New Router

[ERCougar]

My current router is about 8-9 years old and is buggy. I have no idea what to upgrade it to. Any suggestions?

Uses:
-internet
-AppleTV
-Netflix

I also have a room with a TV in it downstairs where I don't get much of a signal. I guess I might need some sort of amplifier? Or is there a router that sends out a stronger signal?

[Pheidippides]

My current router is about 8-9 years old and is buggy. I have no idea what to upgrade it to. Any suggestions?

Uses:
-internet
-AppleTV
-Netflix

I also have a room with a TV in it downstairs where I don't get much of a signal. I guess I might need some sort of amplifier? Or is there a router that sends out a stronger signal?

Linksys E3000. A bit overkill perhaps but this is what I upgraded to and have been very pleased. I run three networks off of it - a dedicated N for my desktop, a general one for everything else, and a "guest" network for visitors (the distinction between the last two being the SSID broadcast. If you are not network savvy it has some easy setup software. If you're like me - not a computer genius but not inept either - you can bypass the software an set up the normal way.

Got the recommendation from my brother (who is a computer genius) and have not been disappointed.

[ERCougar]

Linksys E3000. A bit overkill perhaps but this is what I upgraded to and have been very pleased. I run three networks off of it - a dedicated N for my desktop, a general one for everything else, and a "guest" network for visitors (the distinction between the last two being the SSID broadcast. If you are not network savvy it has some easy setup software. If you're like me - not a computer genius but not inept either - you can bypass the software an set up the normal way.

Got the recommendation from my brother (who is a computer genius) and have not been disappointed.

That does seem a little overkill for me, although I had been looking at the E2500.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/E2500-Advanced-Simultaneous-Dual-Band-Wireless-N/dp/B004T9RR4A/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"]Amazon.com: Linksys E2500 Advanced Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N Router: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31H8kLu69LL.@@AMEPARAM@@31H8kLu69LL[/ame]

I was about to buy it when I read the unfavorable review:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/review/R38ZJ8J83VXEO7/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R38ZJ8J83VXEO7"]Amazon.com: Wel Y Kwok's review of Linksys E2500 Advanced Simultaneous Dual-B...@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31H8kLu69LL.@@AMEPARAM@@31H8kLu69LL[/ame]

What is a "giga" router and why should I want it? Is yours? He seems to indicate that the 3200 and 4200 are both "giga" routers, but doesn't mention the 3000.

[ERCougar]

I'm guessing "giga" refers to speed?

Other questions:
1) How do you determine how strong the signal is?
2) What does "N" mean, as opposed to other designations?

[Surfah]

That does seem a little overkill for me, although I had been looking at the E2500.
Amazon.com: Linksys E2500 Advanced Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N Router: Electronics

I was about to buy it when I read the unfavorable review:
Amazon.com: Wel Y Kwok's review of Linksys E2500 Advanced Simultaneous Dual-B...

What is a "giga" router and why should I want it? Is yours? He seems to indicate that the 3200 and 4200 are both "giga" routers, but doesn't mention the 3000.

If you're moving large files regularly and have Gigabit NIC cards and an ISP that can support those speeds it means faster file transfers and internet surfing. Basically it's 1Gb instead of your typical 100Mb.

[Surfah]

I'm guessing "giga" refers to speed?

Other questions:
1) How do you determine how strong the signal is?
2) What does "N" mean, as opposed to other designations?

N is the latest 802.11 standard that uses both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. It also has a new multiple input-multiple output antennas. It should give you a larger range and stronger signal over any A/B/G.

[ERCougar]

N is the latest 802.11 standard that uses both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. It also has a new multiple input-multiple output antennas. It should give you a larger range and stronger signal over any A/B/G.

Is everything still compatible with it? (my son's ipod touch, Wii, my phone, 2004 laptop)

[Surfah]

Is everything still compatible with it? (my son's ipod touch, Wii, my phone, 2004 laptop)

Yes. It will work with A, B and G, but you will obviously be limited to those speeds on those devices.

[Pheidippides]

Is everything still compatible with it? (my son's ipod touch, Wii, my phone, 2004 laptop)

Unless you set up a dedicated N only network (which is what I did for my desktop) it broadcasts a mixed signal of at least b/g/n. So you should be fine. I highly suspect that all of your devices are g capable - a and b are relatively rare.

[ERCougar]

Great. Thanks, guys. I think I'll go with the 2500.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Great. Thanks, guys. I think I'll go with the 2500.

I bought the Linksys E2000 a few months ago and am a bit disappointed. It started out PERFECT and had great range on b/g/n for my Roku, Wii, laptops, smartphones, and my sons DSi, but recently it drops the connection and the range is downright pathetic. I have upgraded the bios numerous times, changed settings, altered whatever I can, but in the end I just pulled my 7 year-old Netgear router out of storage and hooked it up as a second router for the Wii and laptops downstairs while still using the E2000 as primary because of the 'n' functionality for HD videos from netflix/Amazon on Roku).

My Netgear router is more stable, has a stronger signal, etc, but is not 'n' compatible. Ironically it is faster over the course of a few hours of heavy downloading because it does NOT drop the link to the laptop/wii/roku.

