Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Which Wireless Router should I buy?

M

Misha

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 22, 2006
1
0
Hi~

I just purchased a new Macbook Pro laptop this morning and I have an old (2000) G4 desktop. I plan on using both computers and am wondering if all wireless routers are Mac compatible? After already reading a thread on routers, it seems that Linksys, Netgear, and Belkin all work for some people and not for others.

I just want to make sure that the router will work for my old desktop as well as my new laptop? I have a small apartment (range is not a concern) but also live in a popular spot in San Francisco with at least 7 other wireless networks (security-enabled) accessible from my kitchen.

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
As long as you get a wireless router that supports 802.11 g/b, you should be fine. When my mini was wirelessly connected, the speed was slow, probably because i pick up 6-7 router signals from my house, and cordless phones tend to operate on a similar frequency as wireless routers. I think you can change the frequency or channel or something to speed it up.
Anyways, i have heard that linksys makes good routers, but if range isn't a huge issue, any wireless router that supports 802.11 g and 802.11 b should work.
 
I have the apple airport express...maybe too pricey, but I really like it.

Its very small and compact and can be taken anywhere, its also good for wireless printing and music streaming.

Just my opinion.
 
I had a linksys wrt54gs which is good (look up the open source updates for more power & better toys) but the best one I have ever used / owned / known about is the 2wire DSL modem/router.

Even people who don't use the modem love this thing. The only problem is you'd have to grab it used from someone who purchased it thought a 'net package.

ebay.com works. In my experience, its worth the hassle to grab one.

Check out http://2wire.com/ for info.
 
Misha said:
Hi~

I just purchased a new Macbook Pro laptop this morning and I have an old (2000) G4 desktop. I plan on using both computers and am wondering if all wireless routers are Mac compatible? After already reading a thread on routers, it seems that Linksys, Netgear, and Belkin all work for some people and not for others.

I just want to make sure that the router will work for my old desktop as well as my new laptop? I have a small apartment (range is not a concern) but also live in a popular spot in San Francisco with at least 7 other wireless networks (security-enabled) accessible from my kitchen.

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...

If you want a Linksys type router but don't have the money to afford one (they're about USD $70-80), get a Belkin. They use the same exact hardware. :)

I would not in any way, EVER recommend a Netgear router.

See this: (I left this on a message board)

Benjamin said:
Okay, so I just bought a new wireless router for my grandparents because their wireless network got fried. First, setting it up was a byotch, and then when it was set for 108 MB auto... I was constantly disconnected. So I decided to set it to 802.11b/g...54 MBps right, okay, so I get disconnected maybe once or twice a day...yesterday, my step-grandfather calls the NetGear company and gives the same shpeill they always give. Oh well you just need to shut it down...and then restart it, you also need to restart your machine blah blah blah...this is getting ****ing annoying.

Upon the fact that I utterly deplore NetGear now...D-Link has much better customer support...and they don't tell you as much garbage, they all tell you the same ****...just not as much. NetGear is completely incompatible with my D-Link. If I wasn't raised solely by my mother and wasn't a compulsive shopper, I'd be literally ****.

But as it stands, I am...and I bought a Linksys Wireless G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster...above the fact that the guy said that it was 108 MBps...which it isn't by the way...And guess where I bought it? CompUSA...I can't really talk that much **** about CompUSA they said that if something happened to my iPod that all I would have to do is bring it in and they would give me a free replacement.

Is there an alternative to Compussy, though? When I used the D-Link GWL -G630 I think is the model...I know that it's DWL and that it's 630...the wireless network will not even be detected. Yet, with my Linksys Wireless G-Notebook Adapter, it does. I have to take it out and reconnect every so often though.

This is getting totally ridiculous. I really am getting frustrated at Netgear. And of course, the guy advertising the wireless router said something along the lines of: "This router right here, the Netgear 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router is the best out on the market!"

Best out on the market would be any linksys router. ****, with my ole' crappy D-Link DWL -G630 I could pick up the wireless network from across the ****ing street!

These ********...Netgear and CompUSA are both *********!!!!!! And the following is a long growl UGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Okay, I feel better...CompUSA better stay away...I'm loaded up on way to much caffeine, by eyes are feeling weird, I have blood sugar spikes for no apparent reason...

I don't know what kind of Linksys wireless router it was...but I would pretty much count on a G seeing as I accessed, downloaded, etc. Perfectly fine without any disruptions.

Netgear can kiss my ***. I'd use Belkin and Linksys before I'd ever use Netgear again.
Click to expand...

I had to clean it up a bit. :)
 
benthewraith said:
I would not in any way, EVER recommend a Netgear router.
Click to expand...

However, I would. We have the DG834G v1 and it’s been an absolute breeze.

Set it up, enter the DSL information and off it goes. Add the wireless computers etc and that’s it - leave it somewhere and you never need to think about it again unless you want to open a port in the firewall or something.

This message is flying through it... now.
 
I have an airport extreme base station and absolutely love it. I have set up many different routers (not for me though) and I don't think any of them were nearly as easy to set up or as effective throughout the house. ... also, I love the printer sharing capability!

yt
 
codo said:
However, I would. We have the DG834G v1 and it’s been an absolute breeze.

Set it up, enter the DSL information and off it goes. Add the wireless computers etc and that’s it - leave it somewhere and you never need to think about it again unless you want to open a port in the firewall or something.

This message is flying through it... now.
Click to expand...

Actually I wouldn't as well, seems to me that Netgear products are getting more and more sloppy by the release. My recent purchase from them was a WPNT834 "Rangemax" 240 router, woah, worse **** I have ever used for years! The hardware is good, the range is good, the software is heinous. If you can tolerate rebooting your router at arbitary times, this one is the way to go.

The sadder thing? When I visisted Netgear's own support forums it seems like the earlier WPNT832 model still has plenty of unaddresses issues. A new product before you'd even fix the old? Unbelievable, at this rate things will never get fixed.
 
MattyMac said:
I have the apple airport express...maybe too pricey, but I really like it.

Its very small and compact and can be taken anywhere, its also good for wireless printing and music streaming.
Click to expand...
Same here.

It works great for music streaming (my friends are always over with their laptops -- they love that their iTunes 'just sees' the Airport Express and they can play on my stereo with no configuration on their laptops).

It's also great to travel with, not much bigger than the laptop's power brick. It's ability to save how you have it setup into "Locations" is awesome.
 
Misha said:
Hi~

I just purchased a new Macbook Pro laptop this morning and I have an old (2000) G4 desktop. I plan on using both computers and am wondering if all wireless routers are Mac compatible? After already reading a thread on routers, it seems that Linksys, Netgear, and Belkin all work for some people and not for others.

I just want to make sure that the router will work for my old desktop as well as my new laptop? I have a small apartment (range is not a concern) but also live in a popular spot in San Francisco with at least 7 other wireless networks (security-enabled) accessible from my kitchen.

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...


If you do not want to go with an Airport Express. I will buy any router which is free or close to it after rebate. Check out sites like http://www.bensbargains.net/ or fatwallet to find a good deal.
 
I don't think linksys is very good. I just purchased a wrt54g v5 from my friend and it's not all that great. The wired networking seems slower than my old befsr41 v2 (even after it got hit by a power surge that knocked out two of it's ports), I can't get it to change wireless security modes and it just seems to be a big problem all together. I'm now halfway looking into d-link for something better. Your mileage will vary, I suppose.... :confused:
 
I love the WRT54G older versions. You can do soo much with it. The v5 is the one that you shouldn't get.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back