what is best router to buy?

Question

if i buy a router to add another computer to the internet, do i also need to buy the adapter???

Answer 1

I recommend US Robotics

If your internet is ASDL, you need a splitter (to split the phone and internet lines)

If your line is broadband, you need a modem (or you could buy the device with built in modem)

Answer 2

Check out for Linksys E2500 Advanced Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N Router

Answer 3

All of the routers are basically the same. They each have the same components. A router is a hardware device which is a combination of several different single hardware components. A rouer has of course the router/DHCP/DNS components, and acts like a hub for connecting several computers to a network. A router also has a switch and some have a wireless access point. You can purchase all of these items as single purchases, but having them all incuded in one hardware device makes it less expensive.

Each usually has a hardware firewall, which does not interfer with the software firewall which should be installed on each system.

With the three major brands you are paying for Name Recongnition. Just as you do with the major computer manufacturers, such as Dell, HP and Compaq, you pay an additonal amount simply due to how well known these manufacturers are.

The three well known manufacturers are Linksys, DLInk and Belkin. I prefer Belkin, due to the excellent technical support you can get on the phone. I prefer talking with a technician instead of spending countless hours sifting through a "Knowledge Base" other manufacturers place on their website.

Each individual here will have a preference to which is the correct and best hardware device. You should do some research into each one, and find one which meets your needs.

Selecting a router is more than simply choosing which manufacturer to go with. It also depends on your needs. Currently there are three "Protocols", which are in order of speed and expense (less expensive)

802.11b
802.11g
802.11n

Now, the 802.11n is not yet ratified, but will be soon. This is the fastest and has the longest wireless range than the others. It has replaced the 802.1g as "best" and is the one which is most in demand by those who want the "latest and greatest" in networking hardware and capabilities.

You need to understand that these router speeds are just like RAM modules. The speed of your RAM is determined by the slowest module in your system. So too is the router speed and range. If you buy an 802.11n router, but have one or more 802.11b adapers, your entire network will have the speed and range of the b, not the n.

So, if you have one or more 802.11b adaper devices on your network which you simply can't change out for an updated faster version such as the g or n, it would be pointless to buy a 802.11n router.

However, if you plan on changing out those adapters in the near future, then it would be worthwhile to spend the extra money on the 802.11n protocol. This way you are prepared for future changes and won't need to go too the extra expense of changing out your router when you change out the adapters.

You also need to decide if you need an Wireless Access Point in your router. Do you plan on buying a laptop in the future or allowing friends and family who do have laptops to connect to your network? If so, then buy a router which includes a built in Wireless Access Point or WAP. This reduce the cost of later having to buy a extra WAP seperatly.

The 802.11g is perfectly fine if you do not need the latest and greatest devices. This use to be the most expensive hardware, and now it is much less than it use to be. The 802.11n has replaced the g in price and desireability.

Buying the g now while it is less expensive and waiting for the n to go down in price would be a good choice for many individuals. However, if you plan on replacing your g adapers with the faster and longer ranged n, then buy the n router.

You can decide on one of the major manufacturers or go with one which is less well known and save some money. I went with Belkin because of the good phone technical support.

The last thing I want to explain is that you should try to use one manufacturer for all of your hardware needs. Currently, we are suppose to be able to mix and match, but it just doesn't work that way well as yet. When you need assistance from your router technical support and use a different manufacturer for your adapter, you can find yourself being sent back and forth between the two or more technical departments and that is a pain in the rear end. So, try to use the same manufacturer for all of your hardware.

The hardware does work better with the same manufacturer too. I use to use different manufacturers for my router and adaper and it never worked as well as using the same manufacturer's hardware devices together.

It is up to you what you end up choosing for your hardware needs. Good luck and much success in building your network. It is actually fun doing it, and I enjoyed learning all about networking when I first began.

One more bit of advice: don't allow yourself to get bogged down in the big picture. While it is important to have the big picuture, once you do focus on one step at a time.

Adding and configuring the hardware is not difficult. Start with a wired connection and it will be a snap. You may need to add adapters seperately from the router installation. Each is easy, but are step instensive. Just take is slow, read the directions, and visit the Windows Help and How-To areas on the web. Here are a couple of URLs which you may find usefull when you are building your network:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/default.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx

Answer 4

Linksys WRT330N is the best router to buy.......
Just buy the router that enough for wireless connection, If ur buying router for DSL connection then you have to buy WRT330N Router and Modem Seperately....

Answer 5

I really like Linksys. I have had a router from them for over 3 years and it works wonderfully still. Linksys WRT54G is really good.

Answer 6

In Thailand everyone uses Linksys.

My wireless adaptor got trodden on, so I bought an ethernet cable and connected manually.

If you are adding new computers, and they don't have wireless, you must buy an adaptor or connect with cable.

Answer 7

I agree, you can't go wrong with Linksys WRT54G

Answer 8

Linksys is the best !

Answer 9

yeah i agree linksys. i would check into a wireless one. http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1115416939789&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=3978991233B01