Can you recommend me a router?

[oreo27]

Hi,

My Uncle recently purchased a new iPad (3rd one). He was asking me how he can get WiFi at his home and I told him that all he needs is a wireless router.

In my home, I personally use a Linksys WRT54GH for wireless connectivity.

Anybody have experience on what's a nice router I can recommend for him? I'll be personally setting that up as well.

Thanks to anyone who can help

 

[seavixen32]

It's all subjective of course, but this link may help you decide: Routers

If you're happy with your router, why don't you buy the same for your uncle?

 

[oreo27]

It's all subjective of course, but this link may help you decide: Routers

If you're happy with your router, why don't you buy the same for your uncle?

Honestly, I just want something that'll work. I've tried the link and came up with two, very expensive routers following the brand I'm using.

Linksys X2000 Dual-WAN Wireless-N Broadband Router (300Mbps)
Linksys WAG160N Ultra RangePlus ADSL 2+ Wireless-N Router (300Mbps)

If you guys can recommend a brand that you've had experience with, I'd follow that

Well, for one, my router is only a Wireless G Router and I'm having problems with it:

You need to reset it once in a while for small wireless devices (iPod, Smartphones etc. etc.) to be able to connect to it again.

There are no firmware updates either.

 

[wanchoo]

Routers are very sturdy gadgets with I think no moving parts inside. You should buy from amongst those that are in the lower price range. Dlink comes to mind first although I don't myself use it because Huawei which is a pain in the neck, was supplied to me by my ISP. Huawei works fine but it is nearly impossible to configure.

There may be other good brands too in the lower price range.

 

[oreo27]

Routers are very sturdy gadgets with I think no moving parts inside. You should buy from amongst those that are in the lower price range. Dlink comes to mind first although I don't myself use it because Huawei which is a pain in the neck, was supplied to me by my ISP. Huawei works fine but it is nearly impossible to configure.

There may be other good brands too in the lower price range.

Thanks for the suggestion, I might consider it.

I also found this to be a pretty good one unless someone else knows that it isn't:

Linksys E1200 Wireless-N Router

It's also pretty cheap.

 

[wanchoo]

Linksys is about the best but I think rather expensive.

 

[F5ing]

I've had a couple Linksys/Cisco and had no problem with them whatsoever, but I'm really disappointed with the company because they still have not updated their firmware for many of their routers for the WPS vulnerability issue. What is worse, is the fact that the interim measures apparently work with most other brands. When the interim measure is implemented on Linksys/Cisco routers, the router ignores your setting (turning WPS off actually does nothing on many of their consumer routers).

 

[ReviverSoft]

Check out the Linksys E4200 Dual-Band Wireless-N Router. A popular option these days.

 

[HammerHead]

Linksys

Reviversoft: View attachment 204601

I use the E4200. I have had to reset it twice in maybe a year. No other problems. That is good service I think.

 

[oreo27]

Linksys is about the best but I think rather expensive.

Indeed. I guess I should present him with options.

I've had a couple Linksys/Cisco and had no problem with them whatsoever, but I'm really disappointed with the company because they still have not updated their firmware for many of their routers for the WPS vulnerability issue. What is worse, is the fact that the interim measures apparently work with most other brands. When the interim measure is implemented on Linksys/Cisco routers, the router ignores your setting (turning WPS off actually does nothing on many of their consumer routers).

I know little about networking and this vulnerability? Is this critical or something the in built Windows Firewall will prevent?

Check out the Linksys E4200 Dual-Band Wireless-N Router. A popular option these days.

Reviversoft: View attachment 204601

I use the E4200. I have had to reset it twice in maybe a year. No other problems. That is good service I think.

That is a tad bit overboard in terms of price but I guess I should present it as an option.

Any thoughts on the Linksys router I mentioned in my earlier post?

 

[F5ing]

I've had a couple Linksys/Cisco and had no problem with them whatsoever, but I'm really disappointed with the company because they still have not updated their firmware for many of their routers for the WPS vulnerability issue. What is worse, is the fact that the interim measures apparently work with most other brands. When the interim measure is implemented on Linksys/Cisco routers, the router ignores your setting (turning WPS off actually does nothing on many of their consumer routers).

I know little about networking and this vulnerability? Is this critical or something the in built Windows Firewall will prevent?

Windows Firewall cannot prevent the occurence, but it can help protect your computer(s) if it happens (although I wouldn't trust it at that point). Your network and its internet capability would however, remain compromised.

Consumer routers that display the "Wifi certification" logo on the box are vulnerable. In other words, almost any wireless router purchased in the past few years. Most brands have the option to turn off WPS. I've never fully trusted it anyway so I've always turned it off. The problem with Linksys, and as far as I know only Linksys, you can tell the router to turn it off, the router then tells you it's now turned off, but it really isn't. It is still vulnerable.

This has been known for a year now (although only widely known since around Nov. 2011). I would've expected a company with the reputation that Cisco/Linksys has to be more aggressive than most of the others to get this fixed. Especially considering the fact that most of their Linksys-branded products are the only ones where interim measures are useless.

US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#723755 - WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) PIN brute force vulnerability

ISC Diary | Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) PIN Brute Force Vulnerability

Cisco response: Cisco Security Response: Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN Brute Force Vulnerability

Linksys response: Article

All that said, I don't recall ever having to reboot a Linksys router unexpectedly. They do seem for the most part rock-solid. And you can install third party firmware on some models that mitigate the issue.