My Linksys may be a dud and I need to call the company to see what they will do about it, but I would recommend reading reviews (sifting with a logical rake and imbibing with a grain of salt). In particular check for people complaining about "decreased range over time", etc.

My biggest gripe with the Linksys E2000 is the internal antennas. I WISH I had instead purchased a router with an external antenna because they are very easy to replace with boosted, amplified range-extending antennas.

I have it in auto-channel mode, but it ALWAYS sticks with Channel 1. Several of my neighbors also use Channel 1 so that likely causes a ton of interference.

I thought about flashing it to dd-wrt to see if that would change anything, but I am afraid to brick a brand-new $100 router that the manufacturer should repair under warranty.

For now I think I will crawl up in the attic and run a cat6 data cable from my router to my Roku in the bedroom so my wife doesn't need to complain about watching the buffering screen when we should be enjoying a movie...

p.s. 'n' is broadcast on 2.4 gHz or 5.0 gHz UNLESS the router is also dual-band, in which case it can broadcast 'n' on 5.0 while leaving b/g on 2.4. That would be the best option IMO. Then again, very little equipment can handle 5.0 gHz right now. My E2000 is "5.0 gHz capable", but cannot broadcast simultaneously on 2.4 and 5.0, so it is forced to stay on 2.4. 'n' is faster in terms of data transfer, but often has a diminished range compared to b/g.

[NorthwestUteFan]

On the other hand, perhaps I should get a wifi repeater and mount it in a central location. Any thoughts/suggestions?

[Pheidippides]

I bought the Linksys E2000 a few months ago and am a bit disappointed. It started out PERFECT and had great range on b/g/n for my Roku, Wii, laptops, smartphones, and my sons DSi, but recently it drops the connection and the range is downright pathetic. I have upgraded the bios numerous times, changed settings, altered whatever I can, but in the end I just pulled my 7 year-old Netgear router out of storage and hooked it up as a second router for the Wii and laptops downstairs while still using the E2000 as primary because of the 'n' functionality for HD videos from netflix/Amazon on Roku).

My Netgear router is more stable, has a stronger signal, etc, but is not 'n' compatible. Ironically it is faster over the course of a few hours of heavy downloading because it does NOT drop the link to the laptop/wii/roku.

My Linksys may be a dud and I need to call the company to see what they will do about it, but I would recommend reading reviews (sifting with a logical rake and imbibing with a grain of salt). In particular check for people complaining about "decreased range over time", etc.

My biggest gripe with the Linksys E2000 is the internal antennas. I WISH I had instead purchased a router with an external antenna because they are very easy to replace with boosted, amplified range-extending antennas.

I have it in auto-channel mode, but it ALWAYS sticks with Channel 1. Several of my neighbors also use Channel 1 so that likely causes a ton of interference.

I thought about flashing it to dd-wrt to see if that would change anything, but I am afraid to brick a brand-new $100 router that the manufacturer should repair under warranty.

For now I think I will crawl up in the attic and run a cat6 data cable from my router to my Roku in the bedroom so my wife doesn't need to complain about watching the buffering screen when we should be enjoying a movie...

p.s. 'n' is broadcast on 2.4 gHz or 5.0 gHz UNLESS the router is also dual-band, in which case it can broadcast 'n' on 5.0 while leaving b/g on 2.4. That would be the best option IMO. Then again, very little equipment can handle 5.0 gHz right now. My E2000 is "5.0 gHz capable", but cannot broadcast simultaneously on 2.4 and 5.0, so it is forced to stay on 2.4. 'n' is faster in terms of data transfer, but often has a diminished range compared to b/g.

I had heard similar on the 2000 which is why I got the 3000. Both my brother and I have used it for some time with great success. I will confess that channel interference is not an issue where I live due to the technical (in)ability of my neighbors.

The 3000 is dual band so I run the 5 ghz N as a dedicated desktop network (my desktop has a card that can handle it). I haven't noticed any significant changes versus hardwired speed, but I suspect my ISP is the bottleneck at some point.

My xbox is hardwired into the router but the PS3 is not. Both are used extensively for Netflix and the difference between the two in terms of speed is not material.

I did have some signal issues with my desktop when I moved it (that was when I went from wired to wireless on that machine) until i realized that the shape of my house and positioning of the router/desktop meant that I was trying to send wireless signals through three exterior brick-covered walls and one interior wall. Moving the router over a few feet cured that problem.

[NorthwestUteFan]

I love technology, etc., but that E2500 is LESS money than I paid for my E2000 a few months ago! I am going to see if Bestbuy will fix mine or replace it with the E2500 or E3000.

[Pheidippides]

I love technology, etc., but that E2500 is LESS money than I paid for my E2000 a few months ago! I am going to see if Bestbuy will fix mine or replace it with the E2500 or E3000.

Same with the E3000. It has really come down in price.

Btw, I usually don't use best buy but when I have, and when I've had a return, they have been stellar about it. Not sure if that is just TX or company wide. Suspect the latter.