Help with which router to buy?

I've just bought a new laptop and am looking to set up a wireless network at home. My new laptop is a dell xps 1530 and has an intergrated Wireless 'N' card, we also have an older model dell desktop which will require a usb adaptor for wireless and my folks are planning on buying a new laptop very soon abeit a lower spec budget model so probably without a 'N' card.

I don't understand the different bandwidths and frequencies available for wireless really so I need some help to point my in the right direction of which router to buy.

I'm looking for something that can handle 2 laptops and a desktop but still provide wireless at a good speed without much interference and loss of connection. Also I don't know what difference this makes but my broadband is only 2MB with Virgin Media (Cable).

All comments and advice would be appreciated

 

Go to www.smallnetbuilder.com and read the reviews on the newer 11n hardware. I would go with one of the dual band routers. But read the performance on mixed mode then decide. All problems can be fixed on firmware revisons, so play close attention on which version and check to see if there are newer releases out. The new release may correct some of the problems found.

 

I was looking at this router http://www.netgear.com/Products/Rou...xNEXTWirelessRoutersandGateways/WNDR3300.aspx

Would this be above and beyond what I need though and basically not worth the extra money?

 

You want to be going for a router which at least is 'g' capable. The next fastest is G-Mimo and then its N.

I have the Buffalo G-Mimo Router. Works like a treat and very simple to set up. Has all security features such as internal firewall and the latest encryption - AES. I get very good speeds all around my medium/large house. CLICKY .

And also, I'm on Virgin Cable as well and it works perfectly

And btw, I bought mine from here - CLICKY

 

Would this router do the trick? Its a good price and has decent reviews.

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=4YH9&InMerch=1

 

I would go with the Netgear one. Then you should be set till the next generation comes out. That or the Linksys 600n model. The Apple air port extreme has more features, like usb ports for printers and external drives if you need those, but very pricey. It's unique in the fact that it has 2 seperate radios, not a dual band radio in 1 chip. The reason for the extra cost.

But if you want to hold off on 11n and just replace your current one with another 11g, get the linksys WRT54G or the Buffalo WHR-HP-54G or WHRG54 (Linksys WRT54G clone).

 

I have a D-link DIR-655 Xtreme N router. 3 computers are accessing the network. A Dell laptop with PCI wireless card (g card) one desktop with a USB adapter (D-Link DWA-142) (n adapter) and one desktop hard wired. The laptop has excellent speed. The other two are very good.

If I was going to have 3 computer accessing the network, I wouldn't settle for anything less than a high quality router which the DIR-655 is (especially if you will using a USB adapter with one of the computers). Research will back up what I say.

I don't know what your time contraints are, but D-Link is coming out with the DIR-855 soon which is supposed to be better.. It will be expensive, but I am not sure how much better than the DIR-655.