Wireless or Wired Router

[ACE101]

My wired SMC 8 port router looks like it finally died after 3 years of perfect performance. I'd love to go wireless and avoid all of the cables, but back in the "old" days it seemed that wireless has a lag and not very fast performance. I do large amound of moving files from computer to computer and through the net, and I really need to have fast performance. Do the new wireless routers provide the throughput for heavy traffic? I also play games online. Will it be insufficient to handle snappy response? I'd rather deal with wires if there's going to be down sides to wireless.

What about these networks that run on your house electrical lines? You plug it into a socket in your home, and your entire home is networked. How does that work? It would be quite awesome if I could pump the same throughput through that as I could a wired connection.

So, if I'm willing to spend around $100-$150 for a new router, considering my needs, what's a good suggestion? It's reliability first, with speed and throughput a close second.

Ron

 

[tweekah]

Wireless has it's downsides and incorporates more variables into play. When something is getting nuked in the mircowave, my wireless computer get's shot. 2.4ghz phones can interfere, walls...etc. I have an old linksys 11b router that still pushes my max throughput of my internet connection, except when the microwave is on of course.

Haven't tried powerline networking as you mentioned above. I think max you can get out of that is 14mb/s...someone correct me if i'm wrong. Powerline networking works as a bridge using copper on powerlines as the medium of transport. At this point in time I am considering going that route to solve my microwave issue.

Any household router will fit your need, and I would get one with wireless capability. If you don't like the wireless, you can always disable it.

 

[BriGy86]

your probably going to pay the same or less for a wireless on these days

just turn off the broadcast if your not using it

 

[JackMDS]

I need a Wire only Router would should I get? http://www.ezlan.net/faq#wiredrouter

:sun:

 

[c3p0]

Linksys WRT54G/GS

Just my opinion though!!!

c3p0
:beer:

 

[Leros]

I have a secondary computer that I use for downloading large files. Transfering a 100MB+ file over wireless is PAINFUL. I wired that thing up very quickly. I say go wired for file transfers, servers, etc. Wireless is cool for nomral web browsing.

 

[ACE101]

I ended up going with a D-Link DI-707P. I just don't want to add wireless to the situation based on everything I've heard.

The thing that surprised me when looking for a router was that most of the routers are almost entry level hardware. Then the next step up is professional routers that start at $300. It seems pretty much all routers have problems with dropped broadband connections, but D-Link seems better than average based on peoples opinions. Also it appears that routers last around 2-3 years before dying, and it's not brand specific. So I got the DI-707P because I have 7 computers that need to be hooked up, and I have a parallel printer that I've been using on the printserver of my last router. This model has a 7 line switch, which it turns out is rare these days. For something that is as essential as a router, I would have thought there would be many more robust options.....wrong!

The D-Link hooked up flawlessly and stayed hooked up all night. I put it through heavy loads and it was fine. I just wonder when/if the glitches will start. However, if it performs as well as my SMC did (3 years heavy load, almost no lost connections), I'd be more than happy.

Ron