Wireless Router for small home network (Sub ~80 USD)

Dear All,

I want to add a wireless router to my private internet connection so I can access the internet via smartphone, tablet, and laptop.

Which router would you recommend for this purpose.

I have looked at Netgear WNR2000, linksys E1000/E2000. I have no experience with wireless routers, so I do not really know if these are good choices? Would you recommmend one of these, or any alternatives?

The price should be max. 80 USD.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Tissie

 

I will probably sound suspicious writing one praise to Netgear WNR3500L after another but that would be my choice.
It uses the same hardware as much more expensive Linksys E3000 (same CPU same amount of RAM)- compared to E3000 it doesn't have 5GHz Wi-Fi.

It offers good hardware, good stock firmware and 3rd party firmware support.
It also gives you gigabit Ethernet, USB port and 300mbps Wi-Fi.
Wireless range is average- not bad but nothing to cry about either.

It's also reasonably priced.

 

Thank you for the fast response. The WNR3500L looks nice, indeed.

Then I stumpled upon the WNR2200 which seems to have very similar specs? Except this have a wifi on/off button, which the WNR3500L does not?

Regards

 

There's more than that. WNR3500L has gigabit Ethernet while WNR2000 supports 100mbps only.
Also WNR2200 is not supported by DD-WRT or other 3rd party firmwares which is not a good thing in case you run into problems with default firmware.

It's hard to find hardware specs for it but it looks like it's based on Atheros AR7240 which is 400MHz- slightly slower than WNR3500L.

 

Okay, thank you very much.

Unless, anyone suggests otherwise I think i'll go with the 3500L. The reviews are also positive.

Kind regards,
Tissie

 

TP-Link TL-WR1043ND with 3 8dBi antennas TL-ANT2408CL is what I would recommend.

 

Thanks for your suggestion. I have compared the TP-link against the Netgear, and it appears that the Netgear has better reviews, in general. + it is a bit cheaper.

So WNR3500L still has the lead, I think.

Thanks

 

TP-Link is a really good router. I do recommend it on occasion but the problem is prices of these two models are very different depending on a country.
Netgear has slightly faster CPU and twice the RAM of TP-Link which makes it better hardware-wise.

The problem is- where you live Netgear is cheaper, where I live TP-Link is cheaper ($36 difference) and in the US TP-Link is $13 cheaper than Netgear.

So while I consider Netgear (slightly) superior to TP-Link both are good and the decision between them is price-related.
I will probably buy the TP-Link as it's $36 cheaper where I live. I would go for Netgear in I was in your situation and US users can choose whatever they like.

 

Cool, then the price determines it in this case.

What about competing products from e.g. linksys, belkin, D-Link in the same price-range? Are they to be considered as well?

 

Not really- neither of these companies have anything really good in this price range.
These two routers are-in my opinion- two best mid-range routers available. Netgear is a bit better but usually a bit more expensive too so it's close to a draw for most users.

Can I ask how much are those two where you live?

 

Sure, I live in Denmark. According to pricerunner.dk the prices without delivery fees are

WNR3500L = 426 DKK ~ 84.68 U.S. dollars
TL-WR1043ND = 427 DKK.
However, Marecki suggested that I would need 3 antennas for 70 DKK a piece that will be added to the price of the TP-link.

 

Antennas are optional- I mean the router itself has three antennas included but these are removable (or should I say upgradeable) and that's what Marecki_clf suggested.
With better antennas TP-Link can have better range than Netgear (which in turn can't be upgraded with better antennas)

EDIT: So where you live it's $85 for both, where I live it's $100 for Netgear and $63 for TP-Link and in the US it's $70 for Netgear and $57 for TP-Link.
How in the name of all that's holy am I supposed to recommend routers...

 

Ah, I see... However, I live in a 53 m^2 apartment.. So I don't think that will be an issue

I just found that the Netgear can be aquired in a lokal shop for the lowest price on pricerunner. So I will run down and also save the delivery

WNR3500L it will be.

Thanks for your help guys. Much appreciated.

 

Just a little status update here, if anyone cares.

I have had the WNR3500L for ~5 days now and installation went very easy and wireless works nice with my Nokia e66 and my GFs iPhone 4. I have yet to connect my laptops. Also the design is rather nice, and it doesnt look ugly on the table.

 

Good to hear- another happy user