Router for Home Use -- Preferably Under $100

[Dasda]

Hi guys, I need a new router for my home use as my current Netgear WGT624 V2 isn't giving enough signal strength on wireless and requires restarts often.

My main need is signal strength because I want to have the router in my Basement where my primary PC is but I also have a another Desktop on the 2nd floor quite away that needs to be able to browse internet comfortably.

Other usages include a laptop i carry around the house also connected wirelessly, 2 Xbox360's wired, and a media player (wired).


Please reccommend me a good router or a place to where I could find a list of maybe known "good routers" so I could read up reviews and find prices for them.


EDIT: Feel free to suggest any other alternative that you may know for solving the range issue in my house. The 2nd desktop is pretty much not able to acces the internet at this point. Is it possible to buy a cheap router and set it up halfway where I have a wired connection? That way I can get good signal and use the ports on the 2nd router for my xbox 360 and media player.


Thank You.

 

[mfenn]

This forum.

 

[Ika]

You can use DD-WRT capable routers to set up as repeaters. If you have three floors upwards between your router in the basement and your desktop, you'll probably need some sort of signal repeater to get a decent, non-dropping signal on that top floor.

Does your primary router have to be in the basement? It would probably be more efficient to place it on the first floor.

 

[Dasda]

This forum.

I'm sorry for posting this in the wrong section, I hurried into posting after frustration with my 2nd computer. I'll post a new thread in the right section.

You can use DD-WRT capable routers to set up as repeaters. If you have three floors upwards between your router in the basement and your desktop, you'll probably need some sort of signal repeater to get a decent, non-dropping signal on that top floor.

Does your primary router have to be in the basement? It would probably be more efficient to place it on the first floor.

Yes, I have to have the router in the basement because that is where most of my wired devices are. I only have 1 wire running through the walls to the middle floor which I use for xbox but can be used to connect a second router if needed assuming the the xbox360 then can use the ports on the second router.

As far as signal repeater, what do you recommend I do? Get a 2 new routers or just 1 and use it as a access point? If a new router is needed, what do you recommend? I'm currently using a Netgear WGT624 V2 which I bought about 4-5 years ago.

Honestly I'm a total noob at networking and have never configured a network before so I'm open to all other ideas you may recommend. My main uses are xbox360's(wired connection), primary desktop(wired connection), secondary desktop for web browsing occasionally (wireless), and a laptop (wireless).


Thanks for helping me out.