Best router for use with cable/dsl modem???

[Fenix793]

I'll be getting dsl or cable soon and I'm wondering what is the best router to give access to al lmy pcs with just one ip address. I've heard that some routers can corrupt downloads is that true? If you can please post what you guys at home are using and if you had any problems.

Thanks

 

[pm]

The other thread up here is covering this partially:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=194480

The link to

http://www.timhiggins.com

has reviews and advice on several cheap routers. If you already have a hub, I recommend the Linksys DSL router from mwave.com for $95. Buy.Com has it for $105 - if you can find a coupon you should be able to drop this below the mwave price, but I don't know the July coupon codes.

As far as data corruption, I have the Linksys and it has performed flawlessly for me. It has a great price, was a piece of cake to set up, it's fast, and with the support for IPSec in the 1.30 firmware, I'm completely satisfied with it.

 

[Praetor]

Onsale/Egghead has it for $99.95. Just ordered it yesterday. Of course, I'm not getting cable for another month, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

 

[LXi]

This one:

http://www.us.buy.com/comp/product.asp?Sku=10235958

It's a 4 port LinkSys, you dont even need a hub, a bit expensive. Those 1 port routers will require a hub.

 

[saym]

I'll vote for the netgear rt311. It was very easy to setup.

 

[Fenix793]

the linksys has a built in switch right? Does that mean I wont have to buy a switch to play LAN games with my PCs?

 

[LXi]

Im not sure if it has a built it switch or not, but I know it's the nicest router you can get for sharing cable/dsl internet access.

 

[Aboroth]

Linksys makes two versions, one with a switch and one without. I would get the one with a switch even though I have a switch already. I am always building new computers and will need the extra ports eventually.
Always use switches if possible. They don't cost much more than hubs and give much better performance. <rant>Of course, to sell current hubs companies are calling them &quot;switching hubs&quot; because they can switch between 10mb and 100mb. That gets really annoying on pricewatch when looking for switches. Most good prices you think are for switches at first are really for hubs. That pisses me off and wastes my time. </rant>

 

[pm]

One advantage of the Linksys over the Netgear is that the new firmware for the Linksys supports IPSec which is useful if you work for a company with IPSec VPN access (which I do). The Linksys is generally cheaper as well. Other than that, they are very similar and either will work fine.

As far as the switched version or not: I have the switched, but then I didn't previously have either a hub or a switch. I think if I had either, I'd have pocketed the extra $60 and got the one port version.

 

[Tominator]

My vote for the D-Link DI-701. Get it from buycomp for around $80 and you get a 5 port hub. Everything a home user needs...except you can't brag!