Apple Wireless Routers Receive Highest Rating in PC Mag Survey

Apple's Airport Base Stations scored highest in PC Magazine's 18th Annual Reader Satisfaction Survey just ahead of Linksys and Cisco.

"Apple wireless routers receive this year's highest overall rating score (8.9). This is especially noteworthy given that, in general, wired routers outscore wireless. Part of its high ratings may stem from ease of setup: Apple routers tend to be connected to simpler-to-do-everything Macintoshes."

When my clients ask for recommendations on a wireless router, I've oscillated between Apple and Linksys. I usually recommend the Apple Airport Base Stations for small apartments or for people who will be managing their own networks. And I recommend Linksys wireless routers for large apartments or businesses because of their wider variety of security options. I've also installed D-Link, Buffalo, and Netgear routers with varied levels of success. My experience mirrors this survery's results.

If you're building a wireless network larger than a single Airport Base Station, I highly recommend you investigate the options that exist for extending the wireless range of the routers. I've had poor luck with unpowered Hawking and Dr. Bott antennas but have had excellent success with the external antennas sold by QuickerTek. I'm certain this is becuse the QuickerTek antennas are powered and the Hawking and Dr. Bott antennas are not. The unpowered antennas just didn't boost the wireless signal anywhere near as much as the powered QuickerTek antennas.

And remember that these antennas only work with Airport Extreme Base Stations, unless you're willing to hack your earlier model.

Of course, your results may vary. Any success or horror stories you guys want to share? Or maybe a voodoo black magic story about a wireless problem with no apparent cause?