What wireless router to use with laptop?

Question

I have an Acer laptop that has a 802.11g wireless card, use cable internet and have a desktop pc as well. I have the desktop connected through the ethernet port and want to get a wireless router so I can use my laptop as well but I need to know what to look for and which router I need. Thanks so much for any and all help!

Answer 1

Wireless routers have hard-wire ports also.

If your desktop is older, don't go with a dlink router. I've had trouble with compatibility between old nic's and a new dlink.

Linksys seem to be good for general use.

Answer 2

My question to you is "What are the two furthest distances between the router and the laptop that you plan on having?"

Any router can put out a good signal up to around 20 feet but the cheaper ones tend to have the signal blocked by just about anything in the path of the signal (floors, walls, turning on microwave can drop your signal to 0 etc)

If you are going to be in the same room as the router then get any router under $50 and make sure to use the security settings it has during the setup of the router.

If you plan on using it in all areas of the house start looking for a linksys or netgear with higher range since that is the main price increase reason.

Picture a cloud of internet coming out of the router and think of cheap as a small cloud and more expensive as a dense engulfing cloud.

Answer 3

You'll need the "Wireless G router". You can buy it at Best Buy or Circuit city. They'll show you some. They may give you the advantage of Wireless N router. DO NOT TAKE IT. Because your laptop has the Wireless G card. What you need is just the Wireless G router.

Good Luck,

Answer 4

Linksys WRT150N Wireless Router
(802.11b/g, draft 802.11n, 300 Mbps, 256 Bit WEP, WPA2 - MPN: WRT150N)
Price Range: $83.69 - $146.80 from 39 Sellers
Rebates & Special Offers: $5.00 Bonus available
Description: The Wireless-N Home Router is really three devices in one box. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect to the network without wires. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Eth.... Read More
Description: The Wireless-N Home Router is really three devices in one box. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect to the network without wires. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection

Answer 5

I have a Linksys wireless G router that works great--it cost about $50, and does everything I need.

Answer 6

might as well get 802.11n in case you ever get a new laptop you wont have to upgrade router as well. the "n" protocol is not the industry standard yet but it will be

good article - http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,118666-page,1/article.html

good router
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/wireless-networking/m/26004555/skd=1/search=router%20802.11n

while distance is a concern it is not the determining factor in pricing it is bandwidth. say your saving a movie to an external drive, you will get better speeds with an 802.11n than 802.11g at the same distance (almost 150x's)