What wireless router are you using?

[Peregrine]

I'm going nuts here. I've read about 30 reviews, and usually the reviews are always good. Then I read the user opinions. Good god!!
Router A has good ethernet, but wireless is weak.
Router B has good wireless range, but weak ethernet.
Router C is average in both but has great security features.
And then, to a T, a handfull of users (RE: ALL ROUTERS) say "It keeps dropping my signal, requiring a reboot WAHHHH". 95% of the folks that said that have it on all the time. Mine wouldn't be.

My BIGGEST concern is I need a router that has superior wireless range. I don't want to pay BUKU bucks for 802.11a. I want B darnit! There are 4 (plaster, not drywall) walls between my "Command Center" and my living room. All I want is my wife to be able to MSN messenger and surf the net from the living room (at most 60 feet away) without cables (new puppy in the house...already eaten 2 CAT5 cables).
The reason I'm SOOO trying to get the right one on the first try is because I will most likely buy it from EBAY and not sure I can return it if it doesn't reach the living room. (SMC wireless router $119 on EBAY, $199 at Best Buy...big difference, eh?).

From the plethora of research I've done, I THINK they pretty much rank like this.

Best: Speedstream 2624
Close second: SMC Barricade SMC7004VWBR
Tied for third: Linksys BEFW11S4 and the Netgear MR314 (although Linksys has better range...I THINK?!?!?)
Not sure where D-Link rates. They have so darn many.
Does the 22MPS D-link have better range? The reviews don't really say, or if they do they say "Range is about as good as the xyz router"....er um OK...how far would that BE!!!!.
I don't care about:
Ethernet speed, or security, or ease of use, or customer service (I am a network administrator so feel free to talk to me in normal english).

Any suggestions? Comments? Opinions?
Pretty please???

[Peregrine]

Wow, this forum is slllloooowwwww.
I think I got an answer from someone here at work. Does this make sense to you? He asked if I had a cordless phone. Yes, I do. He asked "What MHZ?". 900, I replied. How's the range on that he says. Fine. I can use it at my neighbors house! He says "So you think a 2.4 GHZ signal won't reach to your back room?". Well, the phone sure does.

Well, damn, I didn't think of it that way.

[Steve0]

Buy the cheapest router you can find, they all work pretty well now days.

Best Buys ran a special on a Di714+. I'm using one and it works fine. I'm sure I could run this test and the other test on it and find that some technical specificaition is better on another product, but who cares for home users, it just has to work, the Di fits the bill.

I think I paid $120 for my Di box, which I think is a good deal.

One thing to aviod in my experence though is the PCI type plug in cards, the antennas on these things are not very good. Go with a USB type where you can put the device up a little higher.

The PCMCA cards are all about the same for antenna, your mileage will be about the same from brand to brand.

I hope this helps.

[yonah]

I have used the Siemens SpeedStream 2623 (Older model) with much success, I have also used both the Barricade, the SMC, and the Linksys BEFW11P1 (1 Port router with Print Server). The only one I didn't like was this particular Linksys, b/c it didn't have an antenna, but rather used a PC card.

Generally speaking the first three are all feature rich, and work well. The problem is, that not all might work with your given set of Wireless devices - phones, baby monitors, etc.

In addition, whatever you get, please make sure to check the firmware version on it to see if its the latest rev. Most of these routers have been continuously updated and I can guarantee you that a lot of those opinions you've seen on cnet or amazon were either posted before the firmware fixes or by people who didn't know they existed.

HTH

[Peregrine]

Thanks Yonah, Thanks SteveO (100 + views and two responses?? Owell, I appreciate you two trying to help). I figured a lot of those complaints were do to old firmwares, or simply User Error.

I wound up buying the latest Barricade from SMC (SMC7004VWBR which is replacing the "A" line). So the router is pretty untested, but it is SMC's newest so I'm hoping for good results there.

For a wireless NIC I wound up getting the Orinoco Gold which hands-down seems to be the best from the reviews I've read (read = they had the least amount of negative comments by a wide margin and many positive comments mentioned GREAT RANGE).

