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Wireless Router of Choice? (MBP-C2D)
- Thread starter GraceMolloy
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I guess my pick would be AirPort Extreme, I have an older Netgear router and it has alot of dead zones in my house, from my experience from working with airports they're pretty good as far as keeping a solid zone of connectivity.
i've had the airport express for over two years and it works very well
it also has the added features of AirTunes and printer USB (print server)
it also has the added features of AirTunes and printer USB (print server)
Ya, sure, that would be nice ... but not for $200.
How about one a little closer to a normal price range.
How about one a little closer to a normal price range.
the airport express is $129
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=9E5E0362&nclm=Wireless
No way... I love Airport Extreme and all, but you gotta get a Draft-N router. Even if it doesn't work now, probably by the time Leopard comes out there will be 802.11n support for your MacBook Pro. Go pick up a D-Link or Linksys Draft-N router and you'll fall in love with it. Even if it won't give you N speeds now, it will still give you better range than a normal G router.
Isn't the wireless chip used in the MBP a pre-N one? Wouldn't it be better to get a router that uses the same standard?
If you aren't accessing other machines on your LAN, and only use it to connect to internet, even 802.11b is much faster than your modem can handle (cable or dsl). "n" will probably come into play when the iTV (or whatever they end up calling it) comes out.
The Express has a lot of nice features, aside from the router. It can be used as a printer server, plus AirTunes.
The Express has a lot of nice features, aside from the router. It can be used as a printer server, plus AirTunes.
The express has some very serious design issues. Google for "Airport express died" and see for yourself.
I use a Linksys WRT54GS and a Airport Express. I upgraded the firmware on the WRT54GS to the sveasoft firmware and have absolutely no problems with my brand new MBP. Be careful on the latest version of the WRT54GS (v6), Linksys has mucked it up.
I would consider the Buffalo WZR-G300N http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=140.
Here are cnet's ratings:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4323-6523_7-6509031.html?tag=dir
Here are Consumer Search ratings:
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/c...urce=adwords&gclid=CPfRkoOtuIgCFSLdSgodBFm4yQ
I would consider the Buffalo WZR-G300N http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=140.
Here are cnet's ratings:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4323-6523_7-6509031.html?tag=dir
Here are Consumer Search ratings:
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/c...urce=adwords&gclid=CPfRkoOtuIgCFSLdSgodBFm4yQ
so do we know for sure if any of these routers are using the same "Draft" N as the MacBook Pro's are using?
The guy who writes firmware (Sveasoft), for numerous brands of routers states that his router of choices is the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54.
http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=115
This guy knows his stuff when it comes to routers & wireless communication.
http://www.sveasoft.com/modules/phpBB2/index.php
http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=115
This guy knows his stuff when it comes to routers & wireless communication.
http://www.sveasoft.com/modules/phpBB2/index.php
I have a Netopia 3347-ENT, which absolutely kicks ass. It's a DSL modem, router, and wireless access point. It's a bit pricier, but much better than the crap Linksys, Netgear, D-Link, etc put out. The non-enterprise model is probably a better bet if you're not that technically inclined, it has a nice web-based GUI and whatnot.
Whatever you do, don't buy anything from Netgear. I had a wireless AP and a router from their so called "business" line (both units were rather expensive) and I had numerous problems. I actually RMA'd each unit TWICE, each time they were replaced with new units. I didn't even bother opening them the last time I got them back (I've been meaning to ebay them or something). I didn't get Netgear to agree to an RMA on either product until over 3 months after I opened the first case with them.
Not only was the hardware crap, the technical support was terrible. I'd open cases, and it'd take several days to get a response. Often, cases would automatically close before I even received a response from Netgear (they auto-close after 10 days without an update - this would happen when I'd open a new case or when I was awaiting an update on an existing case). Engineers would "escalate" tickets to "2nd level" where they'd promptly be ignored. "Engineers" would completely mis-interpret the issue, often times with me describing the issue 3 times or more (I tend to be incredibly detailed in my reports, also - I'm a systems administrator, and I know how important it is to provide as much detail as possible to get the fastest possible resolution). All communication has to be done via a crappy web-based system, not via email, which is a huge pain, especially if you've opened multiple cases.
If you browse through the forums on Netgear's site, you'll see this behaviour seems to be the rule, rather than the exception.
By contrast, I contacted Netopia for some configuration assistance (I had some issues configuring the DSL modem, which is actually rather complicated if you've never done it before, most modems from your ISP are configured with the appropriate settings when you receive them), and their staff was very helpful, and responded in a timely fashion. They were helpful and professional, unlike the Netgear staff.
