Wireless broadband access - router

BeagleBoy

Hi guys,

I want to setup wireless broadband at home and need some advice regarding a wireless router.

Firstly Im not sure whether I should be looking for a wireless router or wireless access point. From what I can tell the main difference seem to be that a router allows multiple wired and wireless computers to share one internet connection. Right now this isnt a requirement of mine so perhaps I should go for the access point but if there isnt a big price difference between the two Im sure the router would be a better buy (my requirements might change in the future).

Which leads to my second question. How much should I expect to pay for a router/access point?

Finally can anyone recommend a brand/model and where the best place to buy one might be?

Cheers,
BB

humaxf1

question for ya???

are you going with say, eircom? you can buy a wireless router from them at the very start.

If you go with a wireless isp, I would say to get a wireless router and have the wireless for the future. Linksys are very good

KdjaCL

Pc World have Dlink Bundle for €100 comes with a dongle so a desktop or laptop with no Wifi card can connect to the router.

Cheap and easy to setup.

Dedent router too.

kdjac

Gaillimhtaibhse

humaxf1 wrote:

question for ya???

are you going with say, eircom? you can buy a wireless router from them at the very start.

If you go with a wireless isp, I would say to get a wireless router and have the wireless for the future. Linksys are very good

Familiar with Linksys (made by Cisco). The set-up is so user-friendly that you could use one of Jane von Goodall's chimps to do the installation for you (All on an enclosed CD). Make sure that you pick a password for your wireless router that is quite long and complex (random upper and lower case letters mixed with numbers). Word is that the inexpensive personal version Linksys is easy to crack. You may also want to limit access to one user. If you don't, it defaults up to 50 users (if I remember correctly). If you are logged on, with allowing only one user, it should be one more barrier to challenge less competent crackers.

vishal

if you are using adsl or adsl2 you should buy an integrated modem, wireless router in one. the modems esat supplied were rubbish and kept on crashing when i used torrents. also i had a port forwarding issue when i tried to use an wireless router with the esat modem that i just couldn't solve.

hobie

Eircom are currently including a free Netopia wi-fi Router with BB packages at the moment .... :rolleyes:

think you can select a wireless option inc. 4 Ethernet ports, so the best of both worlds? ....

BeagleBoy

Thanks for all the replies. I have'nt decided on a BB provider yet so perhaps I should do that before going ahead and buying the router.

Right now I was thinking about going with ESAT BT (for price and download rates but all the talk about their billing process is putting me off somewhat) but if what Vishal says is correct then I may need to buy an integrated modem/router.

Hobie, why the eyes to heaven when telling me about the free eircom router. Is there a problem with it??

hobie

Hobie, why the eyes to heaven when telling me about the free eircom router. Is there a problem with it??

No problem at all, as long as your a fan of Eircom ..... I know some peeps don't like them because of the "shares thingy" and the privatization, years ago, but I find them great and have just been able to order BB myself from them this week (at long last my exchange now offers it)

I think the free router deal is great myself ....

po0k

Linksys WRT54G - Rev 3, 4 or 6 if you want to linux it.