[redarmy]

Hey,

Sorry I could not get my suggestion to you in time. However, I think you made a nice choice by picking the SMC router. I have a SMC router; same one you have and my house is an average size house, yet, I am able to get online EVERYWHERE inside the house and outside on both decks. The house is about 11 years old, so I am not sure what kind of building materials they used back in the days. But, my room is upstairs and the router is downstairs, with the linksys wireless pc card version 3, i am able to get a 60% in both signal strength and link quality. The worst area is in the basement, which only gets 20% in both categories.
(i also noticed an increase in speed when I upgraded my pc card from version 2.5 to version 3)
Anyhow, the SMC comes with a lifetime warranty, so in case if something goes wrong, you can always replace it for free!
Good luck!

[Peregrine]

The end results....

Well, after getting the router, I hooked it up and everything seemed OK, but I couldn't get out to the internet. Called SMC tech support and they (wrongly) diagnosed a bad router. I sent the router back and got a new one. Same problem. Two hours with tech support got me nowhere. They escalated my call to '2nd level'. I sent the other router back, too.
The wireless range was mediocre in my house (that part did work). Probably due to plaster walls that have stood since 1923.
I kept the Gold card.

(sidenote* Borrowed a Linksys DSL router from work and it worked just fine, so it's not my system that isn't working).

Sooooo, I'm going to buy a wired router, run some wires thru the basement into the dining room and then buy an AP and set it up in there. The dining room is in the middle of the house so I should get better range throughout. (The wireless router was in the very back of the house, because I want my main PC hard-wired into the router).

Thanks again, everyone.
So far, 802.11b has been a bust. :(
But I have not given up! :)

[redarmy]

Actually, I had the same problem with my first SMC wireless router that it was defective. I got it from Amazon.com and so I had to return it. Changed to a different merchant, Buy.com, much better service and defective item rate was low. Great customer service, too!
Anyway, the second SMC worked just fine until today. However, sometimes the router becomes very very slow, so I either have to reconnect my internet connection or restart the router. It happens about every 2 to 3 months.
Another word of advice; tech support does not support you really. In some way I feel like its a mental support because you know someone is with you and they cannot figure out the same problem you are having so you don't feel alone. Try to play around with the settings, (if you ever get 802.11 one day) read the manual a little, and thats all! I have never find tech support helpful.
Anyway, wired network is good. You should also consider having a network over the existing phone line or the existing power outlet. I heard they run very nice as well.
Good luck!

[Damionte]

The SMC-AWBR had a rocky start. Decent router when it stays online. The hard wired ABR version worked alright though. Works well to get the non wireless version and plug an AP into one of the ethernet ports. The newer SMC-VWBR seems solid thus far. No problems with the WAN connection dropping like on the older unit.

[yonah]

I generally agree with redarmy about tech support. Nine times out of ten if I am calling them it is because I have determined beyond the shadow of a doubt that their hardware is malfunctioning. And then I have to wade through three hours of idiots who want me to install and re-install software on my Laptop b/c their gateway isn't working.

Sorry, felt like ranting

[smorris]

Be careful assuming two trancievers of the same power but different frequencies will communicate or penetrate walls equally well. 900 Mhz will probably go farther under most conditions. The wavelength of a transmitted signal determines what it takes to block it or receive it. The higher the frequency the shorter the wavelength and the smaller an object has to be to block or scatter the energy. I don't think you'll have a problem getting your coverage with any unit on the market. If you are really worried about it buy one with an option for an external antenna. Then you can put on a high gain or directional antenna if needed.

[lionman]

For mine own part, I use the Speedstream product at home. I've got it mounted in my "Command Center" down in the basement, on the wall. It covers the room, my bedroom above, about half the kitchen and half the livingroom reasonably well. However, it misses the two far bedrooms of the house. I haven't tested yet, but suspect I get fair signal on the back poarch and probably the front of the garage.

I'm not unhappy with mine, but it doesn't have removable anteanna. It'd be nice to be able to buy a higher end to put on, increase my range, directionalize, things like that. I'd recommend something that lets you replace the anteanna.

Just my $0.02 in the matter.

[johnli123abc]

BEFW11P1 gets me nightmares, I don't even get 15 feet wireless coverage. Here is the deal, 1-5 feet = 100 coverage. anything after that is = reboot the laptop and the AP.

[computeradam]

I have the Old Version of Linksys 4 Port with Access Point, The range is bad, I suggest using the newer one. I also have a Linksys WAP11 2.2 (wilrelsee access point) and it works better.

