I was wondering if anybody had recommendations for a fairly cheap wireless and wired router for 802.11b or g. I got a Belkin wireless broadband router and, to put it mildly, it's a piece of crap. It disconnects every 5 to 10 minutes, you can't even set the virtual server settings without it erroring on you, and half the time you try to reset the damn thing it sits there and stares at you.

Anyway, I need two fairly cheap and good wireless routers, one for my dorm room and one for my home, so any help and finding something that isn't crap would be appreciated. This thing is getting returned as soon as I find the reciept. Baring that, I'm taking the .30-30 and some hollowpoints to it.

Thanks,
John

I never had any problems with my D-Link stuff. This is a good choice.

Be aware that most schools will not allow wireless, or wired, routers of any kind. My school actively scans for and confiscates unauthorized AP's in the residence hall. You might want to check if you're allowed to put in a router.

Does it disconnect for like 5 seconds, and then reconnect (even though the signal strength is "Excellent")? I've got one that does that every 5 or 10 minutes too. I've heard it's something to do with 802.11 authentication, but none of the settings I've tried fix it. A couple months back I used this router (Dell -- it was free) with another wireless card and I don't remember it ever disconnecting, let alone every 10 minutes. So I'm wondering if it's the card in my case.

Anyway, I've heard Linksys recommended pretty highly, but their stuff is rarely cheap (here's a G for $53 after rebate). Amazon has a Netgear G for $34 also after rebate. I think Office Depot has an in-store special on a D-Link B for $19.95 (everybody now, "After rebate"). You could always wait till Sunday to see if any of the local stores have a special going; if BestBuy does, maybe you could combine it with this weekend's 10% off coupon.

We're required to use routers at Carthage, they only have one hookup to the network in each dorm and they ask that you use a router to split it.

As for the connection dropping, it happens to the wired network more often than the wireless. I had to refresh 5 times to hit up this thread, and I'll probably have to hit the quick reply button two or three times because it'll time out the connection. Hell, it couldn't find Google.

Thanks for all the help thus far, this thing was $35 - $25 in mail in rebates, haven't sent the rebates so I can still return it. bought it from Tiger Direct (their warehouse is near here, I just drive), and I need it for Sunday, so I appreciate the timely help.

John

I just bought a very cheap wireless "G" router and usb "G" adapter.

They were from a company I never heard of, but the guy said they had very few returns and a woman shopping nearby said she had been using one for months with no problems.

Anyhow, I have a year to return it with no questions asked, so I just had to try it.

Blitzz BWK904 $130 CDN

Just for reference, the comparable Linksys or DLink would be about $190-215 CDN

I am still on holiday, but I will give you the verdict as soon as I get a chance to test it out

Quote: Originally Posted by DuplexEmotions As for the connection dropping, it happens to the wired network more often than the wireless. I had to refresh 5 times to hit up this thread, and I'll probably have to hit the quick reply button two or three times because it'll time out the connection. Hell, it couldn't find Google.

Wow, that does suck. I'll keep my eyes open for deals!

I agree with the D-Link recommendation; get the DSS 5+ or the DSS 8+ (they're both wired)

As for wireless, I've only used an SMC, Intel and a Cisco. Only the SMC you'll find at a reasonable price, as the other two are definitely out of your price range, unless you want to spend more on your wireless router than you did on your computer.

staples has some deals on a router that has the 4 ports and the wireless connection as well! might be on sale this week bt next week it maynot be

29.95 here (varies in price i guess)

Quote: Originally Posted by stereomod staples has some deals on a router that has the 4 ports and the wireless connection as well! might be on sale this week bt next week it maynot be 29.95 here (varies in price i guess)

ya gotta read the whole post...he needs two for two different locations.

I had a Linksys WRT54G before that storm, i replaced it with a Linkysys/Cisco WRT54GS. Linkysys has this proprietary spread spectrum think that gives you like a 35% increase in speed. I dunno if it actually works because my pcmcia card is the old one. But yeah, i like my Linksys, plug and play, but easily acessable features.

Quote: Originally Posted by pimp_joose ya gotta read the whole post...he needs two for two different locations.

oh? heh well hmm lemme look around for a few cheapies! well not crappy one just fairly good ones!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....equestid=18495

my search at bestbuy. Now i don't know what your spending amount is but hopefully theres something in there that appeals to you!

I'm looking at a D-Link DI-514 for home, it's $19.99 recert at Tiger Direct, and a D-Link DI-524 for $54.99 - $24.99 rebate. I have an SMC card in my laptop, my mom noticed me using the wireless and now she wants it at home, but I'm not about to leave her with El Crapo Router, which is why I need two. I'm thinking a TwinMOS B230 network card for her lappy, it's a P3 from work, only $13.97 for 802.11b.

I do like D-Link, the DI-740P wired router I was using started flaking out after a while, but gave me a couple years of great service. Thanks so far, if you find any good deals, especially at Fry's, Circuit City, CrapUSA, Best Buy, or Tiger Direct, I'd appreciate the heads up. I can't even surf the internet anymore with this hunk 'o crap, so my searching is limited.

i have a compac wireless and a linksys wireless in the house as well as a 8port netgear router and a 4 port leviton router. my whole house is covered.

I picked up the DI-514, and as a consequence, I now have useable internet. Thank you for all your help, dudes.

linksys has come cheap stuff on amazon about now. SMC is good too.

Thanks, but I already took care of it 25 days ago.

Dead Thread Alert - I just got a PM asking for follow up on the Blitzz product above. Here is my response:

Quote: Originally Posted by Me I originally bought the Blitzz kit at Costco in Calgary for $130. Installed fine and worked well. Then after about a month, started getting dropped connections. Uninstalled and re-installed everything and again it was good ....... for about a month. After extensive Blitzz tech support, they recommended I take it back. When I returned it, the price had dropped to $99, so I decided to try another. This time it did not work at all, and again tech support recommended returning it. I ended up getting a DLink 524 wireless G router and DLink 510 wireless G pci ethernet card. These have worked absolutely flawlessly to date. I got them at Radioshack, and at the time I spent about $120 CDN (after mail in rebates). Well worth the extra $20-30 in my opinion. Here are links, but the rebates look less stellar at the moment: http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Pro...product=2513244 http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Pro...product=2513246 I hope that helps. Sean