Wireless Routers?!?!

[DaFees]

I just got done look at the ads for CircuitCity and all I can say is wow! I really love the prices on the SD 1GB memory card from SanDisk, the 1GB USB Cruzer mini, and that DVD recorder (anyone got any info on that by the way, CircuitCity's website didn't tell me enough). Anyway I really liked that price on the Netgear Wireless Router. I mean I do not like the rebate, but yea, you all know what I mean,

 

Anyway my question is does anyone know if this wireless router is any good... I can tell you this much that using the wired ports I will connect three desktop PCs to this router, with only one of the three PCs being on 24/7. Now I'll be using the wireless aspect for my new Nintendo Wii, and possibly a Nintendo DS (which I may be getting for Christmas). I've read mixed reviews about this thing and was curious about this, so anyone willing to help a fellow BFer out?

 

On a side note can anyone tell me any information about that deal with the D-Link router and a printer. The deals says (and I quote page 20 of the ad scan, .pdf file) "Free Wireless-G D-Link router with any printer purchase. after $60 in combined purchase MIRs* Router is the DLK DI524: $59.99 Value. Sales tax not refunded. Limited Quantities. No rainchecks."

 

What is this offer trying to tell me. How am I to get that router for free, I mean there has to be more to it then just buying a printer, because if that's the case I may just buy a printer to get a free router, then turn around and sell the printer and keep the router. Then again with what I've asked, which of the two is really better the Netgear or the D-Link?

 

Note apologies if this is in the wrong place, and while I would love an answer to my questions feel free to talk about the deals on wireless routers, and to ask your own questions.

[RossMAN]

Linksys > Netgear > D-Link

 

Go for the Netgear

[Mike]

Linksys > Netgear > D-Link

 

Go for the Netgear

Yep, always go for the netgear over the d-link.

[DaFees]

Linksys > Netgear > D-Link

 

Go for the Netgear

Thank you, I shall definitely keep that in mind. Hmm now, I just have to figure out where I am gonna come up with all the cash for these deals, :)

[daz]

Linksys > Netgear > D-Link

 

Go for the Netgear

Very well put :)

 

I've been reading page long reviews/recommendations for wireless gear, and that the absolute best explanation I've seen!

[DaFees]

Well my question was answered, but I have a second question. I intend to ask my local retailers about their price matching policies, but tell me, on Black Friday, if I go to staples or Wal-Mart for example, and try to price match the Netgear wireless router that Circuit City is selling, would my local retailers have to give it to me for the $9.99 price or would they charge me the price before MIR?

[Mike]

Well my question was answered, but I have a second question. I intend to ask my local retailers about their price matching policies, but tell me, on Black Friday, if I go to staples or Wal-Mart for example, and try to price match the Netgear wireless router that Circuit City is selling, would my local retailers have to give it to me for the $9.99 price or would they charge me the price before MIR?

You can check with your local store for a concrete answer, the official price matching thread for more information, but most retailers will not pricematch BF items.

[Dubyabee]

D link= Satan

 

I spent (no BS) 12+ hours over 2 days on the phone with D link last year to get the wireless router and USB adapter they had at BB on BF set up on my $150 e machines from BB. The first call started at 11 pm so I was stuck talking to people from India. That call alone was over 5 hrs. Long story short I got it working, but I still have a really weak signal and my PC is in the next room from my router! I think I will be upgrading to a linksys this BF.

[RossMAN]

Very well put :)

 

I've been reading page long reviews/recommendations for wireless gear, and that the absolute best explanation I've seen!

Thanks. With the hundreds of BF threads and dizzying choices, sometimes it helps to keep it simple.

 

I forgot to add that Belkin wireless routers are worth considering.

[Marcster]

I think I will be upgrading to a linksys this BF.

You'll love the linksys. I've tried Netgear and D-Link, they were both awful. With Linksys, you'll have to unplug/replug it every two months or so to reset it, but other then that, it's smooth sailing.

 

I had to unplug/replug my Netgear 3-5 times PER DAY! And it wasn't a defective router, I returned two of them as RMAs. I finally got stuck owning the thing.... No more Netgear in this house!

[deelite]

Thanks. With the hundreds of BF threads and dizzying choices, sometimes it helps to keep it simple.

 

I forgot to add that Belkin wireless routers are worth considering.

Belkin is the one I use and I have not have any problems with it! I want to go up to N cause right now I am on G.

[DaFees]

Well I will keep everything in mind that you are all saying, but I do have a few quick questions.

 

1. Would it be at all possible to connect a wireless router to my current wired router? What I mean is I could I take an open port from my wired router and connect an Ethernet cable from that open port to the incoming port on the wireless router. The reason I ask is because I really only need the wireless router to connect up my Nintendo Wii, and possibly a Nintendo DS or two. Plus it'd be nice to have a wireless router in case down the road if I get a laptop then I can take it anywhere I want around my house and enjoy it.

 

2. I believe I asked this in a previous post, but if I went to a store such as Wal-Mart or Staples on Black Friday, and wanted to price match that Netgear wireless router that Circuit City is selling, for $9.99 (After MIR), would Wal-Mart or Staples give it to me, for the price before or after the MIR. So basically could I go to Wal-Mart or Staples on Black Friday and pick up that router for $9.99, or would they charge me the $79.99 that it is before MIR?

 

I thank you for your input, and by the way this site is amazing!,

[Marcster]

Well I will keep everything in mind that you are all saying, but I do have a few quick questions.

 

1. Would it be at all possible to connect a wireless router to my current wired router? What I mean is I could I take an open port from my wired router and connect an Ethernet cable from that open port to the incoming port on the wireless router. The reason I ask is because I really only need the wireless router to connect up my Nintendo Wii, and possibly a Nintendo DS or two. Plus it'd be nice to have a wireless router in case down the road if I get a laptop then I can take it anywhere I want around my house and enjoy it.

 

2. I believe I asked this in a previous post, but if I went to a store such as Wal-Mart or Staples on Black Friday, and wanted to price match that Netgear wireless router that Circuit City is selling, for $9.99 (After MIR), would Wal-Mart or Staples give it to me, for the price before or after the MIR. So basically could I go to Wal-Mart or Staples on Black Friday and pick up that router for $9.99, or would they charge me the $79.99 that it is before MIR?

 

I thank you for your input, and by the way this site is amazing!,

1) That would be a non-standard hookup. In my experience, I've never heard of someone hooking up a wired and a wireless router together. The wireless router will REPLACE your wired router. If you need more wired ports on your router, you'll hook up a wired switch to your wireless router. Switches are "dumb" products, by that I mean that they don't have an internal processor and ram like routers have. At it's most basic level, a router is a mini-computer.

This wiki-article does a good job of explaining routers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router

 

I would imagine the wired and wireless router duking it out. http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/Marcster2005/Smileypad/Sports%20Exercise/box.gif

 

2) Wal-Mart and other box stores will only match PRE-REBATE prices. In your price-matching example, Wal-Mart or Staples will be charging you $79.99 ("pre-rebate" price at Circuit City) or their standard shelf price whichever is lower.

[wilmoo13]

Yes, you can hookup the wireless router to your existing router but based on your questions I think that you probably lack the experience. Essentially you will be adding a wireless access point to your current network. By default, routers ship with DHCP turned on. Since there can only be one DHCP server per network you will have to disable one of the boxes. Also, I've found that it is better to hard code an IP address for the access point.

 

A hint to people having to reset their routers. Lots of folks leave the network SSID the default. If your neighbor sets up a router with the same SSID as you then you will have problems.