Need help buying new router!

karlsnooks said:

imeem,
You don't have a paid subscription but you do need to be a Windows Secrets member.

Just a sec. I'll review the article again and list a couple of routers worthy of selection.

If easy installation is key, consider the Cisco Valet Plus ; it's a basic wireless router, priced at around $130. It received high marks from CNET and earned an Editor's Choice from PCMag.com. Reviewers pointed to its good performance and fast, user-friendly setup that includes the innovative USB Easy Setup key.

For a dual-band router, check out the Linksys E3000 Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N Router, priced around $180. It's an update of the Linksys WRT610N, which earned very good scores from CNET and ZDNet. The E3000 has a sleek, low-profile design similar to that of the Valet Plus, and it shares that router's ease of setup. The E3000 supports gigabit Ethernet speeds and has a USB port for external network-attached storage.

If you are willing to spend more and would like something that's more than a nondescript box sitting on your desk, check out D-Link's DIR-685. At around $225, this interesting device is pricey, but it includes an open bay for an optional 2.5" internal hard drive, giving you network-attached storage. It also has a small color LCD, so that ugly box turns into a digital picture frame.

Now my personal recommendation would be the Linksys E3000.

I would like to get router that's cost more than $100, but they cost a lot and my household isn't a big time user of wifi

letsdoamazing said:

Joan Archer said:

Also it may depend on your ISP, some provide a router to work with their service.

It's like all things you can't really say what's best everyone has their favourite and some work better with some connections than others. I'd find out what others are using with your ISP's service and see which are more reliable.:)

It shouldn't matter what ISP you have, because a router isn't supported by any ISP's? Unless you buy it from the ISP directly.

Netgear and Linksys seem to be the best in my opinion.

I have used about 4 or 5 of them with good success!

Is thee any real difference between the router u buy directly from your ISP and those you buy at stores like dlink, linksys, etc...?

imeem said:

Which brand of router do u prefer? Linksys, Belkin, TRENDnet, or netgear? My 2 other dlink routers malfunction and i need a new one.

Personal opinion... Linksys. Always used Linksys @ home, Cisco @ work. Now thaat Cisco owns Linksys, you really cannot go wrong. In this very, very rare instance, it's the best of both worlds!