Ask Engadget: Best wireless router?
By Paul Miller 
posted July 5th 2007 9:45PM
posted July 5th 2007 9:45PM
We've covered this a couple times already on Ask Engadget, but it's always worth another go. Oh, and as usual, keep sending your queries to ask at engadget dawt com for answerin' by your peers. We were checking out media streamers a few week ago, and taking things a bit more basic with Brad who's looking for a new router:"I have a Core Duo MacBook, and my mom has an iBook G4. We have a Belkin Pre-N Wireless router. The problem is that my internet is slow, which can't be fixed by my router, obviously, but also, there are points when my router just stops working, and I've tried getting it replaced, so I'm convinced it's the router. Any suggestions on alternatives that might play nicer with my Mac, in case that's my problem?"
Everybody gets a lemon now and then, which sounds like it could be Brad's problem, any recommendations?
Oh crap! That was meant to be in response to Sandeep, who wrote that WRT54g series is "the best and the most configurable."
It was the end of an era of decent routers when they decided to get with the times by literally splitting the thing's capabilities in half. (And then making impossible the only thing that could have saved it: Community-built firmwares).
Do any of the recommended Buffalo routers have a removable external anntena? From the pictures the WHR-G125 doesn't appear to be removable, but I could be wrong.
I've had the same problem with multiple versions of Belkin routers from years ago when they first started making routers. Some wired, some wireless. The routers would just stop working and need to be unplugged and plugged back in every few days. A few years ago they had sales reps at CompUSA trying to push their routers on customers. One said they never heard of the problem and their routers are the best. Another said he heard of it, but it was fixed a long time ago and now they're the best. Apparently they still have problems. Considering it was a few years between my Belkin router purchases and reading these posts of people still having problems, I would never buy a Belkin-anything ever again. I've used Linksys, D-Link, US Robotics, and Netgear routers and never had any problems.
I have an actiontec MI424WR, it's a nice router. Works with the xbox 360's wireless adapter. I currently have 6 computers connected to it without a hitch. Has about everything any other router offers, including port forwarding, DHCP, ip blocking, WEP and WAP security.
I have Verizon FIOS / Actiontec MI424-WR and can't get Xbox 360 w/wireless adapter to work. Did you have to set any special configuration settings on the MI424 or Xbox to get this to work?
What version Actiontec MI424WR router is worcing with the wirelessly with the Xbox? I have been told that there are different versions. I have Version C and it is not working.
Any comments are appriciated....
i had to sit there and have it try to connect about 25 times, but it finally connected and now it does it every time. Is the version number in the firmware or on the router?
I have exactly the same problem. My Linksys router and comcast service worked just fine with the Xbox wireless adapter. Yesterday we had verizon fios installed and cannot get the Xbox Live to work with the Actiontec and Xbox wireless adapter.
I can't get my wireless xbox adabptor to work either. I emailed actiontec and was told the REVC router does not work with the XBOX wireless adapter and they are working on it. NO ETA.
We just got verizon fios and can not connect to xbow wireless any help PLEASE
thanks,
rita
someone post workaround in http://forum.skype.com/lofiversion/index.php/t54820.html
as soon as router firewall is disabled, quality of VoIP and it stop dropping packets.
Hey Guys,
Same problem here with the MI424-WR Fios router and not being able to connect the XBOX 360 wireless adapter. When running the test, it won't get past the second screen, saying "Not Connected" even though when I put the WEP in during setup, it connected. The light on the adapter is constantly red. Anyone come up with anything for this issue?
Having the same issue with MI424-WR. I talked with a tech at ActionTec and he said they are aware of the issue and working on fixing it. He said you could connect an additional router to the MI424-WR to provide a contact point that works. There has to be some other workaround though as I've seen posts where others haven't had any issues connecting.
Did you pay the $29.95 fee for their support? I was amazed to find out that Actiontec is charging people for help setting up their network for gaming. I tested my wireless adapter on my neighbors wireless connection that popped up and it connected no problem. But still no connection with the fios router. I'll have to give the contact point thing a shot and see if it works. There have to be more people that have had problems setting up their fios router wirelessly with with xbox adapter.
It all depends upon what version or model of the MI424WR. The newer versions do NOT work.
So based on the comments, I bought an Apple Airport Extreme to replace my really old Netgear b. Took a little bit to get it to work with Comcast, but it does and works great - kinda.
All my computers are XP Pro. I can't figure out how to get the wep or wpa security working. I had wep on my netgear, tried to set it up on the airport but my laptop can't figure it out. Tried wpa, same problem, the laptop can't see the router. If I set the router to open - no security at all - the laptop (all laptops) see it just fine and can get on the internet. I'm not happy with no security and if I can't get the security working with the airport, I'm taking it back and getting a Linksys.
For WEP, I typed in a 13 character code, the airport took it, but I can't get that code (either those 13 characters of the hex equivalent) to work with my laptop. I'm trying wep cause that's what was working before. WPA has the same problems. Looks like a good router, but I'm about at the end of my rope.
Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!
The version is after the model number. "REV C" is my version - I suppose Revision C.
I ended up piggy backing a new Lynksys Router to the Verizon Actiontec router/modem. After changing the IP address of the Lynksys to avoid a conflict, it worked perfeftly with the XBox. Now I have 2 wireless networks in the house, the Lynksys and and Verizon one which I named "Verizon Sucks".
I bought my Netgear WPN824 Rangemax router over 2 yrs ago when it was released, and it is still going strong to this day. Actually, I also loved my previous netgear wireless G router but somehow the power cord got ripped in half...
even though none of our 5 wireless computers have rangemax adapters, the WPN824 DEFINITELY offers stronger, faster signals over longer distances. It covers every corner of the house without a problem, unlike the old one. Right now, I am typing on my Vaio notebook in my 3rd floor bedroom, and the router is in the basement, on the opposite corner of the house. I have never had a problem with this router/
I also have one of these NetGear Rangemax 240s, and I've found that, while fast at isolated tasks, buckles under the pressure of lots of connections. I do a lot of web site work and am frequently (at least once, maybe more, per day) shut off from all FTP access (to a number of sites on different servers), regardless of which PC I'm using on the network. Also, it seems to struggle with multiple torrent connections running.
First of all, i suggest that you get at least 3 mbps high speed internet. I personally have 5 Mbps and its great. I invested about $200 and bought the Linksys N-Router, don'T TRUST Buffalo or D-Link. If you can't get a faster internet in your area then a simple G-Router is good. Hope this helps.