Wireless router...need some advice

[alintatoc]

Hi everybody

I don't know much about wireless routers but I would like to buy one.

Which one is better to buy?

[redwudz]

The first one is apparently a wireless PCI Ethernet adapter. The second is a router. Buffalo routers have a generally good reputation. The next choice is a G or N type router. N is a bit faster data transfer, but all your computer Ethernet adapters would have to be compatible. G is a bit more common.

What do you plan to connect to the wireless router? A laptop? What brand and model? Unless it's fairly new, it probably has a G adapter.

With a wireless router, you should also study about WPA encryption, SSID settings, MAC filtering, strong router and access passwords. Most of the other settings are the same as a wired router.

[alintatoc]

The first one is apparently a wireless PCI Ethernet adapter. The second is a router. Buffalo routers have a generally good reputation. The next choice is a G or N type router. N is a bit faster data transfer, but all your computer Ethernet adapters would have to be compatible. G is a bit more common.

What do you plan to connect to the wireless router? A laptop? What brand and model? Unless it's fairly new, it probably has a G adapter.

With a wireless router, you should also study about WPA encryption, SSID settings, MAC filtering, strong router and access passwords. Most of the other settings are the same as a wired router.

I want to connect a laptop to the router.

Does it mean that If I don't have N in my laptop I can't use an N router? Or I can use it but with lower speed?

I have a Dell Inspiron 1564

[budz]

The first one is apparently a wireless PCI Ethernet adapter. The second is a router. Buffalo routers have a generally good reputation. The next choice is a G or N type router. N is a bit faster data transfer, but all your computer Ethernet adapters would have to be compatible. G is a bit more common.

What do you plan to connect to the wireless router? A laptop? What brand and model? Unless it's fairly new, it probably has a G adapter.

With a wireless router, you should also study about WPA encryption, SSID settings, MAC filtering, strong router and access passwords. Most of the other settings are the same as a wired router.

I want to connect a laptop to the router.

Does it mean that If I don't have N in my laptop I can't use an N router? Or I can use it but with lower speed?

I have a Dell Inspiron 1564

If your laptop doesn't have N wireliess then you can't use a N router. Your specs cause it says N wireless is a option.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/inspiron-1564/pd.aspx?refid=inspiron-1564&cs=19&s=dhs

[alintatoc]

The first one is apparently a wireless PCI Ethernet adapter. The second is a router. Buffalo routers have a generally good reputation. The next choice is a G or N type router. N is a bit faster data transfer, but all your computer Ethernet adapters would have to be compatible. G is a bit more common.

What do you plan to connect to the wireless router? A laptop? What brand and model? Unless it's fairly new, it probably has a G adapter.

With a wireless router, you should also study about WPA encryption, SSID settings, MAC filtering, strong router and access passwords. Most of the other settings are the same as a wired router.

I want to connect a laptop to the router.

Does it mean that If I don't have N in my laptop I can't use an N router? Or I can use it but with lower speed?

I have a Dell Inspiron 1564

If your laptop doesn't have N wireliess then you can't use a N router. Your specs cause it says N wireless is a option.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/inspiron-1564/pd.aspx?refid=inspiron-1564&cs=19&s=dhs

My laptop has: 802.11b/g (54 Mbps)

This probably means that I need to exchange the router with a G one right?

[redwudz]

Depends on the router. I have two N routers, but both have G available. One of my Linksys routers can transmit on both N and G at the same time. The other can use one or the other. If you plan to upgrade your laptop some time in the future, many of the newer laptops now have N. The big difference with the N format is less interference as the higher N band is less crowded. And they are a bit more efficient and may achieve longer distance transmission. Data throughput is also better. But, at least in my experience, N routers and systems seem a bit harder to set up.

But G routers are capable of streaming video at a fairly good rate, so they aren't that slow.

[alintatoc]

Depends on the router. I have two N routers, but both have G available. One of my Linksys routers can transmit on both N and G at the same time. The other can use one or the other. If you plan to upgrade your laptop some time in the future, many of the newer laptops now have N. The big difference with the N format is less interference as the higher N band is less crowded. And they are a bit more efficient and may achieve longer distance transmission. Data throughput is also better. But, at least in my experience, N routers and systems seem a bit harder to set up.

But G routers are capable of streaming video at a fairly good rate, so they aren't that slow.

I have bought this router:
http://www.buffalo-technology.com/products/wireless/wireless-n-nfiniti/whr-hp-g300n-ai...-cable-router/

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162033&nm_mc=OTC-RSS

Does it have both?

[redwudz]

Yes. It appears to have N, G, and B formats, so should work fine for your laptop.

[alintatoc]

Yes. It appears to have N, G, and B formats, so should work fine for your laptop.

Ok, thank you for the info! I am a newbie with all this wireless stuff

By the way, is it normally hard to install a wireless router?

