Difference in routers?

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Hello everyone,

I have a quick question concerning routers. I am able to, through where I work, get a Efficient Networks Speedstream 6300 802.11G Wireless router/modem to use with my connection.

A friend of a friend told me that unit is garbage and recommends a SMC 2804WBR 802.11G router and suggests I keep my existing modem and use them in concert. And go figure, he has one for sale!! Ironic!!

My question, is this guy full of shit and the speedstream is a good route to take, or is his suggestion a better set up?

Let me know when you get a moment.

Thanks a bunch.
LG

[ozymango]

A quick facts checking turns up that Efficient Networks is owned by Siemens, who as far as I know has always had quality products. So while I wouldn't go as far as to say your friend is full of shinola, I would definitely raise my eyebrow to him saying that this router is "garbage."

Although I'll bet that the SMC router would work just fine for you, too; most of these network appliances nowadays are very good and very similar in terms of construction and operation (assuming the same $$$ budget), and you probably would be happy with either.

However, you mention you can get one router through work and your friend is selling the other -- would the one you get from work be new, in a box, or something that's been in use for a while and they're upgrading? A "used" router may be just fine, in fact it could be a nice demonstration of a solid piece of equipment. Or they might be getting rid of it because somebody spilled coffee on it. :P

This goes for your friend's router as well -- what's the story on why he's got one to sell to you? Did he upgrade? Just likes buying boxes of stuff? I tend to be at least mildly suspect of somebody trying to sell me something in which they have a vested interest in the outcome. Nothing against your friend!

Anyway, to sort of answer your question -- I'd probably base this more on cost and features (if I'm looking for particular features) than anything else, as again the operation and quality is probably highly similar. But I don't have direct experience with either of these routers, I have an old Linksys router (pretty generic) that I'm happy with and I think I paid $75 for ... it's not wireless, though, so there is that, configuring wireless devices can be more simply done with some routers than others.

So maybe check to see if there are manuals for either of these on-line? Other than configuration, I'd say these two are even.

But that's just me, maybe somebody else can let us know about bigger differences to consider here!

[Lucifers_Ghost]

hey Ozzy .. i mean Ozy :P

Thanks for the reply!

In answer to some of your inquiries, i give you the following:

I knew that EN was owned by Siemens but didnt really know much about them and their products. good to know!!

The 6300 that i can get through work is free and brand new. Its a promotion. Long story but the short of it is that its free and brand new

The one that he has for sale is also brand new. He sells computer products as a side business. I have actually bought stuff off him before. Decent prices and no travel time or sales crap to deal with. I know what i want. i go get it.

As for features of the router? None really. As long as its a G class and wireless, Im good. Im just too freaking lazy to run 300 feet of enet cable through my house. Wireless is just easier at this point. Yeah, perhaps i'll have some problems with connections dropping once in awhile and perhaps some slowdowns due to ghz interference, but i can deal with that.

Does that help you a little more?

Anyone else?

LG

[ozymango]

The 6300 that i can get through work is free and brand new. Its a promotion. Long story but the short of it is that its free and brand new

Hey, LG, this would make my choice disgustingly easy -- free is a very good price! Uh, you couldn't by chance pick up two of these, eh? 8)

[Lucifers_Ghost]

The 6300 that i can get through work is free and brand new. Its a promotion. Long story but the short of it is that its free and brand new

Hey, LG, this would make my choice disgustingly easy -- free is a very good price! Uh, you couldn't by chance pick up two of these, eh? 8)

lol ... true. Free is good. But I'll pay for a good product before getting a free crappy one anyday :P

and .. i'll see what i can do :P

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Hello again,

I was speaking to my infamous friend from above and he mentioned to me the changing technology right now. He mentioned something about the 802.11g technology is on its way out and the new 802.108 (or something like that) technology is the way to go. Apparantly, with a .11g, my transfer rate/connection speed will suffer and wont be that good on a 3meg down/800k up high speed system but will be much better on the other 108.

Is this true or should I bitch slap this person?

LG


EDIT: I'll edit this to be clear. I do know about the 108 technology and i know that its 108 mbps. Thats fine. My question was more will I notice a difference on a 3meg internet connection.

Sorry for the confusion

[Ward River]

will I notice a difference on a 3meg internet connection.

No. None whatsoever.

[Supreme2k]

I never understood the need for ultra-fast wireless, when your connection is often about a tenth of that. I have a g router, but even my daughter's wireless b adapter is excellent, even for file transfer.

[ozymango]

Is this true or should I bitch slap this person?

I'd probably start with a few dope slaps and see how he responds, then escalate to full bitch-slap if he starts dropping IEEE names ...

I look at technology this way -- if it does what I need it to do for a relatively reasonable amount of money, then I'm happy. And trying to keep up with whatever the latest computer "standard" is, can be a path to madness (and an empty pocketbook!). Now, if you were trying to wirelessly transfer your hard drive back and forth every day, between your computer and a server, maybe it'd be worth it to get the new 802.11.304.h.x11.z card or whatever they're using (my work laptop as a 802.11b card, by the way, practically antique!). But for your average home network? Seems a bit overkill.

Sorta like, I think a Porsche Boxster is a lovely, lovely, lovely car, and if I had a few hundred thousand to spring on wheels, I might go for this myself. But let's say I need to drive to work everyday, at maybe a max of 70mph (and probably more like 35mph, stuck in some traffic jam). Would a Volkswagon Golf be a very useful car, able to satisfy my needs and achieve the performance I'm looking for? Very likely. Though I suppose your friend might say that the Golf is on the way out, only goes to a max of 90mph whereas your Boxster can do 150 ... ...

Besides, next year the 802.999 cards will be coming out and you'll be able to pick up the 802.108 card for five bucks!

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Is this true or should I bitch slap this person?

I'd probably start with a few dope slaps and see how he responds, then escalate to full bitch-slap if he starts dropping IEEE names ...

My friend, that is one of the funniest things I have ever read ... good job!!! haha.