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[fineleg]

Guys,
If u have exp. with good (or BAD) wireless router - please share the info.
I need to buy one.

I've read abt Linksys WRT54G, Netgear, D-Link DI-624 (108mbps)
but bit confused as reviews are all very mixed (Excellent to Very Poor for each of them!!!) on amazon.

[justforkix]

My experience : Netgear sux. Linksys WRT54G is what I'm using and itz awesome.

[squarecut]

My experience : Netgear sux. Linksys WRT54G is what I'm using and itz awesome.

yes Linksys WRT54G is the best. I got one Belkin and got back 20 dollars on top of it being free due to some pricematching. Never had an issue with that.

[fineleg]

D-Link DI-624
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007LTBA/sr=8-2/qid=1146787032/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8241390-4863922?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Supposed to be 108Mbps vs Linksys WRT54G which is 54 Mbps
However some of the reviews above says it sux - hence bit of confusion.

Thx - Kix and Sq.Cut - BTW, What Laptop Adapter are u using? Is it USB2.0 or internal card? Is that also from Linksys?
Are u able to watch STREAMING Cricket vdo (live) with this WIRELESS setup?

[Jai]

I am using Dlink 524 and am able to watch streaming video. Probably one of the cheapest ones available. No issues so far.

[fineleg]

jai -Thanks

Kix - let me know if u do streaming cric on the wrt54g.

[justforkix]

Supposed to be 108Mbps vs Linksys WRT54G which is 54 Mbps
However some of the reviews above says it sux - hence bit of confusion.

Does it really matter ?!? Your incoming network B/W will be speed limiter anywayz. I'm sure this B/W is not more than 4-5 Mbps and at best 8 Mbps. So, there is no difference between 54 and 108 Mbps.

Also, I've heard some bad things about D-Link from my neighbours, not sure which model etc.

Thx - Kix and Sq.Cut - BTW, What Laptop Adapter are u using? Is it USB2.0 or internal card? Is that also from Linksys?
Are u able to watch STREAMING Cricket vdo (live) with this WIRELESS setup?

I've an internal one. if u need one, get linksys too. itz the best in wireless cards too. make sure to get the G and not the B. yeah. i've been watching streaming cricket for almost 2 years with WRT54G with no probs.

[gullu]

I recently bought a DLink Wireless router (can't recall the model number, I am currently at work) and upgraded my home network to wireless, so far it's been an unsatisfactory experience. Speed is considerably slower.

[ruchir]

fineleg:

Most Belkin and Netgear wireless modems suck. I purchase a Belkin wireless modem 2 years ago and was never able to use it. Connection kept dropping. Then last year I purchase D-Link 524. Works like a dream. Not even a single dropped connection. I am using it with Belkin Desktop internal card. Never had absolutely any problem with either the modem or the desktop card, ever. Video streaming works like a dream.

Lot of my friends have told me this and I also researched on the net, that Belkin and Netgear had lots of issues with their various models. Currently in market, Linksys is the best; all their models. Next in line is D-Link. There are more discounts and rebates on D-Link than on Linksys. Of course, this is based on the reviews that are written so basically it is personal opinion which one is good, which one is bad.

And as for bandwidth, there is no difference between a 54 or 108 MBPS wireless modem IF you are using it for net browsing or video streaming. Both will work the same because their INPUT bandwidth will not be more that 4-5 MBPS, depending on what you service provider is giving. So output can not be more than input.

However, if you are using your modem for home or business networking, then the output bandwidth matters a lot. Because then you are transfering data or files or whatever between computers without using internet. So in that case, the higher the bandwidth (say 108 mbps), the faster your network works.

It is always good to turn on Security on your Modem and wireless card/adapter. That way no one else can connect to your modem and access your internet connection or your PC.

Hope this is helpfull to you....

[openforum]

Linksys or Cisco(little costly I guess) for both router and notebook wireless card.

As jfk said, buy only a G(preferabbly WPA2), the BW of the wired network will be the bottleneck. If you have uninterrupted 1 mbps(you'll probably not have more than this unless you are on a school network) atleast you can get streaming video. Do not worry about 108mbps, 54 is good enough.

Tell me after you buy, I've some more tips for good utilization

[toney]

I am using Dlink 524 and am able to watch streaming video. Probably one of the cheapest ones available. No issues so far.

DI 624, wireless connection works like a dream on my laptop, streaming media with lots of colours is a non-issue, I love the router.

[fineleg]

Thanks for the replies - it'll help me with the decision for sure.
Openforum, what is the tips abt utilization? Like to hear abt that.

