Wireless Router Recommendations

[jjtoymachine]

Im looking to purchase a router so i can split my iburst connection up and lease it between the people i live with. I would like the router to also have an ADSL modem so i can use ADSL later, oh yeah and it must be wireless. What recommendations have you?

 

[LandyMan]

Im looking to purchase a router so i can split my iburst connection up and lease it between the people i live with. I would like the router to also have an ADSL modem so i can use ADSL later, oh yeah and it must be wireless. What recommendations have you?

I am using a Gigabyte BR404W wireless router. Works like a charm on iBurst, and have quite a number of different configs for other broadband connections (used to run it on a cable network as well). The built in firewall I suppose is not that hot, but while connected to it, Sygate Personal Firewall has not picked up any attempts, as they all seemed to be blocked by the router. Supports NAT and the likes as well.

Oh, and the other nice thing about it is that the Wireless portion is managed through a PCMCIA 802.11g card ... which means you can rip out the card, put in an upgrade later on when/if it becomes available.

Hope it helps

 

[jjtoymachine]

yeah, thanks that sound a good one

 

[LandyMan]

yeah, thanks that sound a good one

I have also heard alot of good things about the Linksys range, but I have never used one

 

[SupaMonkey]

I am using the Gigabyte B49G. Needed to increase my network coverage on my property so I could access the internet from the other side.
Has a nice WDS feature which basically connects the two routers together.
Therefore my one router has the modem plugged into it and its connected to a lan as well. The other router connects via wireless lan to my other router thats on the lan.

Should work for what you need perfectly (Just make sure the distance isn't too great, or you will have to get an extra antennae or something).
(PS - Will work with ADSL as well)

 

[MrH]

I have a Linksys WRT54G wireless router and no problems with it so far with 4 PCs' connected and a notebook which my son uses over the wireless downstairs when he comes here.

One thing to watch out for is if the router you want can have both iburst and adsl modems connected at the same time.
From what I can see the WRT54G only has one port for a modem, and 4 ports for the network.

Going by what I understand that jj wants to achive with 2 modems connected I don't think the WRT54G would work for him.

 

[jjtoymachine]

thanks for the replies the only reason i want it to be able to work with ADSL, is if i choose to cancel iburst at a later stage and go ADSL, i wont need to pay for new hardware.

They are not hard to set up right? Sorry for my ignorance, i work in the IT industry but have never made use of a router before,hahahah

 

[MrH]

I don't know about the Gigabyte but the Linksys had easy to follow instructions, and you can make changes to the settings etc. from one of the PC's you have connected to it.

I'm sure if you get stuck someone here could help you out with setting it up.

When I bought the WRT54G a few months ago it cost me R771 delivered to my house.

 

[swordfish1]

thanks for the replies the only reason i want it to be able to work with ADSL, is if i choose to cancel iburst at a later stage and go ADSL, i wont need to pay for new hardware.

They are not hard to set up right? Sorry for my ignorance, i work in the IT industry but have never made use of a router before,hahahah

Ok here are my 2 cents:

Linksys WRT54G (cost around R700) is probably the best for the bucks. Gigabyte is not bad, but not as good as Linksys (Linksys is division of Cisco).

You cannot plug ADSL straight into it. If you switch to ADSL some day, you need to buy an ADSL modem (only modem, not router), which can cost you between R400 and R500 at the present. Having the modem and the router as two separate entities is much more flexible than all in one solutions. If you replace your iBurst with ADSL you will only need to unplug the iBurst modem and plug the ADSL one and change few settings on the modem and there you go, you will not need to reconfigure the router/firewall.

I don't think there is a router which does have ADSL port as well as ethernet port for internet, but I could be wrong.

hope this helps

 

[LandyMan]

I don't think there is a router which does have ADSL port as well as ethernet port for internet, but I could be wrong.

I have not found one ... just be careful though, as the spec must say 'Broadband router' and not 'ADSL router' ... I've seen some of the ones specifying 'ADSL router' not being able to connect to Cable modem/iburst.

 

[swordfish1]

I forgot to mention that the Linksys support is OUTSTANDING !!!

I asked them a question about the WRT54G before I bough it, and they were extreemly professional in explaining to me exactly spot on what I asked! Don't think Gigabyte support is comparable to Linksys. D-link also has very good support, although I don't like their wireless routers.

 

[LandyMan]

Don't think Gigabyte support is comparable to Linksys. D-link also has very good support, although I don't like their wireless routers.

Never had to deal with Gigabyte support
I agree though, I also prefer the Linksys to D-Link

 

[swordfish1]

Never had to deal with Gigabyte support
I agree though, I also prefer the Linksys to D-Link

I asked them unobvious question, related to the way I wanted to use their product (which I haven't bought yet at the time), and I got a precise, detailed and very professional answer to my question.

Most companies do send you a copy & paste of their FAQ which you have read already and they don't answer what you are asking! This drives me mad usually!

So 10 out of 10 for Linksys support!

 

[LandyMan]

Most companies do send you a copy & paste of their FAQ

It's your MTU ...

 

[jjtoymachine]

hahaha

 

[jjtoymachine]

Where did u purchase the WRT54G?

 

[Darth Garth]

I would go for the WRT54GS

 

[swordfish1]

Where did u purchase the WRT54G?

from http://www.pcint.co.za/

you can get it from www.jump.co.za as well, and maybe from www.digitalplanet.co.za

 

[swordfish1]

I think it is the "Wireless Access Point Router w/ 4-Port Switch 802.11g" but confirm again. R599 ex vat.

 

[swordfish1]

I would go for the WRT54GS

well the S version is supposedly a bit faster (30% or so) ... but then you need to buy an S compatible network cards ... so it is not cost effective (at least not for me)

I personaly don't care about the speed, I have wired network when I need to transfer large files, wireless is for browsing the net and transfer documents etc.