Wireless N Router Suggestion?

[enkay18]

Hey - I'm looking to convert my wired home network to a wireless one. We have a big house with 3 floors and a basement.

I was looking at purchasing Linksys WRT600N with storage link since it had the maximum range 'cuz of wireless n plus I wanted an option to have my USB disk on the network.

However i came across many bad bad reviews about the linksys wrt600n, bad coverage, connection drops, storage link not working correctly.

So then I started looking at the airport extreme as an option, but then again since my network is just going to have windows machines, i'm not sure if airport extreme will be a good option since to access my usb disk on the network i will need the have Bonjour as a software installed?

And then lastly i came across some dlink options. Result is i'm totally confused as to which one to get.

Can any one help me choose the right router for me and/or share their experiences. Thank you.

 

[tomt4535]

I just picked up the airport extreme for $150 refurb from the apple store. I havent recieved it yet but Im not too worried about the software. I only have 3-4 computers that would be sharing the files anyway, so its not a huge deal. I picked the airport because it can do Printers AND Hard drives, I couldnt find a similar one out there that did both. The Dlink options I saw didnt have the hard drive sharing option, the USB ports on them are for windows connect now, the easy wireless wizard thing that I have no interest in anyway.

EDIT: The refurb airport is $30 cheaper, and comes with the same 1 year warranty as the new one.

 

[Griffinhart]

If you are looking to buy a Draft N router I highly recommend the D-Link DIR-655.

Currently $109 at Newegg with free shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...6833127215&Tpk=dir-655

I've had one for about a year now and it has been fantastic.

That said, It does not act as a network storage device. You would need to by a separate NAS device if you wanted that feature.

 

[JackMDS]

I doubt that you would fing a "Magic" Entry level Router that would provide good Network for a 3 floors big house

The general approach that I take for Coverage issues is the following.

The best way is to lay few CAT6 cables to central locations in the house, install Access Points, or Cable/DSL Routers configured as an Access Points ( Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point ), and connect them to the Main Router.

You do not want/can not/hate/your client hate to lay Cables.

Buy a Pair of Wireless Routers that can do WDS .

Zyxel, SMC, Belkin, and some other Brands, have models that do WDS as is out of the Box.

Linksys WRT54GL can do WDS when flashed with DD-WRT firmware.

Using a Laptop loaded with Netstumbler, do a Wireless survey in the house, http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

According to the Netstumbler's signal strength reading, identify spots that have strong signal. and spot with weak, or No signal.

Evaluate how you can cover the space and start placing WDS units.

Additional Wireless Routers in WDS Mode (Wireless Network - Configuration Modes. ) has to be placed in spots were the signal is good about Half way to the dead spots.

How many WDS units are needed? It depends on your specific environment (that is a good the reason to buying WDS units one at the time, try it, and decide on the Next step).

Otherwise.

Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html
Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Wireless Modes - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Modes.html

Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

Hi Gain Antenna - http://www.ezlan.net/antennae.html

 

[Pabster]

I love both the Airport Extreme and the D-Link DIR-655. I'm using both right now.

The Airport is nice with the USB port for printers and disks, but I dislike the loss of a 4th LAN port and having to use Bonjour to configure it. Performance-wise, very little difference. They're both fantastic in that regard.