Recommended Wireless Router

Can anyone recommend a really good wireless router that will work well with my 17" MBP and my wife's PC?
Thanks!

I have a Linksys WRT54GS that works fine in my home network - my MacBook Pro, Vista Desktop PC and an HP wifi printer (all WPA2 encrypted connections). Having said that though, I've never had a problem in the past either, first using a D-Link,then a Belkin (had the linksys for the past couple of years).
99% of the time, one wireless router will work as well as another - 802.11b/g/n are standards, so it shouldn't really matter. I know it sometimes does, usually because of obtuse configuration/settings interfaces. But I've set up dozens of different makes/models of wifi routers for mixed Apple&Windows environments, and there's usually no problem.

Similar Messages

  • Recommendations:Wireless Router Broadband over phone for Macbook (white)

    Can you please offer advice about buying a wireless router for my new Macbook?
    I have been using old fashioned cables and a speedtouch modem on my eMac up to now.
    Buying the Macbook has pushed me into the 21st century and I'm getting my head around wireless and what I need to do to connect to the internet.
    What are good buys for wireless routers?
    I have a broadband connection using the landline.
    I am looking for the most user friendly solution please!

    Have purchased the Modem/router supplied by ISP.

  • 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.
    You can also use a NAS.. many brands available but the top brands are synology, qnap and netgear readynas  series. These will all do Time Machine backups although how well always depends on Apple sticking to a standard. There are cheaper ones.. I bought a single disk zyxel which was rebadged and sold through my local supermarket. It actually works very well for TM at least on Snow Leopard. Major changes were made in Lion and again ML so do not instantly think it will work on later versions. I haven't tried it yet with those versions.
    Any external drive can be plugged into the mac. Use the one with the fastest connection or cheapest price according to your budget. USB2 drives are cheap and plentiful. But no where near as fast as USB3 or FW800. So just pick whichever suits the ports on your Mac. Interesting Apple finally moved to USB3 on their latest computers.
    TM should exclude the VM partition file.. it is useless backing it up from Mac OS side.. and will slow TM as it needs to backup that partition everyday for no purpose.. TM cannot see the files inside it to backup just the changes.
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  • Home wireless router recommendations

    I just bought the HP Touch 600XT PC all in one.   I would like to set my home for wireless regardless where I am in the home to access the printer-HP J4680 all in one printer.  I watch the video on "Know your PC".   What would you recommend for me to purchase what home wireless router system.  I am considering the router range- needing a repeater.   Down the road I will be looking at a lap top to be added to the net work. 
    Window 7 opearating system
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    Try the D-Link Home Network Configurator
    Carey Frisch
    Microsoft MVP
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  • Searching for the right wireless router -- Recommendations?

    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.

  • Wireless Router Recommendation

    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.
    I would like the new router to have a good range, NAT, MAC address filtering, Ethernet ports, WAN Ping Blocking, and USB for sharing a printer or external drive.
    Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

    I would buy the AirPort Extreme Base Station myself. For my needs, the unit would be perfect if it had four Ethernet ports instead of three. But I may still change my mind. When was the last version of this Airport release? With the iPad and possibly a new iPhone on the horizon, I am sure an update to the Airport station is no where near the front burners.
    I was consdering the new Belkin Play Max router since my old router is a Belkin. But I read from on-line reviews that the interface is confusing and it is very far from being plug and play as it claims.
    Thanks for the link to the Netgear WNDR3700 that look good too. The Netgear Rangemax WNDR3700 and the Cisco Linksys E3000 also caught my attention. Has anyone used either one yet?

  • 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

  • Recommend Wireless Cable ROUTER Recommendations

    Can anyone recommend a good wireless Cable router for use in California?
    I've given up trying to get a new LINKSYS Wireless-G WRT544 (and new LINKSYS Cable Modem BEFCMU10) to work here.
    The specific problem: My 20MB-100MB .mov Quicktime movies consistantly stall while viewing them on the internet.
    I have very tediously ruled out all cables, browsers, workstations.
    The problem duplicates: Mac>LinksysModem (no router).
    The problem clears using Mac>BestModem (no router).
    The problem returns Mac>BestModem>LinksysRouter (reset to default with new firmware).
    I have given up on the Linksys brand.
    My Asante wireless router used to work right, but I think it has began failing and I am trying to replace it.
    Comments appreciated...

