Best Wireless Router for a Dell 1530..

Hi all ~
This is my first visit in this section!

So, while I am waiting for my 1530 to arrive, I need to get my Wireless Router. This will be my first Wireless Router purchase, so I want to make sure I do it right.

My 1530 is going to have the Intel 4965AGN Wirelss-N Mini-card inside. I know I can either go w/a Wireless N Router or G. I have Comcast Broadband, and my space is fairly small - "cottage style".

So, any suggestions on which Router? I need something fairly simple & user friendly to hook-up myself & that will flow w/the 1530! How is the Linksys WRT150N?

At this point, I am not going to keep my desktop connected (as it it is on it's last breath ~ and work's intermittently). The only other connection I may think about w/the router would be a printer. Dell is sending me a 926 printer ~ but I would have to get a wireless adapter if I wanted to go wireless, I guess. So, right now ~ the only connection would be the notebook itself.

Thanks!

 

I just ordered a WRT150N. Based on the reviews I read it seemed like the best fit for price, ease of use and range. FYI I got in at Newegg for $91.99 with free shipping. It should be here tomorrow, I'll write back after it's hooked up.

Greg.

 

Definitely get a Wireless N!! I just setup my WRT150N on Friday night and it's speed is amazing. Just make sure after setting it up you go to the router IP (generally 192.168.1.1) and increase the Radio Band.

 

The Dlink DIR-655 is also very good. Has a lot of advanced features and works great with my 3945 and 4965 card.

 

I have a TendNet 300Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router, model number
TEW-633GR. It works great, and is very easy to set up and configure. Much better than the Linksys that I returned.

 

Thanks for the suggestions! I will take a look at the other ones!
@inlawbiker - let me know how it works!
@scooberdoober - that is one sleek looking router! I am checking that one out, but it is a little over budget!!
Would the Linksys WRT150N be to much for my living space @ home? It is fairly small!
What do you all think of the Linksys Wireless G ~WRT54G??? It would be great to stay w/in a $75 price range (probably should've listed that). My bad!!

Thanks!

 

d-link dir-625. they can be had for $50-60 and are ideal for what you are describing. i have had mine since release and it has never dropped signal, is easy to configure, and is quite fast. it runs 24/7.

 

OK I did get the WRT150N, to replace my ancient Linksys router (wired). I was using a "G" access point along with the router for wireless. It was a Netgear I was real happy with.

My old Linksys router had a flaw in that it kept locking up. It also would not allow me to flash the firmware, so it was stuck in it's 1.0 firmware. I'm surprised I got along with it for so long.

Anyway as to the WRT150N... what can I say, it works fine. I'm using it now. Surfing with "N" does not appear to be appreciably faster than "G". I did a bandwidth test and scored 134.7 kbps from the other end of the house. Downstairs where I normally work I get 178 or so. Right next to the router I get 1653.2 (!!). I think this must have been a mistake.

I've configured a lot of routers and honestly I think they're all about the same. This one tries to do too much though. The included software tries to do all of the configuration for you, based on your old router settings. The software became confused, and my laptop couldn't "find" the router any longer to configure it.

In the end I ended up logging directly into the router's web interface and configuring it by hand. I think if I'd been somebody like... my parents, then I'd have been frustrated and called support. But my case is odd, I have a special network setup and I don't think any wizard would be able to get it right.

Anyhow I have no reason to dislike the WRT150N, it seems to work as intended. The web interface is just like the ancient one I was used to, it just looks nicer now. The unit itself looks sleek and professional, and is smaller than the old ones. If you've never seen the original Linksys routers, they look like toy space ships. These new ones are much nicer.

My advice is to pick the speed you want of the list of top brands and buy the one that's cheapest.

 

D-Link DIR-655.

 

I hope you're not hogging the entire ~2.4GHz wifi band.

 

You can now setup your old AP for guest that are not using 11n.

On your old netgear do a reset using this procedure and see what happens.
Hold the reset for 20sec, Unplug the router while still holding in the reset for another 20 sec. Then reconnect the power with the reset in for another 20 sec. Total time on 1 min with the reset held in. If you release the reset button any time you have to start over. I user to beta test for them. This is a internal procedure that forces the user data completely from the router.

 

notknowing, did you get one yet?

 

@scooberdoober! Hi there!!~Nope, not yet..I'm sooo bad (procrastination thing)!!!! ~ still very much considering the one you recommended, and a Linksys WRT54G...I shall have to get my act together soon, as it looks like my lappy is finally in the "boxing stage"

(If I go w/the Linksys WRT54G it is going to be on sale at Best Buy tomorrow for $49.99, and I have an additional 12% off reward zone coupon)!

 

@inlawbiker-Thanks for the feedback on the WRT150N (from the other day)! Sorry, a little late!!! I'll take your feedback into consideration...I'm just thinking that the WRT150N may be a little too much for me & my space, though!