Which Router for the next 12 months?

[zettler]

As usual, I am confused after seeing ALL these deals for new wireless routers.

I have broadband basic service and we can be running 4 or so PC's on our home network at one time. Have been using an old D-link 614-B router for several years and it has served us well. Over the last 14 moths or so, I have added a number of "G" cards and already have a NETGEAR WGR614 v4 "G" wireless router that I haven't even setup since I got it for free AR from Fry's last year.

I just bought a D-Link DI-524, as I am not that thrilled with Netgear equipment, and bought this one for $15 AR. It is not open and now everyone is talking about how D-Link sucks and that Linksys is good BUT people are also talking about even FASTER routers...

Can anyone point me in the right direction on which way to go for routers???

I will convert to "G" this weekend, one way or another, but hate throwing money away on something that I wont even notice a difference in for us - my son's PC is the primary one that is connected by cable to the router - what ever router we go with - and he is the only on-line gamer.

Oh yeah, now I am seeing something about VONAGE (sp?) or the like where you can use your BB connection for telephone service??? We DO NOT have land-line telephone, we just use Cell phones. Is this something that we could use as a land line without going through SBC, Verizon or the like???

Sorry, I am just so confused and do not want to throw money away or waste time fixing something when I can get by with the NETGEAR or new D-Link "G" router for us all over the next year.

PS I like my D-Link and have had nothing but issues with the Netgear PCI cards I bought....

 

[owensdj]

Even the 11Mbps 802.11b wireless is far faster than virtually all home broadband connections, so you don't get any noticable Internet performance increases from faster wireless such as the G. You'd see a speed increase for things like local file and printer sharing.

 

[zettler]

That makes sense...


However, why then are so many people going ga-ga over these wireless routers that go 54Mbps and beyond???

And one last question - if you had a choice, would you go with a D-Link VI-524 for $15 or exchange and end up paying $50 for the Linksys WRT54G???

Thanks again - in advance!

 

[JackMDS]

Link to: Wireless What Should I Get?

:sun:

 

[StormRider]

If I had to do it over again, I would get one of those pre-N routers (I have a Belkin HSM G router)

 

[zettler]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Link to: Wireless What Should I Get?

:sun:

Good link BUT I was surprised it said good things about the Netgear?/!

I bought a Netgear WGR614 v4 for free AR from the Fry's Grand Opening last year and haven't used it - yet. I started to, But for whatever reasons, I was concerned with it even working and the router itself felt very warm to the touch...

I am now thinking of trying to set this one (Netgear) up (again) and keeping the D-Link as a backup, since I basically got it for $15 AR...

Still.......I am always open to suggestions!

 

[JackMDS]

I am actually using such a Netgear a $9.99 after rebate deal.

It works well for me.

Hot? So do not sit on it (j/k)

If it real hot it life might be shorten but as you said for a Year and $9.99 who cares. :shocked:

:sun:

 

[zettler]

I ended up being able to exchange the one D-Link for a DI-624 and it will only cost me $20 AR. SO this looks like it will be my new primary router and the Netgear will be a backup or sold...

Does that make sense?

Thank you all for the advice and counsel.

 

[Nothinman]

However, why then are so many people going ga-ga over these wireless routers that go 54Mbps and beyond???

For the same reason people are buying SLI video setups even though there's virtually no reason to do it.

And one last question - if you had a choice, would you go with a D-Link VI-524 for $15 or exchange and end up paying $50 for the Linksys WRT54G???

Personally I'd probably get the Linksys because you can mod some of them with custom firmware to get full access to the Linux installation on them.