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Router [Advice requested on what type/model to buy]

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by Fredb38, 2013/07/31.

  1. 2013/07/31
    Fredb38

    Fredb38 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Can someone explain to me what to look for when buying a router. I see them from 20 dollars to 200 dollars. When looking at the specs on the box it really doesn't mean a whole lot to me. If you go to Walmart or Staples the person in most cases you talk to doesn't really know any more than me.
    I have used a Linksys WRT54GSV7 for a year or so and all seems to work until now. Not sure why I own a Linksys other than the guy at the store said this is what I needed. I see Hercules, Belkin, Linksys, Netgear, etc. My needs are a wireless router with a range of at least 100 to 200 ft. Use browser search a lot and get my email. Not into the games yet. Daughter piggy backs off mine who lives behind me.(Less than 200 feet) Wife Piggy back off mine in the same house.
    Without getting to technical what are the specs telling me about quality and needs. Is the Hercules better than the Netgear or Belkin better than the Linksys? In laymen terms how do I pick what I need and not waste my money on something I don't need. Knowledge is great but no knowledge can be expensive. Thanks
     
    Fredb38,
    #1
  2. 2013/07/31
    elcajongunsfan Lifetime Subscriber

    elcajongunsfan Well-Known Member

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    A WRT54G is a workhorse but is getting old. What I can tell you is that there is a new draft standard.. You have B, G, N and the new one is AC. If you can afford one, I'd go with the new AC standard with dual band capability (2.4 gig and 5 gig) The data transfer rates are screaming now and I believe there are better WPA standrds. As for brand and model, I don't know I buy only linksys and Dlink
     
    elcajongunsfan,
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  4. 2013/07/31
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    80211 AC will not get implemented until at least 2015, it is currently undergoing testing.

    You can increase the range of your Linksys WRT54GS V7 by changing the antennas to these or similar brand:
    Linksys HGA7T 7dBi High Gain Antennas

    Your Linksys is 80211 G. That means the absolute fastest transfer rates will be about 35 mb/sec. On paper, the max rate is 54 mb/sec, but that's on paper, not real world.

    80211 N is currently the fastest and has slightly longer range than 80211 G. But just because one has an N device doesn't mean the range will be better. Other variables affect range, such as antennas, transmit & receive power, the brand/quality of the wifi card inside the router itself, to name a few.

    I've used many Linksys and Netgear routers over the years. Currently I am using a Buffalo HighPower N450. It works very well, has excellent range and I've not had any issues or problems with it since I bought it 1.5 years ago.

    If I were you, and I didn't want to learn all about wifi standards, technical stuff, etc., I would keep the Linksys, get the better antennas and make sure the device has the latest firmware from Linksys. Place the router near a window that faces your daughter's house and she'll get a better connection, but 175-200' is pushing it even for 80211 N routers.

    There's a caveat with 80211 networking: Currently, there are 3 standards in use today, 80211B, 80211G & 80211N. A wifi router or access point will always operate at its highest level of operation, but will drop down to a lower level if a lower level client connects to it. For example, if you have an 80211 router and all the computers that connect to it have 80211N wifi adapters, the router will operate at 80211N. But if someone's computer has an 80211G adapter, the router will fall back to 80211G. That means that the computers with 80211N adapters will now be operating at 80211G rates and range. Same if someone has an older 80211B adapter. Thus, the newest and fastest router is only good if all computers have the newest and fastest adapters.
     
    TonyT,
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  5. 2013/07/31
    elcajongunsfan Lifetime Subscriber

    elcajongunsfan Well-Known Member

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    5. It’s still a draft standard

    But don’t let that stop you. Technically, 802.11ac is still a draft standard and full ratification won’t happen until later in the new year. The gears of the IEEE grind slowly.

    HHowever, the implementation is more or less settled, and any minor changes that might come up can be fixed with a software patch. In short, there’s almost no danger of a router you buy today being made obsolete when the standard is ratified.

    http://apcmag.com/five-things-to-know-about-80211ac.htm

    lots of routers out there and ready to go!!

    http://reviews.cnet.com/best-wireless-networking-devices/

    I'm buying one just to test and i know it'll work great
     
    Last edited: 2013/07/31
    elcajongunsfan,
    #4

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