Wireless 802.11g AP recommendations

[solitarycow]

I'm planning to get a wireless 802.11g APfor my 15" PB. So far Netgear's WG602 looks relatively inexpensive but performs really well. Money is a big issue as I am a poor starving student\artist. I'd like to stay beneath the $50 cap. Does anyone know any GOOD (I stress GOOD) yet inexpensive wireless 802.11g AP's?

[Counterfit]

Well, I've seen that routers are usually cheaper than plain access points. I don't know why, it makes no sense to me, but I bet it's supply + demand.. Anyways, I have the Linksys WRT54G at home, and it works well, but the port forwarding isn't quite the same as it was on my brother's wired 10/100BaseT. It can only forward a range to one IP, and it won't forward port xx to port xy on something else :(

[bnemesis]

I second the Linksys WRT54G.
But it wont cost $50.

Personally, I havent seen an 802.11G accesspoint for $50 or under.

My router cost $79, which is close.

The only thing the access point had that the router doesnt is the ability to bridge networks. Otherwise, to just use it as an accesspoint (I have a linux router/webserver/blah/spork) I plugged the network cable into port 4. Then with m y laptop plugged into another port gave it a name, changed the default password and wireless network name. Changed its mode from Gateway to Router and shut off DHCP server. It works like a charm so far.

[solitarycow]

Originally posted by bnemesis
I second the Linksys WRT54G.
But it wont cost $50.

Personally, I havent seen an 802.11G accesspoint for $50 or under.


Check out this link though:
http://www.buy.com/retail/PEProduct.asp?sku=200787842&dcaid=15889

And also what's the difference between an AP and a wireless router?

[MacBandit]

Personally my oppinion and the mac magazines as well as just about every mac user at epinions.com agrees that the Netgear access points are far more compatible and easier to setup then the Linksys counterparts.

I would get a WGR614 Netgear though instead of the plain access point. You can get them for $56.99 right now after rebate from Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008SCFL/qid=1075362251//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl147/103-0098434-6132666?v=glance&s=pc&n=507846


reviews

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Netgear_WGR614_cable_DSL_wireless_router_54Mbps_2_4GHz/4505-3334_16-21218238-2.html

[virividox]

i use lynksis back home, but iv worked a lot with netgears stuff and its pretty stable and easy to use.

airport is still the easiest to set up, but its kinda pricey

[nargot]

I have a netgear WGR614v2 (using it right now) its one third the price of AP extreme in Australia and works a treat. AP only has one ethernet port whereas most wireless routers normally have 4, 10/100 ports which is really usefull if you have an ethernet printer, desktop computer as well as a laptop.

[Mr.kr]

I recently bought the Netgear WG602 (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=251669) 54Mbps Wireless Access Point. It was super easy to get going. I plugged it into my firewall/router (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=251644) and it worked! I've since configured WEP and to only allow the MAC address of the Wireless PC card (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=251668) to associate.

And it just took an almost $20 price drop after I bought it. It also has a $20 mail-in rebate. So you buy it for $79 and get $20 back! The place I ordered from has free 2nd day air. Not a bad deal at all.

--
Kary Rogers
My Apple Store experience (http://www.kmrogers.net/mt/archives/000003.html)

[Dippo]

I would suggest Linksys, but I use windows so I am not sure how well it would work with Macs.

[Counterfit]

All the setup is via the built in web server, so it's platform independent.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by Counterfit
All the setup is via the built in web server, so it's platform independent.

Yes it is but that doesn't mean that all network cards are alike in there levels of compatibility with the wireless router.

[jwtseng]

As a Mac and ReplayTV user, I would suggest the Buffalo Technologies WBR-G54. This one box can server as a wireless broadband router as well as a wireless-to-ethernet bridge and/or repeater. It is completely compatible with the WDS-bridging protocol of the Airport Extreme Basestation. Additionally it has a built in 4-port switch. Best of all, you can get this at CompUSA for about $65 after a $35 rebate. You can save another $10 if you sign up for a free AOL trial account (and cancel when you get home). $55 for a very good 802.11g router/bridge/repeater w/4-port switch. PC magazine recently rated this as having best throughput compared to Linksys and Netgear boxes.

I use 4 of these in a bridged connection to extend my wireless network. I regularly stream high quality ReplayTV MPEG streams back and forth between my two ReplayTV boxes as well as on my 12" PowerBook.

[Counterfit]

Originally posted by MacBandit
Yes it is but that doesn't mean that all network cards are alike in there levels of compatibility with the wireless router. They should if you follow the standard and don't use any of the proprietary add ons.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by Counterfit
They should if you follow the standard and don't use any of the proprietary add ons.

They should is something you base specifications on paper. They do is something that you get when you test in the actual world.

I don't mean this as smart ass or offensive response it just explains the situation that has been seen with some combinations of routers and wireless adaptors.

[Counterfit]

Fair enough :)