Searching for the right wireless router -- Recommendations?

Question

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)  

Answer 1

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.