    Interesting recommendation...
    I typoed my original post.
    The Linksys router I returned today was a WRT54G v5 with new firmware: 1.00.2
    (I was not bold enough to add on "Alchemy Firmware" but thanks for the tip).
    UPDATE:
    I returned the Linksys Router and Linksys cabel modem.
    I hooked up a new Motorola cable modem SURFboard® model SB5120 and instantly got my movie speed back (same as with my old BestData CMX110).
    I have deduced that:
    1) The Linksys modem was the problem (since I had the problem plugged directly into it), and
    2) The Linksys router was the problem (since the problem returned when I plugged the router into a properly-functioning BestData modem).
    Again, I should add I did all the hardware, software resetting to default, including turning everything off and back on in proper sequence.
    I am currently running off my old Asante router, looking into the new routers (Apple router seems pretty expensive at $200).
    The http://www.jerrykindall.com/2005/06/23the_routerking.asp was especially useful (the D-Link DGL-4300 GamerLounge sound impressive, but at $300 may more than I need).

  • Wireless router brand recommendation?

    We're planning to go away from AOL and to Bellsouth or some other faster service provider soon. I stopped at Microcenter last nite to ask about wireless routers and the Mac guy there recommended a Belkin router over a Lynksis brand. He said the Lynksis router did not have Mac readers and would not be compatible with my G4 (although it would work with the pc I have).
    I've read many times in this discussion to stay away from Belkin as it's not a Mac friendly brand. So, can anyone confirm that the Belkin would, indeed, be a good router to buy or give me a recommendation on a similar, budget priced wireless router with ethernet connections.
    Thanks.

    Netgear are also a good solid Mac friendly brand, I've got a Wireless Netgear Access Point setup on my G5 & Xbox to connect to my ISP's Wi-Fi Modem, its works perfectly on both. I also know a few other people who use the brand's Wireless Routers & have no hassles what so ever. They're super easy to setup - just login with Safari & after a few clicks you have secure wire-free networking.
    Rory

  • 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)

    Very few 3rd party wireless extenders will work with an Apple router, so your best bet is always to use an extender that is the same brand as the main router. An AirPort Express is a popular choice for this type of application with another Apple router.
    If you had a Cisco router, then a Cisco extender would be your best bet.  Same for Netgear, etc.
    But......a wireless extender can only "extend" the quality of wireless signal that it receives, and not much of a wireless signal is going to make it through a brick wall, so whether any extender might do what you want is open to question.
    You won't know whether an extender using wireless to connect will work to your satisfaction in your home until you actually try it out in your home.
    The performance will always be much better if you can connect the extending device back to the main router using a wired Ethernet cable connection.
    If it is not possible to run the Ethernet cable, a pair of Ethernet power line adapters might be able to send the signal over the existing AC power lines in your home. The theory with these devices is that you already have the wiring in place, you just need the adapters.
    In practice though, things do not always work as well as the theory might suggest, so if you decide to try a pair of adapters, it might be a good idea to understand the store's return policies before you buy.

  • Can anyone recommend a wireless router

    can anyone recommend a wireless router....I just bought a Ipod Touch and have not been able to use all of the features. I currently have Windows XP Pro.....the one main computer in the house, a Xbox 360 is hooked up to a Linksys router at the moment. I'm new at this and don't know the specifications I would need for the Ipod Touch and which router works the best with it.

    The iPod Touch only uses b/g wireless standards, so you can use any wireless-g router. Since Wireless-N is the next standard, you can usually get a Wireless-G at an economical price. G is an older standard and quite sturdy. Linksys would be a good choice for you since you are already using one from that company. Just swap it out with your existing router. Special note: if you do go wireless, be sure to shut off the wireless on your iPod Touch when not using it; drains the battery.

