Calling all Netgear MR814 or Linksys BEFW11S4 Users...need your help...

[heffe734]

Hey everyone,


I've decided to go wireless at my home and narrowed down my choices between the Netgear MR814 802.11b Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router
and the linksys BEFW11S4. After reading up a little on the forums and elsewhere, i've decided to go with the netgear for now...unless i'm missing out heavily by not going with linksys. But before i make the purchase, can all you netgear users (i'm assuming there's many of you due to the slew of hot deals regarding this product) give me some more information about this wireless router? The same goes for all you linksys BEFW11S4 users...thanks ahead to all those who reply.

BTW: Setup is simple...dell 8500 laptop, one toshiba laptop, and one PC...some file sharing but mostly for internet sharing...i live in a 2bdrm condo.


1) Does it cause a lot of havoc w/ your 2.4ghz cordless phones? Does a firmware patch or anything solve this?

2) I've been reading comments from many users experiencing frequent or random loss of connection to the internet...is this true / can it be fixed?

3) Any other things i should watch out for if i buy either one of these routers?


Please also state what version you are using...and what nic...

From what i've read...i heard version 1 was better...but i'll be ordering from amazon or buy.com most likely...so i don't think i have much of a choice. I'm also planning on getting the netgear MA401 pc card...unless any of you out there could recommend something better.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I have the MR814 and love it, I've had it 7-8 months now and haven't had a problem yet. I swap systems in and out of my network continously in order to run the windows updates before selling them and it's all gravy using the wired ports. I also have a D-Link DWL-650 in my notebook and I can go on the patio or across the house to my master bedroom with several walls and doors between the router and me and still have a good, consistant connection. The DWL likes to say signal poor but it stays connected and fast allowing streaming content and great download speeds from the net just as good as the wired ports. If you do have trouble with the wireless connection there are instructions you can get through google for building an antena with a pringle can :beer: Can't comment on the phone because I have an old 25 channel Sony 900mhz model.

 

[Boogak]

I've had the MR814 for a few months now and I haven't had any problems with it, even with a 2.4ghz cordless phone.

 

[Snipa]

Another vote for the Netgear MR814


I messed around with a linksys WAP11 for 3 months, trying to get it to work with my dell notebook with a rebadged oronico (sp?) card (Dell Truemobile 1150 ). I even got a cheap siemens wirleess card from the hot deals for 20 bucks and tried it as well. I would lose connections all the time, and that was even if it let me connect to it on that particular day. If I did manage to connect, forget about good signal. Normally I've had good luck with Linksys stuff, but this access point was just a dud for me.

I ended up caving and buying the netgear off another hot deal, and boy do I love this thing. Easy as pie web interface setup. Seriously, it was pretty much just plug and go. It worked right out of the box. Changing the settings (disabling SSID broadcast, Mac filtering, WEP) is easy as can be. I get a great signal all over my apartment and out on my deck. I stream movies and mp3z to my laptop all the time.

I don't have a 2.4ghz phone, so I can't help you on that end though.

You seriously can't go wrong with the netgear. Plus it even looks good!