home netowrking/router suggestions

I am looking at getting a router so that I can finally use my laptop in other parts of my apartment. I have an Intel n-compliant card, but am wondering if I really need to spend the money on an draft-n router since the standard isn't set yet. I have an 8Mbps cable connection at home, but I rarely game online and my apartment is relatively compact. Should I go with a g router until n is finalized or spend a bit more on an n router now? Following up with that, what is a good value on a router at the speed you suggest? Thanks to all in advance.

 

Spend some time and review the tons of similar posts. There is a wealth of info on this board - I'm certain after you review a few hundred posts you'll have a great starting point.

 

If you do not have large files to move between multiple computers the 11g will more than suite your needs.

 

I suggest getting N now, I have a D-Link DIR-655 and I don't transfer big files, it gives me a nice speed increase over my old Super G and Regular G. I suggest the DIR-655 from D-link. Its what I have and I like it.

 

That is actually one of the N routers that looked promising based on my pretty feeble knowledge of wireless networking. Thanks for another recommendation.

 

I also have this router. Absolutely love it..... no problems at all

 

When you get it, just make sure to encrypt the wifi with wep or wpa. Otherwise you will have a lot of neighbors trying to steal your bandwidth.

 

DO NOT USE WEP, it not security. Teenangers see WEP as a target. USE WPA(2) Personal AES with a min of 20 all printable chr, random generated. Set it up right the first time and be through with it. I use the random generators from www.grc.com, just copy to notepad for further use. If you don't want to use the full 63 chr, just select a portion. What ever you use save the string so if family and friends come over you can get them connected. These string are so random I recommend only using copy and paste to get it right. Eliminates a place for error. A string with all printable chr, 20 chr long will take 24+ years to crack at 100k/sec brute force. So I would say it a safe bet you only need 20 chr.

 

Yo, thanks for the link!

 

A bit off topic....but Stunner is there a program to see who is on your wireless ..any unauthorized users??? Would it be in the router's logs?? Tia...

 

If your using DHCP it will showup on the log, static's do not. A lot of routers have a page that shows who connected via wireless.

 

cool..thanks for the info.....

 

Update: Thanks to everyone's suggestions on here. I ended up getting a cheap G router for my home network and have not as yet uncovered any sort of problems and have plenty of bandwidth to do what I want to do.

 

yes, it will be in the logs if you have then enabled..........

also, if you enter the router setup, it will show in a few diff places, in most routers, who is connected at any point in time

 

Awesome...thanks for the info...cheers!