Wireless Routers- so many to choose from...

[Ruahrc]

Here's the situation. I'm moving into an apartment here real soon and we're going to get DSL broadband. So we need a router to hook up our PC's to a LAN and get them on the internet.

We'd like to get a wireless router since it makes things real neat and tidy (plus we will be able to link up with our friends down the hall ) so I took a run down to the local office stores (Staples, CC, BB) and looked at what they had. I saw a bunch of them with all essentially the same features but not having caught up on network hardware for a long time I wasn't sure if there were some real winners/losers from the pack.

I picked up a D-Link DI-614+ wireless router cause it was only $30 after rebates, but this box has been opened and I think it's the last one- so I'm debating whether or not to return it. I also got a D-Link DWL-120+ USB Wireless adapter for my computer.

Heres a couple questions that came up since I don't know much about this area: (get ready for a bunch of newbie questions hehe)

-What brands are good to buy? I have heard D-Link andksys are good ones, what about Netgear?
-D-Link has this advertised "802.11b+ ehnanced" thing where if you use D-link products you can get a theoretical 22MBps bandwidth. Buncha whooey or worthwhile feature?
-A Netgear router I was looking at only had 128-bit WEP encryption whereas the D-Link one I bought has 256-bit WEP encryption. Is 256-bit needed or worthwhile? Or should I be fine with the 128 from Netgear? Does having a very high encryption bit affect performance?
-I like these hardware firewalls that these routers have, but are they not very effective? I've seen people buy dedicated firewalls- or these companies have business versions of routers with beefier firewalls. Should I be fine with the ones that most routers come with? There are some terms which I don't understand- VPN, SPI?
-What does it mean to be Wi-Fi certified?
-What's all this web-based comfigureation about? I thought routers were standalone pieces of hardware which did not require any drivers or software?
-What about products like the Netgear DG824M, which is a DSL Modem with Router and Firewall all in one box. It saves on boxes and wiring, are the DSL modems inside them any good?
-Should I go back and get myself a PCI wireless networking card, or is this USB one fine? (i.e. should I have this thing on a nice fast bus or will USB overhead be too little to worry about)

Whoa didn't know I had so many questions. One last thing is there a real great website out there with all this information?

Thanks!!

Ruahrc

[ooops]

I can help with a few questions.

I own a D-link 614+ and a pci adapter and it connected from the word go.

I've read though that there is some issues with the USB adapter.

The "enhanced" feature seems to be nice.

D-link is currently working on a firmware update to upgrade to WPA from WEP.

[Vagabond]

I also have the Dlink 614+ and have two rj-45 connections and one wireless

works great.....

[jkrohn]

I also have used this router and I liked it.

As far as a need for 256bit WEP, I Wouldn't pay extra for it. It won't affect preformance noticeably.

Enhanced Features - Will you use the extra local bandwidth? You certainly won't utilize it on the internet, but if you do a lot of LAN tranfers of large files it may be worthwile.

The web-configuration allows you to setup the router. You will need to specify how it gets its IP, what IP's to issue for NAT, what wep and wep key to use, etc, etc. This is what that is for. On a more commercial router you would also have console access to do this.

I personally would go get a PCI card. You will have less troubles with it in the long run.

Jkrohn

[VHockey86]

Wow thats quite a list of questions you got there.

I've been using a Linksys BEFW11S4 Version 3 router for a few months now. Really really easy to setup and works great with my sisters D-link 604 laptop PC card. It has 4, 100Mbps RJ45 Jacks, (not including the WAN port). Not sure how many wireless clients it supports, Ive only ever had up to 3 on it.

I dunno how well that enhanced feature really will work. Any wireless router I've ever seen never gets near what it promises.

The Web based utility as Jkrohn explained is how you access the firmware and settings on the router, otherwise it would be unconfigurable.

Unless you live in a city where u have lots of people I wouldnt say wireless security is giong to be much of an issue. Unless you have somewith with a) wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much time or b) very talented hacker, you shouldnt need more than 128-bit encryption.

What brands are good to buy? I have heard D-Link andksys are good ones, what about Netgear?

Dlink and Linksys are one of the top used products in homes for small networks. To be honest i have heard alot of negative comments towards Netgear. Alot comes down to personal preference.

-D-Link has this advertised "802.11b+ ehnanced" thing where if you use D-link products you can get a theoretical 22MBps bandwidth. Buncha whooey or worthwhile feature?

With wireless as of right now, let me tell you will not reach 22 mbps. The program might say you are connected at that. But with intereference in the common household/apartment reaching the advertised speeds is commonly hard to come by

-A Netgear router I was looking at only had 128-bit WEP encryption whereas the D-Link one I bought has 256-bit WEP encryption. Is 256-bit needed or worthwhile? Or should I be fine with the 128 from Netgear? Does having a very high encryption bit affect performance?

I have heard this, and i believe it does effect the network preformance linky for more info As for using 256 bit WEP it all depends on the information you are transfer. If you are transfering highly sensitive data across the wireless (which you shouldnt be doing anyways) 256 bit can help. But if someone has the pateince to crack WEP they will do it. there are many programs out there to crack WEP. Now most people who war drive see a router or access point with WEP usually just pass it by since they dont want to take the time to gather the packets. In other words with wireless still being new technology there is no real way to protect a wireless. If someone has the knowledge and the desire, they will get in. You being in an apartment will have less likley hood of being attacked

-I like these hardware firewalls that these routers have, but are they not very effective? I've seen people buy dedicated firewalls- or these companies have business versions of routers with beefier firewalls. Should I be fine with the ones that most routers come with? There are some terms which I don't understand- VPN, SPI?

The one thing these home router do not do is block alot of outgoing information. that is why you see alot of people running the free verison of zone alarm to control what is being sent out.

VPN stands for

virtual private network (VPN) is a way to use a public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with secure access to their organization's network. A virtual private network can be contrasted with an expensive system of owned or leased lines that can only be used by one organization. The goal of a VPN is to provide the organization with the same capabilities, but at a much lower cost

whatis.com is your friend



-What does it mean to be Wi-Fi certified?

I believe and i hope someone will correct me if im wrong is the standard for wireless products to work within one manufactured. I.e Linksys wireless cards will work with d link wireless routers or visa versa. Some people have claimed that this is not true. I havent had a problem with this yet


-What's all this web-based comfigureation about? I thought routers were standalone pieces of hardware which did not require any drivers or software?

The web based configuration is a simple easy way to configure your router. You simply load up your browser type in the router number (usually 192.168.*.*) and you will log into the router. This way you can forward ports so you can use certain programs online, Disable certain computers from the internet, Set up the MAC filtering and WEP for protecting your wireless networks(for wireless routers/access point) and other limited secuirty options to protect you LAN.

-What about products like the Netgear DG824M, which is a DSL Modem with Router and Firewall all in one box. It saves on boxes and wiring, are the DSL modems inside them any good?

Dont really honestly know. Like i said im not a fan of netgear.

-Should I go back and get myself a PCI wireless networking card, or is this USB one fine? (i.e. should I have this thing on a nice fast bus or will USB overhead be too little to worry about)

to be honest i dont think it will really matter


i have created this thread to help new people to locking down there wireless networks to the best they can


BTW do you have decent distance with the DI-614+ router? I heard reviews that its an awsome router but the distance on the wireless lacks alittle

Edited* to slow

[Ruahrc]

thanks for the comments. I ended up returning the D-Link stuff I had bought and picked up the netgear router and wireless USB adapter. The distance issue with the D-Link kind of worried me as well and I had heard good things about Netgear's range.

I can't set it up for a few days until I move, so I will report back with how it works.

Ruahrc