  • Wireless router recommendations

    What wireless routers will work best with my new MacBook? It will be located in the living room and as such will need to reach through walls and such. I know some are going better than others but what things should I be looking for? What must I spend to get a decent router?

    Hi Bowden,
    I never had problem with Netgear and Linksys, but some other user have a hard time with some linksys model.
    Best bet to get best wireless router will be using apple airport:
    http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=E1B D7358&fnode=home/shopmac/mac_accessories/airportwireless&nplm=MB053LL/A
    or
    http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=124 87AA8&fnode=home/shopmac/mac_accessories/airportwireless&nplm=M9470LL/A
    It will save your time configuring it, and you got both support for router and macbook from the same company.
    Good Luck.

  • Can anyone recommend a good wireless router for both Mac and PC?

    Hello! I am looking to purchase a wireless router, and was told that Linksys in general (and a specific model in particular) isn't Mac-friendly. I need a nuetral router that works well with my MacBook and my Dell laptop (which I need to purchase a wireless card for). I also have a PC but I can just connect it via Ethernet cable.
    Any suggestion is greatly appreciated!
    MacBook 1,1   Mac OS X (10.4.7)  

    hi - Linksys wireless routers work fine with macs (i
    have one)...
    perhaps the reason you heard they're not mac friendly
    is because the software they give you to configure
    the router only runs under wintel.... but you really
    don't need that software...
    one can have total control over the setup simply by
    firing up a web browser (on a machine either directly
    connected to the router via ethernet or w/ a wireless
    connection) and going to http://192.168.1.1/
    that'll get you talking directly to the router...
    i'm actually not aware of any routers that really
    don't work well w/ macs... so i think you can just
    choose based on features & price...
    cheers
    p.s. Welcome to Apple Discussions!
    I currently am trying to set up a linksys router. Unfortunately, I dont know what to do once i am at the router's config page to make it start working. Can you help me out? thanks.

  • I want a new and more powerful (non-Apple) wireless router but I still want to use my existing Time Capsule to continue with my Time Machine backups and I still need the Time Capsule's Network Attached Storage (NAS) features and capabilities

