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Wireless Routers | View information about Wireless Routers within our Technology Website Directory section by reviewing this area of our website. We provide a wealth of information online to help our visitors become better informed about Computer Buzz. |
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Wireless Routers
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Wireless routers with Internet connection sharing, networking, and firewall features are an alternative to wired routers or networking software. Wireless routers are actually wired routers with wireless access points built in so you can have wired and wireless at the same time. Wireless routers are not as secure as hard wired.
Networking products from different companies are practically guaranteed to support each other because they conform to the same standards; they have to. And because they conform to the same detailed standards, there is little that companies can do to differentiate their individual products. Standardization is a great equalizer, so companies try to distinguish their products by combining multiple features into one device, as well as by offering different pricing and support strategies.
The latest generation of wireless routers is based on the Draft 2.0 802.11n agreement. The "n" is what sets it apart from earlier 802.11g routers. N routers are capable of faster speeds and longer ranges that the older G routers.
Throughput, or bandwidth, is related to speed. Fast connections can offer high throughput if they're properly configured, but high throughput also means that there are no constrictions or bottlenecks for network services (such as access to Internet connections, DHCP services, DNS, etc. ). The design of high-throughput systems begins with sufficient transmission and processing speed and extends to optimal addressing and network organization.
Let's take a look at some of the wireless routers that are in the news these days.
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Linksys WRT54GS
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Though manufacturers are phasing them out in favor of 802.11n models, 802.11g wireless routers have proven reliability and compatibility with a wide range of other networking hardware. Plus, they cost less than 802.11n routers and still have sufficient speed and range for most users.
The Linksys WRT54GS is one of the best still available Wireless-G routers. Though most of the coverage is old at this point, reviewers say setting up and securing this router is extraordinarily simple. The Linksys router is officially compatible with Windows XP and Vista, but not with Macs. Even so, we've had any number of reports that Linksys routers, in fact, work quite well with Macs. Go figure.
Official Website: www.linksys.com
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TRENDnet TEW-631BRP
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TRENDnet is not a well-known brand in the U.S., but its TEW-631BRP wireless router still gets a lot of favorable reviews. It is very similar to the D-Link DIR-655 but much cheaper, has a longer limited warranty (three years compared to one), and is compatible with Linux and older versions of Windows. It includes the same user-controllable technology as the DIR-655 to give priority to online gaming and other high-bandwidth activities. Reviewers say this wireless router performs very well in gaming. However, it lacks a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired devices. You can still connect wired devices through slower 10/100 ports, and that should be good enough for most purposes.
Official Website: www.trendware.com
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Apple Airport Extreme Base Station
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Apple's Airport Extreme Base Station will immediately jump out at you with its simple yet elegant design. Its white finish makes it a fashionable addition to any room.
The Apple Airport Extreme Base Station is a nicely designed router that has the best setup process of any currently available device. Setting up the Airport Extreme Base Station takes only a few minutes. Much like other Apple products, it "just works." The router comes with an Airport Utility CD that works on both Mac and Windows, and allows you to easily configure the router: change the router name, assign it a location, and establish WEP or WPA encryption. The Airport Utility feature makes it easy for both novice and advanced users to customize the router. And the intelligent troubleshoot feature that tells you when something has gone awry makes this product unique. Without a doubt, this setup is probably the quickest and simplest of any wireless router on the market today.
It even lets you pick which band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) to use. When using the 2.4 GHz band, any B- or G-equipped device can connect to the Base Station. With the 5 GHz option turned on, only N routers can connect to the wireless network. This option substantially improves overall performance. And it's not a short-shooter either; you can expect Apple's router to actually perform better than its publicized range.
Official Website: www.apple.com
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Belkin N1 Vision
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When it comes to N routers, there is usually an inverse relationship between performance and user-friendliness. If it's user-friendliness you're looking for, the Belkin N1 Vision might be for you.
The Belkin N1 Vision offers something other N routers do not--an LCD screen that provides you with information about what's going on. To the right of the screen, the N1 sports a handy set of buttons that allows you to work your way through the menu, choose options like SSID and encryption, and get status updates as needed. Moreover, the router displays extras like a map of all the computers connected to it and usage over the past 24 hours.
Unlike other routers, the Belkin N1 Vision features three antennas that protrude out the back of the device. While this makes for a stylish design, it also contributes to this router's poor performance due to the inability to position the antennas in the direction of the wireless device.
The Belkin N1 Vision is a sleek unit with an LCD that makes it easy to get information about the workings of the router. Unfortunately, it comes with a steep price of $199. Performance on the router could have been better, and except for range improvements, you probably won't notice a difference between your current G router and this device if you're running in a mixed environment.
Official Website: www.belkin.com
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Buffalo Wireless-N Nfiniti (WZR2-G300N)
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The Buffalo Wireless-N Nfiniti (WZR2-G300N) is simply one of the best N routers out there. With a simple, useful design and performance that can't be rivaled, the Nfiniti is many peoples pick for best all-around N-router.
The Nfiniti is an 802.11n Draft 2.0 device that's ready for use in no time. Much like the Apple Airport Extreme, the Nfiniti comes with a handy Client Manager that lets you customize the router's settings on any Windows PC. Another nice feature of this router is Buffalo's decision to include its AirStation One-Touch Secure System (AOSS). AOSS, which can be activated by pressing the corresponding button on the top of the router, is a one-step setup that allows you to toggle security settings for any kind of wireless traffic, including Web surfing, streaming media, or whatever.
Similar to Apple's Airport Utility, the Nfiniti's Client Manager features an intuitive interface and a menu system suitable for novices and advanced users alike. One especially useful feature is the router's inclusion of a firewall and intrusion detector, which constantly searches for unwanted attempts at accessing the network and once found, alerts you to those attempts.
Besides a healthy set of features, the Nfiniti has measurable throughput/bandwidth that exceeds virtually any other wireless router on the market today. This sucker is fast! And if that's not enough, it has just about the greatest range of any router you can buy. For an affordable price of $100, this router should be on the top of your list.
Official Website: www.buffalotech.com
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D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router (Dir-655)
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The D-Link DIR-655 is one of the fastest wireless N routers you can buy today. With a sleek white finish and three matching white antennas, the Dir-655 will look snazzy in just about any location. It's designed for better throughput on bandwidth-hogging online games, downloading, and VoIP.
Reviewers love the feature set including Gigabit Ethernet support. It also has a USB port on the back, which lets you plug in a printer or storage device, albeit unfortunately you can't share those peripherals with other computers on the network.
The D-Link DIR-655 wireless router works with Windows XP and Vista, and Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger). Compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) has not yet been determined.
The disadvantages of this unit are the future compatibility risk with earlier 802.11x standards, and setup is more of a hassle that it needs to be. Unfortunately, the Dir-655 still uses a Web interface for configuration; as a result, its usability is abysmal. It affords tremendous customization capabilities and allows advanced users the latitude they can expect from a well-built router, but the menus are overcrowded, and maneuvering your way to access a specific setting is a pain.
Once you manage to get it configured, the Dir-655 actually performed extremely well, even over relatively long distances. The D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router (Dir-655) is an ideal solution for someone who doesn't mind paying a high price for one of the fastest N routers on the market. That said, the high $170 price tag and complicated menu customization screens should be taken into consideration.
Official Website: www.Dlink.com
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