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What wireless router to get?

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maraxle:
Just keep in mind that wireless security sucks.  Do the best you can to lock it down.  Enable WEP, lock it to just your sister's card's MAC address, change your SSID from the default to something non-obvious, and don't broadcast it.  Even then, I can park outside your house and be on your network in 5 minutes, but at least it'll be a little more challenging than how most people configure their WAPs.

gprime:

--- Quote from: maraxle on February 14, 2004, 07:26:02 am ---Just keep in mind that wireless security sucks.  Do the best you can to lock it down.  Enable WEP, lock it to just your sister's card's MAC address, change your SSID from the default to something non-obvious, and don't broadcast it.  Even then, I can park outside your house and be on your network in 5 minutes, but at least it'll be a little more challenging than how most people configure their WAPs.

--- End quote ---

LOL I highly doubt that ... come on now ... it's not THAT bad !

Let me tell you a little story about SMC wirless :)

I had a friend who got an SMC router and a couple of wireless SMC nics because they are super cheap. After a couple of days he started getting disconnected every 5 seconds and had to continuously reboot his router. Thinking that this was just bad luck, I also picked up some SMC stuff. I got an SMC Wireless-G 2.4GHz router and a matching card for the ol' lappy. When it was first set up.. WOW ! I loved it! Fast, I could be anywhere in my entire house and have 100% reception. But then a couple weeks pass and go, and I start to get disconnected every once in a while. Frusterated, I updated my firmware on both the router and my drivers for the card, and still the same problem. Even installed a fresh version of Windows XP. It finally got to the point where it was totally unuseable. I now have the laptop wired to the router again because it just sucks THAT MUCH.

When people say don't buy SMC.. they mean.. DONT BUY SMC. For wireless you absolutely need to get the best brands! I can't stress this enough! Some stores (this is honestly TRUE) don't even stock SMC wireless devices anymore because they get so many returns it is not even funny. Have you ever seen those "free SMC wireless router / NIC with purchase of _______" well it's no coincidence :)

Wienerdog:
I would, without a doubt, go with the Netgear router.

Netgear WG411 .11g router (44.99 after rebate):
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008SCFL/102-3772046-2492111?v=glance&s=electronics&st=electronics&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Netgear WG311 .11g card for the computer:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00009YW8B/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/102-3772046-2492111

or get them both from Buy.com for $135 ($116 after rebate):
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10347706&loc=33129&rp=true

Edgedamage:
Have been using my D-Link DI-614+ for two months now no problems yet.

bluGill:
I've met a bunch of people who don't like Linksys, but I don't know if that is just a Ford vs Chevy thing or not.   They work and are cheap.

Personally I like netgear stuff, seems like just a little higher quality, but they might have gotten worse...

Go wireless, when (no longer if...) you get a laptop you will be glad you have it.  

 Not nessicarly your laptop, could be your sisters next computer, or a guest.  The security concerns with wireless are real, but I would solve them by locking down my machines, and putting in a firewall so that anyone can connect to your router (this is called being polite to travelers and neighbors who might have wireless but be in a part of the yard where they can see your equipment better than theirs), but they cannot do much damage.   Good luck setting this up though, it isn't trivial and mistakes won't be noticed until it is too late.

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