New Wireless Router Advice

[isaacmorseMI]

So I need a new wireless router. I am trying to decide between an Apple Airport Extreme and a Netgear WNDR4000. Which one do you like better and why. If there is any other models that you like tell me why you like them.

Thanks.

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[rockymtnhigh]

Now that I figured out the problem I had with daisy-chaining two Airport Extreme routers (see the thread in this forum), I'd have to say that the AE is an extremely robust and good router; the new 5th gen Airport extreme has very strong dual-band wireless N throughput. I have been very pleased with it. Very reliable, and much better throughput than the Belkin I had. I also had the Cisco 4200, and that was not reliable at all.

Its downside: only 3 ethernet ports, but I just connect one of those to an 8 port switch and that works. That and there is no web admin interface, you do everything through the Airport Utility. If you are not a mac user, you'll need to install the software for it.

Don't know anything about Netgear (other than having one of their wireless to ethernet bridges for my Dish Vip 722).

You can easily extend the Airport Extreme with a $99 Airport Express; just plug it into a power outlet and you can add to your network -- plus it can feed speakers through Airplay. But the Express is a 2.4Ghz only router.

 

[isaacmorseMI]

Yeah the only 3 ethernet ports is really weird. But a switch would solve that.

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[rockymtnhigh]

Yeah the only 3 ethernet ports is really weird. But a switch would solve that.

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It was a non-issue for me, as I already had a 8 port switch. The Airport Extreme really has been a very nice router.

 

[nsafreak]

How about neither? Cripes, $180 (at least on Amazon) is WAY overboard for a SOHO router and while it's decent it's not $180 decent. Netgear isn't bad but personally I've had better luck with D-Link as of late and I'd recommend going with a DIR-655. The D-Link routers that I've used as of late have solid hardware, really excellent range and really good firmware loaded on them. If you want to tweak the router even more it's not too terribly hard to load DD-WRT onto their routers.

 

[isaacmorseMI]

I am replacing A DIR-655. Crapped out on me.

 

[nsafreak]

Well, it can happen to any router but I can understand not wanting to get the same router again. So I would recommend a Buffalo WZR-HP-G450H instead for pretty much the same reasons although i don't have as much first hand experience with their products as I do some others.

 

[isaacmorseMI]

Which company do you think is the best? Netgear, Buffalo, or D-Link?

 

[isaacmorseMI]

Rocky what issues did you have with the E4200?

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Rocky what issues did you have with the E4200?

It kept disconnecting. And I kept having to reset it.

 

[isaacmorseMI]

It kept disconnecting. And I kept having to reset it.

I'll probably avoid that one then.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

BTW, I get much better throughput with the Airport Extreme than either the Cisco or the Belkin I had before. I have 50/5 service, and get about 45-55/5-10 when wired, and as much as 36-40 over wireless N.

 

[isaacmorseMI]

I'm leaning towards the Airport Extreme. Alot of $. But really reliable.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I'm leaning towards the Airport Extreme. Alot of $. But really reliable.

Pretty darn easy too.

 

[nsafreak]

Which company do you think is the best? Netgear, Buffalo, or D-Link?

Of that bunch D-Link followed pretty closely by Buffalo. And if money is no object and your wife won't throw you out of your house for spending more money on network gear than your car might be worth Juniper Networks equipment (and yes I'm not really recommending that you go out and purchase their equipment, just in a cheeky mood )

 

[isaacmorseMI]

Can you do pretty much everything with the Airport Utility that you can do with the typical web interface?

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Can you do pretty much everything with the Airport Utility that you can do with the typical web interface?

Yes.

 

[isaacmorseMI]

Okay I'm sold. Airport Extreme it is.

 

[isaacmorseMI]

Just ordered the Airport Extreme from MacMall. I am also going to get an 8 port switch from Newegg in a little bit.

 

[lparsons21]

I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. Often you can got to Apple's online store and check the refurbs for AEs and practically anything else Apple sells for quite a discount and a full new gear warranty. I seldom buy Apple gear any other way. If they have them, they usually sell @$129, yep just checked, they've got them.

Look down at the bottom left of the store's webpage for 'special deals'