Which Router to use

Hi All:

Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.

I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.

2 simple questions:

Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
seems.

Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.

Tks for any tips you have.

bw

Billy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Hi All:
>
> Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so
> that my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> 2 simple questions:
>
> Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options
> it seems.
>
> Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> Tks for any tips you have.
>
> bw

It's hard to answer that based on the info given. Much depends on your
budget, your skills, and how much area you need to cover (a two story house?
a loft with a concrete wall room divider?). That said, I think most of the
home/consumer grade stuff is pretty similar - but I prefer Netgear for
small/home networks, with Linksys as my second choice.

The most important thing is to set it up with good security on it - change
the admin password, enable WPA+PSK, etc.

Hi
If the wireless distance is short (20 feet or so) you can go for broke,
TrendNet Wireless Router $9.99 after rebate,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156038
Otherwise, More features and and better coverage this, Zyxel 550 -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=zyxel%2b550
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Billy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All:
>
> Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
> my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> 2 simple questions:
>
> Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
> seems.
>
> Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> Tks for any tips you have.
>
> bw
>

if you are ever going to run Vista, don't buy a bargain router that
may be problematic. select from the list at

http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/Pro...=v&cid=712&g=d

On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:18:25 -0400, "Billy"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi All:
>
>Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
>I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
>my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
>2 simple questions:
>
>Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
>seems.
>
>Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
>Tks for any tips you have.
>
>bw
>
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

tks everyone appreciate the thoughtful responses. the router will go in a
bi level home. Will password protect it.

bye

bw


"Billy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All:
>
> Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so that
> my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> 2 simple questions:
>
> Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
> seems.
>
> Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> Tks for any tips you have.
>
> bw
>

Amen on the N! I'm wifi surfing 400-feet from a Belkin N1 Vision router
using the Belkin N1 Adapter on one desktop, a hField WiFire on another, and
the internal adapter on my Toshiba laptop. In fact, just 2 N1 Visions cover
25 acres and service near 300 with the help of a few wifi repeaters to fill
in some dark areas. Highspeed wifi for about $10 per year per address.


"smlunatick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:73fc81aa-0669-402b-bbb3-(E-Mail Removed)...
On Mar 25, 7:32 am, "Billy" <billnospamever1234...@aol.com> wrote:
> tks everyone appreciate the thoughtful responses. the router will go in a
> bi level home. Will password protect it.
>
> bye
>
> bw
>
> "Billy" <billnospamever1234...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
> > Hi All:
>
> > Very new to routers/wireless end of the PC experience.
>
> > I would like to install a router for my XP Serv P2 and Road Runner so
> > that
> > my son can use his Macbook anywhere in the house.
>
> > 2 simple questions:
>
> > Which is best bet for me, can't tell by descriptions, so many options it
> > seems.
>
> > Will only be using it on one PC and his Macbook when around.
>
> > Tks for any tips you have.
>
> > bw- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

If you mean that the area will have more than one floor, concentrate
on 802.11n wireless network. This is the lastest wireless signals and
offers multi-in / mult-out (MIMO) antenna and the "longest" coverage.

"iPC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Amen on the N!

....and it will probably become invalid once the N Standard is ratified.

N has not been "finished",...but the world of "marketing" is just
capitalizing on people's impatients and selling products with a half-baked
semi-proprietary standards in order to make $$$$,...knowing that the same
people may have to re-buy all their products again after the standard is
ratified unless a firware update takes care of it.

Also N is not going to do you that much good unless you buy N Adapters in
the PCs from the same manufacturer of the as the "router". Most likely the
adapter in the PCs is currently "G/B" adapters.

Buy a G "router" at half the price. Tilt one of the antennas so the the
*side* of the antenna is facing the general direction of the PC on the other
Floor. When the N standard is ratified,...then replace everything at that
time and you will only have to do it once.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

actually the folks at Wi-Fi org are certifying draft 2.0 N devices
for interop. so (and this is from personal experience) there is
interoperability between different chipsets/vendors.

lots of laptops are now coming with b/g/n or a/b/g/n adapters.

and while there is no guarantee that certified draft 2.0N devices
will be upgradeable to the final standard, by the time the standard
is ratified (it keeps getting pushed out) today's computers will
probably be obsolete.

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:51:58 -0500, "Phillip Windell"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Also N is not going to do you that much good unless you buy N Adapters in
>the PCs from the same manufacturer of the as the "router". Most likely the
>adapter in the PCs is currently "G/B" adapters.
>
>Buy a G "router" at half the price. Tilt one of the antennas so the the
>*side* of the antenna is facing the general direction of the PC on the other
>Floor. When the N standard is ratified,...then replace everything at that
>time and you will only have to do it once.
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

Yes, well computer years are like "dog years"...

But I'm still not going to touch N until it is finished. Then I won't have
to worry about what they will do,..not do,...or almost kinda do.


--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

"Barb Bowman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> actually the folks at Wi-Fi org are certifying draft 2.0 N devices
> for interop. so (and this is from personal experience) there is
> interoperability between different chipsets/vendors.
>
> lots of laptops are now coming with b/g/n or a/b/g/n adapters.
>
> and while there is no guarantee that certified draft 2.0N devices
> will be upgradeable to the final standard, by the time the standard
> is ratified (it keeps getting pushed out) today's computers will
> probably be obsolete.
>
> On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:51:58 -0500, "Phillip Windell"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Also N is not going to do you that much good unless you buy N Adapters in
>>the PCs from the same manufacturer of the as the "router". Most likely
>>the
>>adapter in the PCs is currently "G/B" adapters.
>>
>>Buy a G "router" at half the price. Tilt one of the antennas so the the
>>*side* of the antenna is facing the general direction of the PC on the
>>other
>>Floor. When the N standard is ratified,...then replace everything at that
>>time and you will only have to do it once.
> --
>
> Barb Bowman
> MS-MVP
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
> http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

Hi
The first thing that comes in my mind when dealing with Draft-N whether it
is really needed. Most of End-Users are mainly using the Internet with their
Wireless Routers, and have connections bellow 10Mb/sec.
If it is really needed then Go ahead buy one, otherwise wasting away money
just because it is fashionable? Nah!
The Router that I linked above cost $9.99 after rebate, and thousands of
users can enjoy it and would no the difference between the $9,99 and a $100
(or more) Drat-N.
Disclaimer - I have No connection with any of the Hardware providers, or
and, the vendors that I mention in my links.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Barb Bowman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> actually the folks at Wi-Fi org are certifying draft 2.0 N devices
> for interop. so (and this is from personal experience) there is
> interoperability between different chipsets/vendors.
>
> lots of laptops are now coming with b/g/n or a/b/g/n adapters.
>
> and while there is no guarantee that certified draft 2.0N devices
> will be upgradeable to the final standard, by the time the standard
> is ratified (it keeps getting pushed out) today's computers will
> probably be obsolete.
>
> On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:51:58 -0500, "Phillip Windell"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Also N is not going to do you that much good unless you buy N Adapters in
>>the PCs from the same manufacturer of the as the "router". Most likely
>>the
>>adapter in the PCs is currently "G/B" adapters.
>>
>>Buy a G "router" at half the price. Tilt one of the antennas so the the
>>*side* of the antenna is facing the general direction of the PC on the
>>other
>>Floor. When the N standard is ratified,...then replace everything at that
>>time and you will only have to do it once.
> --
>
> Barb Bowman
> MS-MVP
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
> http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/