User opinions on the D-link & Netgear routers [Please]

[wolfh1045]

Sorry if this question has been asked before in other threads.

I'm want to set up a 802.11G wireless LAN for my home and to share my NTL cable broadband.

So far I've narrowed it down to either D-Link DI-624 Airplus Xtreme G or the Netgear WGT624 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router.

There is aslo a newer Netgear WGT634U which appears to be the same as the WGT624 except it has a USB 2.0 port.

I'm looking for the most reliable, secure and easy to set up router.

What are the pro's and cons with these models and which would you recommend? Or would you recommend another model?

Thanks for you advice people :)

[wolfh1045]

User opinions would be really appreciated, as I'm hearing that the these routers are very unstable and are prone to reseting themselves continiously.

Is this the case with you? or are these reports in the minority?

[simonbenn]

Check out the the linksys wrt-54gs with the sveasoft firmware if you want cutting edge stuff.

It's probably chaper and does a whole lot more than the atheros based bunch since it's linux and VERY hackable.

The basic problem though is super-G /speedbooster are a little incompatibe. See www.tomsnetworking.com for details. Get a std. 54g and wait maybe?

Otherwise it VERY much depends on where you deploy the wireless. you won't get a lot of help without more detials on what you want to do...

Simon

[wolfh1045]

[i] you won't get a lot of help without more detials on what you want to do...

Simon [/B]

I want to connect the following two devices:

PC (Its a bit old)
300 mhz
128 RAM
Win 98

Laptop
3.2 Ghz
512 RAM
Win XP

I want to hard wire the PC to a router and have the laptop wirelessly connected to the router.

My main purpose it to share my boradband over the two devices, to share files and possibly gaming.


Acording to reviews I've read the linksys router has poor range, which is why its not on my list (but please correct me if I'm wrong. :) )

Since I'' be building the network from scratch I'll buy the router and cards from the same company so there should not be a compatability problem with super-G.

The question is which router?

[Teece]

If you're only going to be sharing BB, and not doing a lot of intensive, bandwidth-heavy activity between the two machines (copying lots of large files, for example), then superG etc are overkill - 802.11b has more than enough capacity for websurfing.

[DB2k]

indeed. 108Mbps is a bit ridiculous since you've probably only got 0.5Mbps broadband!

I have a Netgear 834G. Easy to setup, newest firmware is fine although the out of the box one is a bit cak. Supports WEP and the more secure WPA.. and theres a link on the bargain forum to get it and a free card for under a ton.

[busterboy]

Originally posted by DB2k
indeed. 108Mbps is a bit ridiculous since you've probably only got 0.5Mbps broadband!

I have a Netgear 834G. Easy to setup, newest firmware is fine although the out of the box one is a bit cak. Supports WEP and the more secure WPA.. and theres a link on the bargain forum to get it and a free card for under a ton.


I also have the Netgear DG834G Wireless Modem Router which is a doddle to set-up. As quoted above unless you are shifting Gigabytes of data you are really going overkill with the 108G equipment.:(

For less than a £100 you can be up and running with your second PC and your laptop too...:thumbs:

[stevejm]

I've got some D-Link stuff ... three out of 6 units failed in 6 months (Router, Wireless Lan Card, Ethernet Card).

Would never buy again.

[jamcunn]

dont go with netgear.....do a search on netgear router problems !

my connection drops every 5 mins or so on 11g...so i had to step down to 11b

[DB2k]

Originally posted by jamcunn
dont go with netgear.....do a search on netgear router problems !

my connection drops every 5 mins or so on 11g...so i had to step down to 11b


install new firmware.

do you have a dect base station next to the router?
or a microwave?

dect could cause problems even if your neighbours have it.. but it shouldnt really..

[Teece]

DECT cannot interfere with WiFi. The wavelengths are completely different.

[belly]

i have a dlink 624+ and it is an excellent piece of kit (not sure what the difference is made by the +).

never had a problem, the range for wireless is very good (36mb in the back garden) and the setup is simple. there are plenty of WEP options etc but i haven't really touched them, just used the know ip addresses thingy as i only use 1 laptop normally.

i have used it with several different models of laptop card and have had no problems

[cjb110]

Dlink over netgear all the time, having had a decent dlink cable/router for ages, and mates that had dodgy netgear adsl routers before realizing and replacing them with Dlink. The other company I would consider is Linksys.

[wolfh1045]

Thanks guys for your advice I'll have to do some more thinking as to what my 'real' needs are i.e if I should get a super-g.

Another question on a releated note.

With the set up as mentioned above could I add somthing to the network such a external drive connected to the router. I would then like to use this external drive to downlaod files even when the laptop and PC are switched off.
For example I use my laptop to being a download off the net on to the external drive. I then switch off the laptop but the download still continues.

I hope that made sense :suspect:

[cjb110]

Yes its called NAS (network attached storage), but it's expensive for what you get.

http://www.dabs.com/uk/Search2/Product+Details.htm?quicklinx=2G6D&searchphrase=nas £315 for 80gb!!!!!!!:doh: :eek: :nuts:

[wolfh1045]

ouch not paying £315 :gag: I'll stick to the normal method of downloading.

[craigizmo2k2]

D-link or Linksys for me :)

[wolfh1045]

Originally posted by craigizmo2k2
D-link or Linksys for me :)

Yeah but the linksys is supposed to have poor range compared to the other models and the D-link firmware seems to havea problem with continous reboots - well the US version (which is supposed to have a different chip to the UK), not sure if the UK has this problem.

I'm leaning towards the new netgear WGT634, which has a USB 2.0 port it allows external harddrvies connected to the router to act a NAS? because the router has Samba installed on it? :suspect: Anyway I need to do further reading about its.

As far as I'm concerned none of the 3 main routers are perfect, they all seem to have bugs and glitches. I'll try netgear first if that dosen't work I'll try the next manufacturer. Just need a site/shop with a good returns policy :)