[redwudz]

Depends on the router. Usually they are fairly easy to set up. Most come with a CD that will do your basic setup for you. DHCP will automatically assign a address for your laptop and the router will probably automatically set up your ISP connection. If your old router and laptop use the same address setup, that makes it easy also. Most routers use 192.168. (1 or 0).1 for the router address. Then the laptop would have a address of 192.168. (1 or 0).(100 to 200) or similar.

After you get a good connection, you can add WPA encryption. Your laptop will ask you for the password. Put it in and you are mostly done with the setup. Last is to change the default password for the router and write that down. (I put it on the bottom of the router.)

There are more settings, but those are the important ones.

EDIT: One last thing I forgot. When programing the router, it's best to temporarily use a wired connection. Doing this over a wireless connection can be a bit frustrating. If your second computer uses a wired connection to this router, use that. Or you can use your laptop with a wired connection, then switch to wireless after you get the wireless settings done. They are mostly separate from the wired connection settings.

[alintatoc]

I followed the cd instruction and now I am trying to connect a laptop or a mobile phone to the router but nothing...

Any idea...

I think is something with this WPA...

I don't even know what password I need to type when my laptop tries to connect to the router...

[alintatoc]

Got it...I had to use the key from the back of the router...

[alintatoc]

Depends on the router. Usually they are fairly easy to set up. Most come with a CD that will do your basic setup for you. DHCP will automatically assign a address for your laptop and the router will probably automatically set up your ISP connection. If your old router and laptop use the same address setup, that makes it easy also. Most routers use 192.168. (1 or 0).1 for the router address. Then the laptop would have a address of 192.168. (1 or 0).(100 to 200) or similar.

After you get a good connection, you can add WPA encryption. Your laptop will ask you for the password. Put it in and you are mostly done with the setup. Last is to change the default password for the router and write that down. (I put it on the bottom of the router.)

There are more settings, but those are the important ones.

EDIT: One last thing I forgot. When programing the router, it's best to temporarily use a wired connection. Doing this over a wireless connection can be a bit frustrating. If your second computer uses a wired connection to this router, use that. Or you can use your laptop with a wired connection, then switch to wireless after you get the wireless settings done. They are mostly separate from the wired connection settings.

Any idea how can I rename the router?

[jagabo]

Too late now but Toms Hardware did a review of Wireless N routers recently:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/802.11n-wireless-router-access-point,2605.html

[alintatoc]

Thanks anyway!

[redwudz]

Not sure what you mean by 'rename the router' You can change the SSID, which is the routers wireless name that others can see. Maybe buffalo? Linksys routers use 'linksys'.

Or do you mean the wireless password? You just create that. The laptop uses that same password to connect.

The router itself also has a password used to access it. That's usually preset. Sometimes it's 'password' or 'admin', but that would be in your manual. You definitely want to change that to something special or about anyone can break in.

[alintatoc]

Not sure what you mean by 'rename the router' You can change the SSID, which is the routers wireless name that others can see. Maybe buffalo? Linksys routers use 'linksys'.

Or do you mean the wireless password? You just create that. The laptop uses that same password to connect.

The router itself also has a password used to access it. That's usually preset. Sometimes it's 'password' or 'admin', but that would be in your manual. You definitely want to change that to something special or about anyone can break in.

Hi

Tried yesterday to change the SSID but when I search with other devices the laptop it is still listed with the same old long stupid code...

[jagabo]

Changing the SSID is changing the name of the wireless network. If you want to change the name of one of the computers on the network you do that on the computer. Right click on My Computer (or just Computer in Win7), go to the Computer Name tab, and change the name.

[alintatoc]

Changing the SSID is changing the name of the wireless network. If you want to change the name of one of the computers on the network you do that on the computer. Right click on My Computer (or just Computer in Win7), go to the Computer Name tab, and change the name.

I want other devices to see the updated name of the router...not the factory one...

[bbanderic]

Belkin N+ works great for me, should be able to handle G as well.

[jagabo]

Wireless client computers don't see the name of the router (this is exposed to the ISP's DHCP server), they see the name of the wireless network (SSID). Did you "Save Settings" (or whatever you particular router calls it) after changing the SSID?

[alintatoc]

Wireless client computers don't see the name of the router (this is exposed to the ISP's DHCP server), they see the name of the wireless network (SSID). Did you "Save Settings" (or whatever you particular router calls it) after changing the SSID?

Yes, I did...now if I go on the configuration page I can see the new name there but still the devices don't see the updated name...

Can I also change the name from Windows?

[jagabo]

Try rebooting the client devices.

[alintatoc]

Try rebooting the client devices.

Today in the morning when I turned my pc on, I couldn't use the wireless anymore...I couldn't connect to it anymore...

I tried rebooting but nothing changed, any ideas?

[jagabo]

Reboot the router?

[alintatoc]

Reboot the router?

I did that...

This is what I got...