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Need help choosing router for DSL LAN

K

kivic

Junior Member
I'm new to the broadband arena, but I'm a fairly capable computer enthusiast. I'm setting up a DSL connection (of course) and want to share it with the other users in my college house. I'm going wired, ethernet to be specific, no question. I'm completely unwilling to go wireless. I've got NICs for all the computers involved. Here's the setup and quandry:

Setup:
1 Desktop, WXP Pro (mine)
1 Notebook, XP Pro (mine)
1 immobile Notebook, XP Home (roommate's)

Quandry:
1. What would be the best router? Actually, I need this really quickly, so give me about three, please. I'm fairly sure I'll be able to handle a router that has some advanced features, so I don't need something for the computer illiterate, you know.
2. Should I buy Cat 5, or Cat5e? Does it really matter?
3. If you can answer either of these questions, please include links to reputable online dealers where I might purchase them.
 
Linksys BEFSR41 is pretty standard, as is the D-Link DI-604. Either will work well.

Buy Cat5e. 5 might or might not really comply with the 5e specs, while 5e does. You need it for gigabit over copper later. The cost delta should be small now.

Buy the Linksys or D-Link from your favorite local retailer (Circuit City, Best Buy, etc.). They always seem to have one of them on sale.

Cat5e and jacks can be gotten cheaply from Home Depot.

There are online sources for both, but they aren't fast and aren't a huge deal cheaper if you can get a deal on the SOHO router or the cable and stuff from HD.
 
i would presume that you would want to save money on this kinda stuff as you are in college...

If you have a microcenter near you then go and raid them. They have cheap-as-hell cat5 cable and they have an $8 After rebate cable/dsl router, 4 port.
 
another vote for the di-604

ive got two of them, cheap and easy to set up and use
check hot deals, best buy, circuit city

ive gotten both 604's that ive used for around 20 bucks via hot deals, great forum, be sure to check it out
 
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