router rec

Looking for a recommendation for a good router that a beginner can install, has good throughput that will work throughout my house. The router and modem will be located upstairs in the loft, the main floor is 3200 sq ft. Will be having a desktop wired, wireless laptop and wireless printer. That's all so don't need alot of special features. There's so many to choose from, it's hard for a newbie. Size and looks do not matter. I read somewhere that external antennaes do better than internal ones and more antennaes is better. But I don't believe everything I read. I was looking at TP-link but I don't know if it would work with my satellite modem. Syslink, NetGear and Dlink should work with the modem. I know Medialink will not. The guy that installed my satellite said he recommended NetGear because it's the easiest to install (didn't say what model though).

 

What is the brand and model of your modem and your satellite carrier. If all your computers run Windows 7 you have no need of a wireless printer. Is your modem router location going to be in a more centralized location upstairs or at opposite ended compared to where your other computer you want to use wireless on will be. What wireless cards do you have in your laptops.

 

The modem shouldn't be a real issue with a good brand name router.

The size of the house is the biggest concern, keep in mind that a central location is best, but that routers don't do well vertically, so you need to place it where it will be at an angle. Think of the signal as a big donut around the router. Strong on the sides, buy above and below have very little signal.


Anyhow, because of the size, I recommend something with a strong antenna, the best, cheap routers for that use are Buffalo HP lines.

If all of your systems use the same wireless (b, G, or N) you can get a single radio model for $40 from Newegg. Keep in mind you will have to have them all match or choose one they all can use. In other words, if you have a B or G, you can't use N at all, and if you use G, and a B wireless connects, they will all go down to B speed. Chances are your internet isn't fast enough to need anything beyond B anyhow.
Newegg.com - BUFFALO WHR-HP-GN 802.11b/g/n Wireless High Power Router & Access Point up to 150Mbps/ DD-WRT Open Source support

A dual radio system will let you run an N system, but also a second B and G system. Meaning you can connect at N speeds, and the other systems on B and G will not slow you down. You can get a dual radio high powered buffalo for $96 from Newegg.
Newegg.com - BUFFALO WZR-HP-AG300H AirStation High Power N600 Gigabit Dual Band Wireless Router IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n


These are not as fast, nice to look at, or as nice to even work on as Netgear, but they are little workhorses, have a strong signal and they are cheap.


Personally, almost every wireless printer I have worked on has been a thorn in my backside. It's easier to hook it up to a computer and simply share it over the network. If course that means the computer t is hooked to has to be on constantly though. Even hooking it into the network wired is a lot easier though.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

My satellite is Hughesnet and the modem is HN9000. I currently have the wireless printer hooked up directly to my desktop and that could stay but the desktop has no wireless card (I could get an adapter)--I figured it would need something to be able to share a printer that's hooked up to it--it runs on Win XP. The printer is Canon MX870.

Haven't bought the laptop yet--trying to coordinate that purchase with the router up front (but since new it will be Win7 and 'n wireless). Satellite isn't real fast so I'd hate to lose any more speed than I have to. Maybe I could prop up the router to put it at an angle. Central location won't work--it will be in a corner of the loft over the living area--family room/kitchen--open concept design (which is the other rooms I'd normally use the laptop). Atleast no walls to go through there. I'd also like to be able to go out on the deck which would be one wall (adjoins the family room).

I have no other computers. I have an old Laser printer whihc I love that I'm not sure I'll be able to use with the laptop due to its age even if I get a prallel to USB adaptor. .

 

Old lasers work fine on Windows 7, I have a 20 year old model I still use. Works great. Though I did get a network adapter for it instead of using the parallel port.

Propping up the router probably won't work, so try and get it as far off to the side as you can and you should be okay. It may get a weak signal, but it will get one.

Wired or wireless, it's all the same network. As far as how they show up on the network, they all look the same to each other. You can go from wired to wireless and vice versa and it won't matter.


The new laptop will be N wireless, but you would be just fine on G, which is likely what your printer is, and is still faster than your satellite. You could just get the cheaper router I listed and set it to run in B/G mode and be fine.

 

Thanks alot.