package that pretty much setup themselves and their security configurations are simple to understand.
They are competitively priced, starting at $40.00 including shipping. http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-WGR614-Wirel...r/dp/B00008SCFL

If you want a fast router or more bandwidth look at a Wireless N for $69.00

WNR2000 YOUTUBE

[Gary S]

Thanks for all the infomation on Wireless routers.

I will digest all this and make a decision although that older Airport RHP has laying around sounds
like a good answer.