Please, I beg of you, and everybody else who reads this, don't purchase anything from Netgear. Until they improve the quality of their products and their support, they don't deserve any of your hard earned money. Nobody deserves to go through the ******** I had to.
Whatever you do, don't buy anything from Netgear. I had a wireless AP and a router from their so called "business" line (both units were rather expensive) and I had numerous problems. I actually RMA'd each unit TWICE, each time they were replaced with new units. I didn't even bother opening them the last time I got them back (I've been meaning to ebay them or something). I didn't get Netgear to agree to an RMA on either product until over 3 months after I opened the first case with them.
Not only was the hardware crap, the technical support was terrible. I'd open cases, and it'd take several days to get a response. Often, cases would automatically close before I even received a response from Netgear (they auto-close after 10 days without an update - this would happen when I'd open a new case or when I was awaiting an update on an existing case). Engineers would "escalate" tickets to "2nd level" where they'd promptly be ignored. "Engineers" would completely mis-interpret the issue, often times with me describing the issue 3 times or more (I tend to be incredibly detailed in my reports, also - I'm a systems administrator, and I know how important it is to provide as much detail as possible to get the fastest possible resolution). All communication has to be done via a crappy web-based system, not via email, which is a huge pain, especially if you've opened multiple cases.
If you browse through the forums on Netgear's site, you'll see this behaviour seems to be the rule, rather than the exception.
By contrast, I contacted Netopia for some configuration assistance (I had some issues configuring the DSL modem, which is actually rather complicated if you've never done it before, most modems from your ISP are configured with the appropriate settings when you receive them), and their staff was very helpful, and responded in a timely fashion. They were helpful and professional, unlike the Netgear staff.
Please, I beg of you, and everybody else who reads this, don't purchase anything from Netgear. Until they improve the quality of their products and their support, they don't deserve any of your hard earned money. Nobody deserves to go through the ******** I had to.
My Netopia 3347-W doesn't work with MBP
My Netopia 3347-W ADSL modem, 4 port HUB, NAT Router, Wireless Access Point, did not work with my MBP C2D.
My HP DV9030 Windows XP box and my IBM TP 600 E both saw and worked with to Netopia 3347-W wireless access point just fine. No go with my MBP C2D. No signal strength, nothing.
In the end my fix was to turn the wireless access point on the Netopia 3347-W off, and attach a BuffaloTech Wireless Access Point / NAT Router, and now all three computers work fine.
Called my ISP, but got the answer that "they don't support the Mac." Unfortunately, I don't have much choice over ISPs where I live.
The BuffaloTech worked right out of the box and has operated flawlessly ever since.
My Netopia 3347-W ADSL modem, 4 port HUB, NAT Router, Wireless Access Point, did not work with my MBP C2D.
My HP DV9030 Windows XP box and my IBM TP 600 E both saw and worked with to Netopia 3347-W wireless access point just fine. No go with my MBP C2D. No signal strength, nothing.
In the end my fix was to turn the wireless access point on the Netopia 3347-W off, and attach a BuffaloTech Wireless Access Point / NAT Router, and now all three computers work fine.
Called my ISP, but got the answer that "they don't support the Mac." Unfortunately, I don't have much choice over ISPs where I live.
The BuffaloTech worked right out of the box and has operated flawlessly ever since.
I've been using the Airport Extreme for the past five years, and have never encountered a problem. Works beautifully, IMO. I also think it's cool looking. 
The Airport extreme is nice, but aren't the newer Macs coming with stealth Pre-N wireless upgrades?
Depends on price range and depends on your home internet speed. if you have some low speed internet just get a belkin wireless G router from some store like buy.com or tigerdirect and just get it for practically free after mail in rebates. If you have a super fast internet get Wireless N. Plus when it is finalized our c2d MBP's should also get a firmware to match it!
Linksys WRT54G o WRT54GS
Best router of the year form many sites and magazines.
I've it and it's great, the WLAN function very well.
It's about 80 in Europe...
Best router of the year form many sites and magazines.
I've it and it's great, the WLAN function very well.
It's about 80 in Europe...
I recommend the Buffalo Tech products as well..
I have a WHR-HP-G54 and have had no issues so far.
Works great with my C2D MacBook Pro...
I will probably upgrade to the "N" when it is finalized.
I have a WHR-HP-G54 and have had no issues so far.
Works great with my C2D MacBook Pro...
I will probably upgrade to the "N" when it is finalized.