OT: Wireless router for home

[henrypretz]

Our Netgear WPN 824 router gave up the ghost after 4 years this past weekend, so I'm looking for a new one. I have the feeling that most anything out there will be adequate for our light usage, but was wondering if anyone here has good or bad experience with a certain brand or model.
For the record, we have DSL with our main desktop hardwired to the router, and our college daughter's MacBook and my netbook in the bike cave connected through wireless.
Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Henry

[AngryScientist]

i was in the same boat a few months ago, and bought a mid level BELKIN router. i was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to set up, and has been working without problems since.

[bumknees]

I have an Apple Airport Extreme -- very easy to use and no problems, but honestly, it's prob not worth the extra bucks. I've also had good luck with Belkins in the past.

[johnnymossville]

I've used a Linksys WRT54GS now for many years with good luck. PC's, Macs, Wireless Printing and Android Smartphones all work perfectly well with it all over the house.

I'm not sure how the new Linksys routers are now that Cisco owns them.

John

[Richard]

Own a Linksys E1000 (Cisco product) and it was cheap, simple to set up, has been flawless. Don't know what else I would want, but I know very little about this stuff. Have two computers (laptop and desktop, windows machines), a printer, a Wii and sometimes an Android phone using it without complaint.

[rice rocket]

I bought my current Rosewill RNX-N150RT router having my doubts (it is less than half the price of name-brand 802.11n routers afterall). After a month with it, I'm totally shocked as to how good it is. Never had to reboot it, and it's fast as hell (802.11n). Only thing it's missing is QoS, but if you don't do heavy file transfers, you wouldn't ever notice anyways.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166064

[staggerwing]

Just this past weekend, had to set the father-in-law up with wireless.

Quick stop at Staples yielded a Netgear N300 (WNR200 is more common designation) for $50. Literally took 10 minutes total, from unboxing, to wireless surfing, including setting up basic security. Although I'm reasonably comfortable around technology, I'm no networking guru. Many options under the hood, which can readily accessed via web page. However, I suggest changing the access password for making setup changes, particularly if you have set any sort of kid control features.

[dvs cycles]

When mine went out last year I went to my providers (AT&T) store and picked up a combo modem wireless router.
One less device to clutter up the desk. :beer:

[rice rocket]

That's why you put it under the desk. :)

[Bud_E]

I've used a Linksys WRT54GS now for many years with good luck. PC's, Macs, Wireless Printing and Android Smartphones all work perfectly well with it all over the house.

I'm not sure how the new Linksys routers are now that Cisco owns them.

John

+1. I've been using one of these for a few years now. Before that I had a Belkin and a Buffalo. The Linksys has been the most stable ( only have to restart it on average once a month or so) and pretty easy to set up. It may not be the fastest but it meets my needs.

[veloduffer]

My track record with Linksys hasn't been good - 3 routers in 5 yrs. I just bought a Netgear N300 dual band (2.5/5.0 Ghz) router - easy to set up and works well.

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

+1 on the Belkin. Have the same one for the last 3 years, with very heavy usage (3 pc's, 1 laptop, 1 teenager), never a problem.

[johnnymossville]

I had a Belkin before the Linksys and it died within a few months. Threw it out.

[1happygirl]

Linksys all the way! Even with Mac.
Easy setup. They typically last 5-7 years for me and my parents.

[DreaminJohn]

Not sure if it's still the case but I've had to call Netgear in the past and an actual human being answers the phone and was extremely competent.

As the "go-to" tech guy for my rather large family I like Netgear for the cost/ease of use.

Good luck.

[ultraman6970]

IT here, get whatever, pretty much everything in the market for a house use will be ok. Like linksys just because are like trek hehehe :)

[JMerring]

bought an entry-level linksys for my home in around '03, i think, and it still works. well.

[crankles]

I've been running a Linksys WRT54G with dd-wrt for so long I can't recall. 5+ years. I recently added a d-link xtreme dir-655 to support giga bit and n. It's been humming along for 4 months without a hitch. Nice interface, QoS...lot's of bels and whistles. The d-link has a ways to go to reach the wrt54g in stability, but it's blazing fast.

[wc1934]

+1 on the Belkin. Have the same one for the last 3 years, with very heavy usage (3 pc's, 1 laptop, 1 teenager), never a problem.

+1 on the Belkin - knock on wood - years being problem free - 2 apple lap tops and a desktop windows PC.

[zetroc]

Netgear is my choice these days.

[Dekonick]

Whatever Newegg has on sale. They all pretty much do the same thing. Plug and play anymore...

[kohagen]

It's not cheap, but the Apple Time Capsule gives you both the wireless router and a large hard drive for automatic wireless backup capability for all your computers. Works great.

[John M]

Apple airport express is simple, inexpensive, and works perfectly. Plus it takes up no space at all.

[mike p]

Linksys....5+ years and no problems!

Mike

[Wilkinson4]

I've been running a Linksys WRT54G with dd-wrt

+1 on that. I use an airport express though. simple.

mIKE