WiFi router and one card

[eaadams]

So I'm seting up a wired network and wifi. Need a router w/ wifi. Router needs 3 ports 4 better 5 best. Wifi needs to work.

My main concern is ease of setup and performance.

 

[JackMDS]

If these are your criteria, it does not matter what you buy, get the cheapest you can find.

95% of Entry Level Wireless Cable/DSL Routers has 4 ports. Setup is similar to most.

Very few have 8 ports; off hand I remember SMC, and Linksys.

BTW, check the prices 4 port Wireless Cable/DSL Router with an independent Switch may be less expensive.

AnandTech - FAQ. What do I need for wireless networking?

 

[eaadams]

ok.

I see linksys router/wirless things seem to have numerous problems. Is this just because they are so popular so there will be more problems or are other brands better / worse? examples?

 

[JackMDS]

Speaking generally, if you review a lot of related entries, you will find that almost any piece of Hardware have people that praise it, and other that curse it.

Some units (regardless of vendor) are defective. To maintain low price QA is rather low on these products. Some people don not what they are doing, and rush to post negative. Other units have been upgrade via firmware, or and drivers, and people are not aware of it. Many people buy ?Sedan?, and complain why it is not a "bulldozer". And so on and so force.

My self and others bought SMC Wireless Cable/DSL Routers, and Orinoco Client Cards, and are happy with it. As a result two weeks ago few people bought similar sets, and found out that the current drivers do not configure well with WIN XP. Mine works OK, I don not know why they are not successful in their endeavor.

To sum, when it comes to Wireless buy from a big vendor, with liberal return polices, if it does not work it goes back.