Help me picka router

[RCBH928]

Maybe you have seen myother post about my dsl router not working with my wimax system(long story)

Any how I am looking to buy a Linksys router...
But I do not know what to buy
I go to the website and this is what I find:
Wireless-G , Wireless-N, Super Speed, RangePlus, Broadband, DualBand
and they have those black little machines that look like min UFO's and they got the older boxed black ones with blue heads...
10/100, gigabit

GOD why does technology have to be so complicated, there are 13 options!!
All I can say is that I need wireless router with no DSL modem built in.
Please help me figure all this terminology .

[nickfil]

I don't know as much as i should about the ins and outs of this stuff, but I haven't gone wrong with an airport extreme. I know some people complain about getting multiple accounts on xbox live, or having weird issues. I haven't had any issues and everything runs great.

[chipperkwah]

Linksys WRT-54G, best one there is. Easy setup, great range. I think they go for 50 bucks or so, get one and I promise you won't have any complaints

[Cronson]

Linksys WRT-54G, best one there is. Easy setup, great range. I think they go for 50 bucks or so, get one and I promise you won't have any complaints

I'd back that up. Linksys has always been good.

I set up a wired hub that connects both my PS3 and 360 (no more switching wires). I don't know if its true but the wired connection might be faster. I lucked out and got my workstation from Circuit City when they went under.

[Niode]

Yes, either the WRT54G or the WRT54GL (the linux one that is more compatible with custom firmwares)

The different drafts of wireless, IE Wireless G and Wireless N are the various speeds that you can transmit at over WiFi. They are theoretical maximum and as such you are unlikely to get sustain transmit at the max speeds, various other factors alter transfer speed for wireless communications, EG signal interference, distance from access point, quality of antennae.

Wireless G is rated at 54Mbps, some routers/network interfaces support turbo mode which allows up to twice that.

Wireless N is rated at 108Mbps but I've heard people getting maximum transmission up to 500Mbps. Which is actually faster than the 10/100 wired ethernet controllers these kinds of modems incorporate.

Please note that draft N doesn't guarantee you'll get the maximum connection speed over wireless, if you only have Wireless G rated network adapters. (IE Wii, 360 w/ network adaptor, PS3, most laptops older than a couple of years, most wireless network adaptors older than 2 years) you aren't going to see any benefit from Wireless N and therefore it's not really worth the investment since the draft N devices are almost £50-100 more expensive than their draft G counterparts.

However if you have multiple computers that aren't networkable via ethernet cables and want to share lots of files over the network you would be better served in the long term by getting a draft N router and upgrading your computers network adaptors. Since you get better (theoretical) transfer over wireless with draft N than you would with 10/100 ethernet.

Hope that clears things up. If not feel free to ignore my post as I fear I have gotten a little over-technical. I'm sorry.

edit: Again, since this is a technical related topic, I've moved it the Technical Help forum.

[opticledilusi0n]

get a buffalo, asus, or linksys (in that order of goodness for cheap home users)

install dd-wrt on any of them

instant good

[Anapan]

Another vote for wrt54g
as far as antennas go this is a simple improvement on the slim ones:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantenna
http://www.cantenna.com/

[RCBH928]

damn
I went to the store after waiting for sometime to get a reply, and after asking a technical guy told e that N is the best thing going on out there. Supposedly it covers a huge range. So I go to the store and I bought WRT160N.
I figured those are the sleek new models and the others are just old stock.
Also N technology must be the best. So I paid an extra $70 (over the other linksys routers such as the one you recommended ),
I come home and everyone is telling me to get the older model. Of course, N technology is crap, because I do not see any further range covered by it. The only good thing is that the size is smaller and the black colors of the system makes it not as much noticeable as the other models.

What makes me upset is that I could have gotten the usual router and the extra money($70) I could have used to get a range expander which are just as expensive as your usual router around here.

[Niode]

Yes, NEVER trust what the people in the store say, they will always push you to get the most expensive model.

Unless you live in a mansion or have several acres of land and want to browse the internet 100 metres from your house you will have no need for wireless N at all. Especially because it's unlikely you have any N draft wireless devices. Unless you have bought a laptop in the last 2 years you're unlikely to have it. Most devices come with G, it's cost prohibited to put N in anything other than top of the line products.

I've heard mixed reviews of the WRT160N. If I were you I'd take it back ASAP and just get the older models, they're proven work horses, have the most customizability and will be more than adequate for what you need. $100 is a lot of money for something that you are unlikely to get the most out of.

[dlmvii]

Not sure if it's been brought up yet, but the 802.11N specification has not even been fully created yet. Routers currently marketed as such are only implementing parts of what will be in the final technology when it is finalized. Right now, it's a very big waste of money.