    THE SHORTER STORY
    My goal is to successfully use my existing Time Capsule (TC) with a new and more powerful wireless router. I need a new and more powerful wireless router in order to reach a distant Denon a/v receiver that is physically located in a master bedroom some 50 feet away from my modem. I need to provide this Denon a/v receiver with an Internet connection so that it can obtain its firmware updates and I need to connect this Denon a/v receiver to my network in order to use its AirPlay feature. I believe l still need the TC's Network Attached Storage (NAS) features because I am not sure if the new wireless router will provide me with the NAS like features / capabilities I need to share files between my two Apple laptops with OS X 10.8.2. And I know that I absolutely need my TC's seamless integration with Apple's Time Machine (TM) application in order to continue to make effortless backups of my two Apple laptops. To my knowledge nothing works with TM like Apple's TC. I also need the hard disk storage space built into the TC.
    I cannot use a long wired Ethernet cable connection in this apartment and I cannot use power-line adapters. I have read that wireless range extenders and repeaters are difficult to successfully set-up and that they will reduce data speeds, especially so when incorrectly set-up. I cannot relocate my modem and/or primary base station wireless router.
    In short, I want to use my TC with my new and more powerful wireless router. I need to stop using the TC to connect to the modem. However, I still need the TC for seamless TM backups. I also need to use the TC's built in hard drive for storage. And I may still need the TC's NAS capabilities to share files wirelessly between laptops because I am assuming the new wireless router will not provide NAS capabilities for OS X 10.8.2 (products like this/non-Apple products rarely seem to work with OS X 10.8.2/Macs to provide NAS features and capabilities). Finally, I want to continue to use my Apple laptop and AirPlay to wirelessly access and play my iTunes music collection stored on the TC's hard drive. I also want to continue to use my Apple laptop, AirPlay and Apple TV to wirelessly watch movies and TV shows stored on the additional external hard drive connected to the TC via USB. Can someone please advise on how to set-up my new Asus wireless router with my existing TC in such a way to accomplish all of this?
    What is the best configuration or set-up to accomplish my above goals?
    Thank you in advance for your assistance!!!
    THE FULL STORY
    I live in an apartment building where my existing Time Capsule (TC) is located in my living room and serves many purposes. Specially, my TC is at least all of the following:
    (1) Wi-Fi router connected to Comcast Internet service via Motorola SB6121 cable modem - currently the TC is the Wi-Fi base station that connects to the modem and has the gateway address to the Internet. The TC now provides the DHCP service for the Wi-Fi network.
    (2) Wireless router providing Internet and Wi-Fi network access to several Wi-Fi clients - two Apple laptop computers, an iPod touch, an iPad and an iPhone all connect wirelessly to the Internet via the TC.
    (3) Wired Ethernet router providing Internet and Wi-Fi network access to three different devices - a Panasonic TV, LG Blu-Ray player and an Apple TV each use one of the three LAN ports on the back of the TC to gain access to the Internet.
    (4) Primary base station in my attempt to extend my wireless network to a distant (located far away) Denon a/v receiver requiring a wired Ethernet connection - In addition to the TC, which is my primary base station, I am also using a second extended Wi-Fi base station (a Netgear branded product) to wirelessly extend my WiFi network to a Denon receiver located in the master bedroom and requiring a wired Ethernet connection. I cannot use a wired Ethernet connection to continuously travel from the living room to the master bedroom. The distance is too great as I cannot effectively hide the Ethernet cable in this apartment.
    (5) Time Machine (TM) backup facilitator - I use my TC to wirelessly back-up two Apple laptops using Apple's Time Machine (TM) application. However, I ran out of storage space on my TC and therefore added external storage to it. Specifically, I added an external hard drive to my TC via the USB port on the back of the TC. I now use this added external hard drive connected to the TC via USB as the destination storage drive for my TM back-ups. I have partitioned the added external hard drive, and each of the several partitions all have enough storage space (e.g., each of the two partitions used by TM are sized at three times the hard drive space of each laptop, etc.). Everything works flawlessly.
    (6) Network Attached Storage (NAS) - In addition to using the TC's Network Attached Storage (NAS) capabilities to wirelessly back-up two Apple laptops via TM, I also store other additional files on both (A) the hard drive built into the TC and (B) the additional external hard drive connected to the TC via USB (there are additional separate partitions on this drive for these other additional and non-TM backup files).
    I use the TC's NAS feature with my Apple laptop and AirPlay to wirelessly access and play my iTunes music collection stored on the TC's hard drive. I also use my Apple laptop, AirPlay and Apple TV to wirelessly watch movies and TV shows stored on the additional external hard drive connected to the TC via USB. Again, everything works wirelessly and flawlessly. (Note: the Apple TV is connected to the network via Ethernet and a LAN port on the back of the TC).