[openforum]

Thanks for the replies - it'll help me with the decision for sure.
Openforum, what is the tips abt utilization? Like to hear abt that.

one more buying tip:
    Look for a good receiver sensitivity (this will be in the product manual). Higher the better (like > 90-100dBm)
   
about utilization:
       you've to do a survey of you area(2 floors above and below) in case you are living in apartments. Determine what channels are being used (how this ca neb done depends on the software that come with the wireless card). Configure your router to a channel that is least used in your neighborhood.
       Place your router antenna in as much open space as possible. signal strength drops drastically due to physical obstructions.
       Security: use the highest available security mechanism (in WPA2 this will be AES and in WPA1 WEP128-bit).
                     Configure your router so as not to broadcast the SSID (neighbors won't try to connect to your system and compete for the channel this way).

Thats all I can remember right now... note down these things and tell me again after you buy.

[squarecut]

fineleg:

Most Belkin and Netgear wireless modems suck. I purchase a Belkin wireless modem 2 years ago and was never able to use it. Connection kept dropping. Then last year I purchase D-Link 524. Works like a dream. Not even a single dropped connection. I am using it with Belkin Desktop internal card. Never had absolutely any problem with either the modem or the desktop card, ever. Video streaming works like a dream.

Lot of my friends have told me this and I also researched on the net, that Belkin and Netgear had lots of issues with their various models. Currently in market, Linksys is the best; all their models. Next in line is D-Link. There are more discounts and rebates on D-Link than on Linksys. Of course, this is based on the reviews that are written so basically it is personal opinion which one is good, which one is bad.

And as for bandwidth, there is no difference between a 54 or 108 MBPS wireless modem IF you are using it for net browsing or video streaming. Both will work the same because their INPUT bandwidth will not be more that 4-5 MBPS, depending on what you service provider is giving. So output can not be more than input.

However, if you are using your modem for home or business networking, then the output bandwidth matters a lot. Because then you are transfering data or files or whatever between computers without using internet. So in that case, the higher the bandwidth (say 108 mbps), the faster your network works.

It is always good to turn on Security on your Modem and wireless card/adapter. That way no one else can connect to your modem and access your internet connection or your PC.

Hope this is helpfull to you....

Belkin and linksys have same chip and some earlier belking models suck. My belkin has been awesome so far. I watched streaming video without no problems

[fineleg]

All u true techies out there, tell me something - I ran a speed test on my broadband connexn and got the foll results (i know result may vary depending on "load" / "time of day" etc. but still APPROXIMATE -

This is SIMPLE - Ethernet WIRED connexn results

dslreports.com speed test result7455 / 354
download speed : 7455 kbps or 931.8 KB/sec. cnet test shows this as 4749.7 Kbps
pcworld.com says 4003 kbps download speed
not sure why the variance from dslreports.com and cnet/pcworld! last 2 approx same.

upload speed : 354 kbps or 44.2 KB/sec.

How is this in general? Good/Bad?
I guess "upload" speed SUX!

[ruchir]

All u true techies out there, tell me something - I ran a speed test on my broadband connexn and got the foll results (i know result may vary depending on "load" / "time of day" etc. but still APPROXIMATE -

This is SIMPLE - Ethernet WIRED connexn results

dslreports.com speed test result7455 / 354
download speed : 7455 kbps or 931.8 KB/sec. cnet test shows this as 4749.7 Kbps
pcworld.com says 4003 kbps download speed
not sure why the variance from dslreports.com and cnet/pcworld! last 2 approx same.

upload speed : 354 kbps or 44.2 KB/sec.

How is this in general? Good/Bad?
I guess "upload" speed SUX!

fineleg:

Your UPLOAD spees is bad. If you have a high-speed connection (like cable), ideal upload speed should be around 200-220 kbps... In some cases it is as high as 450 kbps.

About getting different download speeds, a download speed of anything around 4 mbps is good. So your last 2 test values of 4749 and 4003 kbps are good. I have seen my download test speed change within minutes when doing this test from different sites, just like in your case of 4749 and 4003. When I researched for the reason of the change, I found that these changes depend of the load the hub of your service provider is experiencing... the hub closest to your home. If traffic is high, your speed will be slow and vice-versa... and this traffic can change in a matter of seconds 'cause someone might have started a big download between your 2 tests and that will have a little effect on your speed.

Also, your test results of bandwidth in general depends network and architecture those test sites are using AND the network capability of those site. So there will always be a little difference in the results of different sites.

That's the idea I got from my research on the net.

[ruchir]

Belkin and linksys have same chip and some earlier belking models suck. My belkin has been awesome so far. I watched streaming video without no problems

Oh, okay... Then probably the modems me and my friends purchased may have come from a bad lot.... 

[squarecut]

Belkin and linksys have same chip and some earlier belking models suck. My belkin has been awesome so far. I watched streaming video without no problems

Oh, okay... Then probably the modems me and my friends purchased may have come from a bad lot.... 

yes highly possible