Recommend a Wireless Router?

Hello all.
I used to have an older "UFO" AirPort Extreme BS in the office to provide cable modem broadband to my Mac Pro (wired) and wireless network to my MBP and my iPhone. "Sadly" I think the AP has malfunctioned and is not providing the wireless networking properly (MBP and/or iPhone cannot detect the network or cannot log on, even when the wireless network is not protected)
Anyway, I see no point in investing a new AirPort Extreme BS in the office (rather for home use), because I just wanted the "extra" wireless networking.
Can anyone recommend a wireless router 'similar' to the AP - providing both wired and wireless network router, that can be easy to configure on a Mac? I am seeing some popular brands like D-Link, Linksys, etc.
Thanks and cheers

Russa wrote:
It's been my experience that LinkSys and Netgear routers are built for mass market (and PC) and offer a less than satisfactory performance threshold. LinkSys WRT54g, while one of the most popular models, is very inefficient and unreliable even with the dd-WRT open-source firmware upgrade. If you have broadband service thruput up to 3Mbps then perhaps these makes are ok for you. Newer models may be more efficient and reliable. Perhaps someone with a newer LinkSys can offer their opinion. However, if you have a cable modem with >5Mbps thruput then you probably want to think hard again about an Apple router. Apple does make a high-performance router. You may want to consider ZyXEL if you want a cheap router with very high efficiency.
FWIW, I don't agree with your statements about LinkSys and NetGear. I've been using these routers professionally and as a home consumer for many years without problem. If your experience is that these routers can not handle your broadband connection speeds then I think you have other problems with your setup, or you have unfortunately purchased defective routers. Or, as your broadband speeds have increased you have not updated your network components to keep pace.
LinkSys (CISCO) and NetGear have been long time leaders in providing router technology.
Message was edited by: BobTheFisherman

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Hi,
I have both an Airport Extreme and an Airport Express, and both now work flawlessly with my 2Ghz Core 2 Duo MacBook. White it is considerably more expensive, they're so easy to setup and have awesome range and signal strength.
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I want to set up the Time Machine and I would love to use the Time Capsule but since I already have a wireless router I need suggestions on what other external disks Apple could recommend to use with the Time Machine and how to configure that disk

I want to set up the Time Machine and I would love to use the Time
Capsule but since I already have a wireless router I need suggestions on
what other
external disks Apple could recommend to use with the Time Machine and
how to configure that disk.
A complication that I need to resolve is the fact that I am using Vmware
Fusion to be able to use Windows on my Mac. Now it seems that Time
Machine is not backing up my files
on that virtual Windows without additional configuration and my question
is whether you can advise me here or whether this is only a matter for
the Fusion virtual machine.

If you want to use Time Capsule you can.. you simply bridge it and plug it into the existing router.. wireless can be either turned off or used to reinforce the existing wireless.. eg use 5ghz in the TC which is much faster than your 2.4ghz.
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Hi, I'm hoping that my newbie status to the mac world won't effect the relevance of my questions but be rest assured, i have converted from pc to mac. Thank you Apple! Anyway, with introductions out of the way I'm extremely eager to find out what wireless router is best for the MacBook Pro. After being an annonymous surfer of these boards for the last few months since the MBP release I've been unable to find conclusive recommendations of what works and what doesn't. I've taken into effect that there are a lot of factors that go into setting up a wireless network (being this will be my first) and I just want everything to work without the hassle of buying several different routers before finally being satisfied. So here are the factors that are effecting my decision:
- I'm going to be living in a apartment. (no concrete walls)
- I'm going to be using a Comcast standard Motorola Surfboard 5120 Cable Modem. (unless the router comes built with a modem)
- I'd like to be able to hook up a wired device as well as use wireless devices with the router so having multiple ports is important. (wan/lan compatible)
- I'd like the router to have as much security as possible without effecting my surfing, gaming, and streaming.
- I'd really like the router to be somewhat Tech-Friendly so I don't have to go through hours of support services and web digging to get to the bottom of any problems that may come up.
Ok so with that all said, what are your suggestions?
MacBook Pro 2.16 Ghz 2 with 2 Gig Ram Mac OS X (10.4.7)

UrbanOne,
I have no idea what some posters are talking about
when they mention "networking issues." Really, I
don't.
I have never had any trouble with Airport/wireless
with any of my Macs, regardless of model. This
includes my current MBP. It hasn't dropped a
connection once. It hasn't had difficulty connecting
to my network. To this point, it has been perfect.
Period.
Given that I do not have any problems (and never
have), there's not much more I can say about some of
the things that have been posted (feel free to read
between the lines, here). So, I will just go on to
my recommendations...
I recently replaced an older router (Belkin) with a
Linksys WRT54G. I have been very impressed
with this router. It has top-notch security
features, and these features are very easy to enable
and use via the router's web interface. All of the
router's other features (many) are easily accessible,
easy to find and control using the well designed
interface. It doesn't take an IT pro to figure out
how and what to do with the router.
I am quite happy with the signal, the range, and the
robustness of this router. I can go outside my
house, and still get full-speed transfers/downloads
all the way down to the point where I no longer get
any signal indicated by the Airport icon.
When I walk closer to the house, the signal picks
right back up, and so does my bandwidth.
I also have an Airport Express, and I love it, too.
It is only used either for printing or Airtunes, and
as such it only joins my existing network. When I
have used it to create its own network in the past,
it has worked very well.
We have a printer upstairs; when we want to print to
it, the tower upstairs acts as a server. Someone
will go upstairs and wake the tower up, and it
immediately becomes available. We have a laser
printer downstairs. The AE is sometimes in the
living room, connected to the stereo for Airtunes.
If this is the case, we need only unplug it, move it
to the printer, connect it and plug it in. When it
has booted, we can print to the laser printer. When
we need to transfer some files, someone will turn on
sharing, and someone else will connect. Simple.
What I'm trying to illustrate is that the WRT54G
simply works, no matter what we are doing, and
we don't have to jump through hoops to make it work.
As far as speed, what do you need? Any 802.11G
router, Airport or otherwise, will provide more
bandwidth than your internet connection. The only
advantage an "n" or "pre-n" router will bring is
faster network transfers. Your internet
connection will not be affected. Unless you are
constantly making large network transfers, 802.11G
will provide everything you need, for a lot less.
BTW, the WRT54G that I recommend can be had for
under $50.
Scott
This has been the most useful reply I have recieved yet, I will definitely take that model into consideration. I really hope that setting this model up will be as simple as you say it is.

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I want to buy a new wireless router to replace my aging Belkin G Router. It has been a long time since I purchased a new one. I am not sure what is good out there. Airport Extreme looks promising but I am wondering what routers would be the comparable or better. Just so that I can make a properly informed decision.
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I can't get a signal through whole house because of a brick wall What range extender do you recommend to be used with my wireless router ( apple brand)

I can't get a signal through whole house because of a brick wall What range extender do you recommend to be used with my wireless router ( apple brand)

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