    The issue I am having is when I try to listen to music via Apple's AirPlay in the master bedroom. This master bedroom is located at a distance of two rooms away from the TC's current location in the living room, which is a distance of about 50 feet. This apartment has a long rectangular floor plan where each room is connected to the next in a straight line. In order to use AirPlay in the master bedroom I am using a second extended Wi-Fi base station (a Netgear branded product) to wirelessly extend my WiFi network to a Denon receiver located in the master bedroom and requiring a wired Ethernet connection. This additional base station connects wirelessly to the WiFi network provided by my TC and then gives my Denon receiver the wired Ethernet connection it needs to use AirPlay. I have tried moving my iTunes music directly onto my laptop's hard drive, and then I used AirPlay on this same laptop to connect to the Denon receiver. I always get a successful connection and the song plays, but the problem is that the connection inevitably drops.
    I live in an apartment building and all of the many wireless routers in this building create a great deal of WiFi interference on both the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands. I have tried connecting the Netgear product to each the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, but neither band can successfully maintain a wireless connection between the TC and the Netgear product. I also attempted to maintain a wireless connection to an iPod touch using the 2.4 GHz band and AirPlay on this iPod touch to play music on the Denon receiver. Again, I was able to establish a connection and successfully play music, but after a few minutes the connection dropped and the music stopped playing. I therefore have concluded that I have a poor wireless connection in the master bedroom. I can establish a connection, but it is intermittent with frequent drops. I have verified this with both laptops by working in the master bedroom for an entire day on both laptops. The Internet connection in this master bedroom proved to drop out frequently - about once an hour with the laptops. The wireless connection and the frequency of its dropout are far worse with the iPod touch and an iPhone.
    I cannot relocate the TC. Also, this is an apartment and I therefore cannot extend the range of my network with Ethernet cable (I cannot drill through walls/ceilings, etc.). It is an old building with antiquated wiring and power-line adapters are not likely to function properly, nor can I spare the direct power outlet required with a power-line adapter. I simply need every outlet I can get and cannot afford to block any direct outlet.
    My solution is to use a more powerful wireless router. I found the ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router which will likely provide a better connection to my wireless Internet in the master bedroom than the TC. The 802.11ac band of this Asus wireless router is totally useless to me, but based on what I have read I believe this router will provide a stronger connection at greater distances then my TC. And I will be ready for 802.11ac when it becomes more widely available.
    However, I still need to maintain the TC's ability to work seamlessly with TM to backup my two laptops. Also, I doubt the new Asus router will provide OS X 10.8.2 with NAS like features and capabilities. Therefore, I still would like to use the TC's NAS capabilities to share files on my network wirelessly assuming the Asus wireless router fails to provide this feature. I need a new and more powerful wireless router, but I need to maintain the TC's NAS features and seamless integration with TM. Finally, I want to continue to use my Apple laptop and AirPlay to wirelessly access and play my iTunes music collection stored on the TC's hard drive. I also want to continue to use my Apple laptop, AirPlay and Apple TV to wirelessly watch movies and TV shows stored on the additional external hard drive connected to the TC via USB. Can someone advise on how to set-up my existing TC with this new Asus wireless router in such a way to accomplish all of this?
    Modem
    Motorola SB6121 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
    Existing Wireless Router and Primary Wi-Fi Base Station - Apple Time Capsule
    Apple Time Capsule MC343LL/A 1TB Sim DualBand (purchased June 2010, likely the Winter 2009 Model)
    Desired New Wireless Router and Primary Wi-Fi Base Station - Non-Apple Asus
    ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router
    Extended Wi-Fi Base Station - Provides an Ethernet Connection to a Denon A/V Receiver Two Rooms Away from the Modem
    Netgear Universal Dual Band Wireless Internet Adapter for TV & Blu-Ray (WNCE3001)
    Addition External Hard Drive Attached to the Existing Apple Time Capsule via USB
    WD My Book Studio 4TB Mac External Hard Drive Storage USB 3.0
    Existing Laptops on the Wireless Network Requiring Time Machine Backups
    MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012) OS X 10.8.2
    MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010) OS X 10.8.2
    Other Existing Apple Products (Clients) on the Wireless Network
    iPod Touch (second generation) is model A1288.
    iPad (1st generation)
    Apple TV (3rd generation) - Quantity two (2)

