Microsoft Wireless 802.11g router? Other 11g routers that are good?

[AlphaBeta]

I really like the look of their MN-500 802.11b solution but it's too slow for me. When will Microsoft release the 802.11g versions? That's what I want and all the reviews say Microsoft's are stable, fast and have great range.

I hope they release it soon!

 

[Lord Evermore]

The MS products use the same old hardware everybody else does. The only reviews I can find are "mainstream" like CNet and ZDNet, and PCMag's review said it was the slowest of all the base stations they used. If you see a deal on some other 11g product, go ahead and buy it if you want the speed now, or wait and see what else comes out.

 

[AlphaBeta]

Well, I was looking at the DLink DI-624 but I missed the sale period so I'm gonna hold off for a little bit.

What about the Netgear GW602? Since it dosent have a router the main problem Im worried about is automatic configuration of IPs. I dont want to have to rig up a static wireless IP everytime to match. It also says "No Wireless Bridging support", what does that mean?

Thanks again!

 

[SaigonK]

Cisco ...Cisco...Cisco....
They are the best period.

Of course they come at a price....a premium price.

 

[JackMDS]

Concerning Entry Level Hardware (I.e. Not Cisco, Cisco )

Most of the Entry Level Network ?peddlers? do not design and manufacture their Network Hardware. The use OEM ?shops? and their main contribution is to the color and look of the plastic casing. Their main effort is directed to the ?Car Sales Tactics? applied to the advertisement.

Hardware Reviews in general may categorize into two categories:

1. Mainly Independent.
2. Advertiser Independent.

In most cases the actual reviews in the two categories is decent. However Category 2 reviews the hardware sold by manufactures that advertise with the reviewer. As a result the best choice of these reviews is usually the best of what is advertise with them not necessarily the best in the market.

The most decent comparison of 802.11g that I could find to date is!

Link: 802.11a/b/g SOHO Routers & Access Points: Performance

According to this Graph the three top performers.

1. Belkin

2. Linksys

3. D- Link

P.S. When Microsoft applies itself to design and build their Own Hardware, they produce awesome Hardware.

 

[stash]

That article was written on May 30th. Linksys released the new firmware for the WRT54G on June 24th, and it includes full support for the finalized g-spec. It also has significant speed improvements, especially on networks with both .b and .g clients. So linksys may very well be fastest (not sure about how it compares to cisco, though).

 

[AtomicDude512]

Originally posted by: STaSh
That article was written on May 30th. Linksys released the new firmware for the WRT54G on June 24th, and it includes full support for the finalized g-spec. It also has significant speed improvements, especially on networks with both .b and .g clients. So linksys may very well be fastest (not sure about how it compares to cisco, though).

Well, it looks like Linksys is (yet again) my man. Does anyone know if Linksys will allow the WAP (I think that's what it's called) update later this year via firmware? Thanks!

 

[Hav0k99]

Does anyone know if you can bridge other brand AP's with the Linksys WRT54G?

 

[stash]

Does anyone know if Linksys will allow the WAP (I think that's what it's called) update later this year via firmware?

Are you talking about WPA? If so, the WRT54G supports it already (as of the June firmware update). You might have to worry more about the client wireless cards. The new g cards will support WPA, but most b cards will need a firmware update.

 

[tc17]

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
The MS products use the same old hardware everybody else does. The only reviews I can find are "mainstream" like CNet and ZDNet, and PCMag's review said it was the slowest of all the base stations they used. If you see a deal on some other 11g product, go ahead and buy it if you want the speed now, or wait and see what else comes out.

That PCMagazine review was so extremely short, I wouldn't even consider it a review. If you read user comments about that router on different sites, that router usually has more people with positive reviews than most routers.

ZDNet or PCMagazine usually like to trash Microsoft anyways. On Cnet, almost 3/4 of the 229 user comments, recommend that router, as do most comments on amazon.com.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: tc17

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
The MS products use the same old hardware everybody else does. The only reviews I can find are "mainstream" like CNet and ZDNet, and PCMag's review said it was the slowest of all the base stations they used. If you see a deal on some other 11g product, go ahead and buy it if you want the speed now, or wait and see what else comes out.

That PCMagazine review was so extremely short, I wouldn't even consider it a review. If you read user comments about that router on different sites, that router usually has more people with positive reviews than most routers.

ZDNet or PCMagazine usually like to trash Microsoft anyways. On Cnet, almost 3/4 of the 229 user comments, recommend that router, as do most comments on amazon.com.

Having used the MN500 for a few months, file transfers ARE slower than any other wireless router I've used. It's not just sh!t talking. Just because it's highly recommended doesn't make it what is said about it not true. I don't do file transfers that often anyway, and I'm sure the 10-30 second differential is virtually not noticeable by any of those 3/4 of 229 people. Hell I love it - I've given it a great review at Amazon among other places, but it doesn't change the fact that it IS slower.

 

[tc17]

Having used the MN500 for a few months, file transfers ARE slower than any other wireless router I've used. It's not just sh!t talking. Just because it's highly recommended doesn't make it what is said about it not true. I don't do file transfers that often anyway, and I'm sure the 10-30 second differential is virtually not noticeable by any of those 3/4 of 229 people. Hell I love it - I've given it a great review at Amazon among other places, but it doesn't change the fact that it IS slower.

Is your router 3 times slower than the other routers then? According this this super mini review it is.


http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1116148,00.asp

I find that hard to believe. MANY people would be complaining about it if it was true. PCMagazine (which is part of ZDNet) has a long history of trashing Microsoft.