to supplement what tiggy said, best buy has decent deals on routers. I typically like linksys routers (mostly because I'm used to them and can get to the admin panel settings in my sleep) and I understand some linksys routers have 1 step setup that might be easy.
Man, just ascend already.
Willow ,'Chosen'
Buffistechnology 3: "Press Some Buttons, See What Happens."
Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!
le nubian - Oct 26, 2009 10:06:34 am PDT #11508 of 25501
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
Gudanov - Oct 26, 2009 10:11:02 am PDT #11509 of 25501
Coding and Sleeping
This is what I use.
It's cheap and it's never failed for me. You can get a faster wireless connection than g, but it's adequate if your network usage is mostly Internet and printing. I've reset it once and it turned out it was the modem that needed to be reset instead. The Linksys router I had before was a pain. That's just my experience. My BIL has a D-Link that has been trouble for him, but he tends to futz around with the security settings all the time, so that might be more of a user issue than a hardware issue.
Gudanov - Oct 26, 2009 10:14:33 am PDT #11510 of 25501
Coding and Sleeping
I probably just got a bad batch of linksys routers. First one dropped connections every 10 minutes. Returned it and the next one worked for 30 minutes and then died in a cloud of acrid smoke. Returned it and kept that one, but I had to reset it every month and the wireless tended to drop.
tommyrot - Oct 26, 2009 10:16:30 am PDT #11511 of 25501
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
I use Time Capsure for a router, as it does automatic backup as well. But the backup part only works with a Mac (using Time Machine).
beth b - Oct 26, 2009 10:17:48 am PDT #11512 of 25501
oh joy! Oh Rapture ! I have a brain!
Actually it looks like linksys routers are not as reliable as they used to be. WE had some good ones -- the latest has been bad. We haven't replaced it only because DH is good at making it behave. And Dh has done some looking around. there are a lot of complaints.
le nubian - Oct 26, 2009 10:24:03 am PDT #11513 of 25501
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
I appreciate the linksys comments. time I look around a bit when I get a new router.
tiggy - Oct 26, 2009 10:34:33 am PDT #11514 of 25501
I do believe in killing the messenger, you know why? Because it sends a message. ~ Damon Salvatore
i'm thirding or fourthing the comment about Linksys being kind of shoddy. we had to replace two or three at my parents' house in about a 5 year span. the last time we went Netgear and they've had no problems out of it.
javachik - Oct 26, 2009 10:55:14 am PDT #11515 of 25501
Our wings are not tired.
My boyfriend has nothing but problems with his Linksys, and I have had nothing but ease with my Netgear.
le nubian - Oct 26, 2009 11:09:23 am PDT #11516 of 25501
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
so clearly I'm the lucky son of a gun with linksys.
Gris - Oct 26, 2009 11:11:17 am PDT #11517 of 25501
Hey. New board.
I have used Netgear, Linksys, D-Link, and Apple Airport routers with mixed success all around. At the moment I'm using an Airport Extreme (with a printer and 1TB drive attached for network sharing/Time Machine) and it seems to be doing the best job of any I've used, but my parents have had really good luck with their Linksys, too.
I don't think I trust any brand more or less than any other. I think of the whole thing as more or less a lottery.