    Thanks Bob Timmons.
    In regards to a Plan B, I hear ya brother. I am already on what feels like Plan Z. Getting WiFi to a far off room in an apartment building crowded with WiFi routers is a major pain.
    I am basing my thoughts on the potential of a new and more powerful router reaching the far off master bedroom based on positive reviews on cnet.com, pcmag.com and pcworld.com. All 3 of these web sites have reviewed the Asus RT-AC66U 802.11AC wireless router as well as its virtual twin cousin 802.11n router. What impressed me is that all 3 sites rated this router #1 overall in terms of both range and speed (in both the 802.11n and 802.11AC flavors). They tested the router in real world scenarios where the router needed to compete with a lot of other wireless routers. One of the sites even buried this Asus router in a media room with thick walls and inside a media cabinet. This Asus router should be able to serve my 2.4 GHz band wireless clients (iPod Touch and iPhone 4) with a 2.4GHz Wireless-N band offering some 50 feet of dependable range and a 60 Mbps throughput at that range. I am hoping that works, but it's borderline for my master bedroom. My 5 GHz wireless clients (laptops) will enjoy a 5GHz Wireless-N band offering 150 feet of range and a 200 Mbps throughput at that range. I have no idea what most of that stuff means, but I did also read that Asus could reach 300 feet and I got really excited. My mileage may vary of course and I'm sure I'm making some mistakes in my interpretation of their data. However, my Winter 2009 Time Capsule was rated by cnet.com to deliver real world performance of less than that, and 802.11AC may or may not be useful to me someday. But when this Asus arrives and provides anything other than an excellent and consistent wireless signal without drops in the master bedroom it's going right back!
    Your solution sounds great, but I have some questions. I'm using OS X 10.8.2 and Airport Utility (version 6.1 610.31) and on its third tab labeled "Wireless" the top option enables you to set "Network Mode" to either:
    Create a wireless network
    Extend a wireless network
    Off
    Given your advice to "Turn off the wireless on the TC," should I set Network Mode to Off? Sorry, I'm clueless in regards to how to turn off the wireless on the TC any other way. Can you provide specific steps on how to turn off the wireless on the TC? If what I wrote is correct then what should the rest of this Wireless tab look like, or perhaps it is irrelevant when wireless is off?
    Next, what do you mean by "Configure the TC in Bridge Mode?" Under Airports Utility's fourth tab labeled "Network" the top option "Router Mode" allows for either:
    DHCP and Nat
    DHCP Only
    Off (Bridge Mode)
    Is your advice to Configure the TC in Bridge Mode as simple as setting Router Mode to Off (Bridge Mode)? If yes, then what should the rest of this "Network" tab look like? Anything else involved in configuring the TC in Bridge Mode or is it really as simple as setting the Router Mode to "Off (Bridge Mode)"?
    How about the other tabs in Airport Utility, can they all stay as is assuming I use the same network name and password for the new Asus wireless router? Or do I need to make any other changes to the TC via Airport Utility?
    Finally, in regards to your Plan B suggestion. I agree. But do you have a Plan B for me? I would greatly appreciate any alternative you could provide. Specifically, if you needed a TC's Internet connection to reach a far off corner of your home how would you do it? In the master bedroom I need both a wired Ethernet connection for the Denon a/v receiver and wireless Internet connection for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
    Power-Line Adapters - High Cost, Blocks at Least One Wall Outlet and Does Not Solve the Wireless Need
    I actually like exactly one power-line adapter, which is the D-Link DHP-540 PowerLine AV 500 4-Port Gigabit Switch. This D-Link power-line adapter plugs into your wall outlet with a normal sized plug (regular standard power cord much like any other electronic device) instead of all of the other recommended power-line adapters that not only use at least one wall outlet but also often block the second outlet. You cannot use a power strip with a power-line adapter which is very impractical for me. And everything about my home is strange and upside down. The wiring here is a disaster and I don't have faith in its ability to carry Internet access from the living room to the master bedroom. And this D-Link power-line adapter costs $90 each and I need at least two to make the connection to the Denon A/V receiver. So, $180 on this solution and I still don't have a dependable drop free wireless connection in the master bedroom. The Denon might get its Ethernet Internet connection from the power-line adapter, but if I want to use an iPhone 4 or iPod Touch to stream AirPlay music to the Denon wirelessly (Pandora/iTunes, etc.) from the master bedroom the wireless connection will not be stable in there and I've already spent $190 on just the two power-line adapters needed.
    Extenders / Repeaters / Wirelessly Extending the Wireless Network
    I have also read great things about the Amped Wireless High Power Wireless-N 600mW Gigabit Dual Band Range Extender (Repeater) SR20000G and the My Net Wi-Fi Range Extender. The former is very powerful and the latter is easier to install. Both cost about $150 ish so similar to a new Asus router. However, everything I read about Range Extenders points to them not being very effective for a far off corner of your house wherein it's apparently hard to place the range extender in the sweet spot where it both gets a strong enough signal to actually effectively extend the wireless signal and otherwise does not reduce network throughput speeds to unacceptable speeds.
    Creating a Roaming Network By Hard Wiring with Ethernet Cable - Wife Would Say, "**** No!"
    Even Apple seems to warn against wirelessly extending your network (see: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145#) and otherwise strongly recommends a roaming network where Ethernet cable is used to connect two wireless base stations. However, I am in an apartment where stringing together two wireless base stations with Ethernet cable would have an extremely low wife acceptance factor (WAF). I cannot (both contractually and from a skill prospective) hide Ethernet wire in the walls or ceiling. And having visible Ethernet cable running from room-to-room would be unacceptable, especially to the wife.
    So what is left? Do you have a Plan B for me? Thanks in advance for your help!