Using the Linksys 3.0 PC Card in my kitchen, and both access points accross the house, I get:

WAP11 V2.2 ----- 60% Signal
Old 4 Port Linksys --- 15% Signal

[RandyW]

I'm coming into this discussion late, but wanted to add my 2 cents. I would generally advise against mixing vendors between PC/USB clients and AP's. Even though 2 devices are labeled WiFi compliant, they are not the same. There are many subleties in the 802.11 standard which can be implemented slightly differently causing different levels of performance between cards of different vendors. For example, differences in rate fallback algorithms, randomness of back-off times following a collision, use of other modes such as PCF, RTS/CTS, and fragmentation. All these parameters are adjusted individually by each vendor optimizing its use with other components from that vendor.

As part of the 802.11 standard, all chipset vendors are able to add proprietary extentions to frames differentiated by unique OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifiers) IDs. Agere implements proprietary features such as autoconfiguration of parameters from AP to clients, bidirectional link tests showing SNR at AP and client, microwave oven interference robustness, and enhanced load balancing between multiple APs (N/A in a home environment). Other vendors implement different and usually incompatible enhancements.

When at all possible, I would suggest the use of same vendor client cards and access points. For the home environment where range is extremely important, I would recommend the following setup if you want to use the ORiNOCO gold card:

Purchase an ORiNOCO AP200 or BG2000 access point. Break open the plastic enclosure and connect an ORiNOCO 6dBi range extender antenna to the enclosed gold card.

If you want to stick with an Intersil based access point, I would suggest coupling it with one of the better client cards, such as a Cisco or Intel 11b card.

[Peregrine]

Thanks, Randy.

Let me update my thread here. My DSL company gave me a loaner router (wired) so, I am currently wired. I think my problem was WHERE i had the wireless router set up. I am now using a Zyxel Prestige 643. I am going to run a wire through the basement, into the centrally located dining room. Then I will put a WAP there, and it should reach the whole house.
Previously I had the wireless router in the very back of the house, so it had to go through 5 plaster walls.

[rz8168]

For my exprience today, I know SpeedStream 2624 is not the best of all Wireless router, because I own 2624. I can tell you that its WEP pretty **** because whenever you enable it, router will soon locks up and you'll have to reboot it.

Support page on SpeedStream never helps. Extreme difficult to find their support phone number but finally found it on google instead of their official website. I called and tech told me avoid using WEP instead use Access Point control similar to MAC control to choose who are able or not able to access internet and LAN.

I asked them when will they release an updated firmware to fix this problem but unfortunately respond to my question is "Firmware can't fix WEP locks up problem, it is best way to use AP Control instead of WEP"

I was shocked and replied "huh?" I now believe they are not planning to release any fix to 2624 and I'm begin dislike speedstream for they unhelpful information. I would go for SMC 7004VWBR or 2024WBR (22Mbps, 256-Bits, Printer server, SPI Firewall - best features).

For my own opinion, do not get SpeedStream 2624, look for something else.

[Peregrine]

I work with many people that have started running wireless. Hands down LINKSYS seems to be the most trouble-free routers.

[rz8168]

I think so too. Linksys doesn't seems have too many conflicts. What I'm thinking now is should I get a wired router that has SPI firewall like SMC7004FW plus a AP like DLink DAP900+ or Linksys Instant Access Point that offers 256-Bits WEP. A wired router + additional AP seems pump out more cash than just a single wireless router which less efficient.

Please let me know what you guys think.

[Peregrine]

I'd say it depends on location.
I started out with a wireless router, but since it's in the very back of the house it wouldn't reach through 3-4 plaster walls up to the living room.
So, now I am going to get a WAP to use with my wired router. I'll run a cable through the basement to a jack in the dining room, and set my WAP there. That should blanket the entire house.

[ERNtech]

Well i have a DI614+ router from Dlink and I am very happy with it. Never gave me any trouble I have two PCs and one laptop. they are all working great never ran into problem.

I am now trying to get my hands of the Dlink DI714p+ since it has a printserver i would love to use that.

[akers]

I have a DI-614+. My Dell Latitude C840 has a built in 802.11b mini-pci card (it is actually Orinoco). I get decent, reliable signal strength in my back bedroom about 70' away through nine walls. There is also a large entertainment center with stereo equipment and a TV in between the two. One wall is at a very oblique angle so the signal sees it at as a VERY thick wall.

I have a 6dbi antenna ordered to try and extend the range to the back yard. By the way, the built in switch is noticeably quicker than my old Linksys router.

I am very satisfied.