  • My HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 won't connect to my wireless router

    This is bizarre.  I have had my HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 for about 6 months.  It has generally worked fine, and we have used it wirelessly only.  But now it refuses to connect to the router.  It can FIND the router, and it can find other networks in the area, but it won't connect to the router.  I ran the Wireless Network Test, and the results say:
    Wireless On - Pass // Wireless Working - Pass //
    Network Name (SSID) found - Pass //  Wireless Networks Detected - 9
    Printer Settings Consistent with Wireless Router Settings - Pass / No Filtering - FAIL //
    So it recommends solution as follows: "1 If MAC Address filtering is enabled, and you would like to keep it enabled, you must add the Mac address of your printer to the list of permitted devices for your router before continuing."
    Except, guess what, I don't have MAC Address filtering enabled.  I wouldn't know how to do that, much less check for it.
    Also, before today, this was never a problem.  HELP!
    Thanks....
    If you are interested, here's more detail and background.  
    Before today, the only problem we have had is that frequently our Apple laptop (OS X 10.6) has trouble connecting to the printer.  This has been odd because the printer is connected to the network, and so is the laptop, but the laptop can't find the printer - it thinks the printer is "offline" (even though it's not).  Usually, if I wait a while, it will find the printer, and it will resolve itself work fine.  If not, we sometimes have found that it can fix itself if you restart the laptop -- restarting the printer does not make a difference.   In fact, I did exactly that today, and it resolved itself.  And I printed.  Fine, right?
    But then I wanted to do more printing, and the problem of the laptop not finding the printer came up again, so I decided to really "get to the bottom of this."  I don't remember exactly what I did, but somehow I was persuaded by the online help, that the correct solution would be to go into my System Preferences / Print and Fax, and click on the "-", which de-installs the printer, with the idea of re-installing the printer.  But then when I tried to re-install the printer, it could not find the printer.  Ugh!  Wierdly, it found an 8600 Scanner, but not an 8600 printers.  After installing and de-installing the 8600 scanner a few times, I eventually deinstalled everything, and I decided to start from scratch.  I got my HP disk, and installed all the software again from the beginning (even though it was already there), and then it looked for my printer, but couldn't find it.  So then I got a USB cord, and plugged that in.
    So, now I have a situation where I do have a working printer via the USB cord, but no wireless connection at all.  In particular, since the Office Jet Pro 8600 won't connect to the router, I don't know what else to do.  My Apple MacBook pro is 2 feet away from the printer, and it is connected to the router just fine (as is my blackberry), and I have never before had a problem connecting to the wireless router by the printer.
    Any suggestions?

    There are two things that can trip the mac filtering test to fail:  actual MAC address filtering setup (sounds like this is not the case) and using wireless channel 6 or automatic for wireless channel in the wireless network settings (in the router).  Since it does show failed for MAC filtering and you do not use this option, try changing the wireless channel in the router to 1 or 11.  Those two channels provide the best compatibility with printers due to less interference.  Almost everything defaults to auto or 6 for the channel and this causes a lot of interference.  This change should not affect anything at all.  To do this, you may need to contact the router manufacturer as the process differs from router to router.
    What brand and model is the router?
    Has anything in the network settings changed at all?
    What version is the Mac OS X?  There may be additional steps to take as it sounds like there are two separate issues involved and this could be revisited later.
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