I just upgraded my Internet to 5 mbps....what kind of router do I need for fast wifi?

[TH55]

I have a 7 year old Linksys router that my friend who works for the cable company said is going to slow down or not let me get the most out of my new faster connection. What type/model router should I get? Thanks!

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by TH55

I have a 7 year old Linksys router that my friend who works for the cable company said is going to slow down or not let me get the most out of my new faster connection. What type/model router should I get? Thanks!

Any router made in the last 10 years will handle a 5Mbps connection with no problem.

[darkside flow]

I'm using a 7 year old Linksys at my office and get the full 10Mbps of my line..

5Mbps is not "new fast wifi".. it's pretty standard. I have 35Mbps at home and that's one of the slowest packages available for me. The fastest is 150Mbps.

Basically.. you'll be fine with what you've got but if you're having problems then just get the cheapest Linksys or D-Link router at your local shop.

[TOOFY]

Originally Posted by TH55

I have a 7 year old Linksys router that my friend who works for the cable company said is going to slow down or not let me get the most out of my new faster connection. What type/model router should I get? Thanks!

Where are you located that you had to upgrade to 5mbps? Jeez thats terribly slow. I am in Long Island, NY and we have 60/40 bundle.

[Mrbobb]

^+2.

It you itching to upgrade anyways, any 802.11n 600-class with QOS should do nicely.

But when I real all the horror stories, the best router is the one you got and is doing its job. As said, any purchased last 10 year fine. Get a 50 megabit fiber Internet then ask us again.

[dinggus]

What about a NetGear WGR614v9?

My so called ComCast is 20mb/s and I don't even get more than 1.5mb down.

[acidflame]

Yea any wireless G router will handle that. I would honestly just go buy your standard wireless n router at wallyworld for 30 or so bucks.

[Browns2212]

I just upgraded about a month ago (went from AT&T DSL to a local company here in NW Ohio) and went from 6 mbps to 25 mbps. This is now a cable modem and I obviously have WiFi. It's not that I'm not happy as I seem to get pretty good speeds on WiFi (usually 10-20 mbps) but I do notice that my "bars" go down in my upstairs bedroom which is on the opposite end of the house as my router.

Are there any settings I can use to improve anything? I'm not sure of the specifics of the router as I'm at work, but it's was provided by the Cable/Internet company I am now with.

Thanks.

[Interstella5555]

5mbs??? You'll be more than fine with a 7 year old router, if you're that worried pick up a new linksys router for $50 or less.

[SomeDudeAsking]

Originally Posted by Browns2212

I just upgraded about a month ago (went from AT&T DSL to a local company here in NW Ohio) and went from 6 mbps to 25 mbps. This is now a cable modem and I obviously have WiFi. It's not that I'm not happy as I seem to get pretty good speeds on WiFi (usually 10-20 mbps) but I do notice that my "bars" go down in my upstairs bedroom which is on the opposite end of the house as my router.

Are there any settings I can use to improve anything? I'm not sure of the specifics of the router as I'm at work, but it's was provided by the Cable/Internet company I am now with.

Thanks.

The wifi routers provided by internet companies are usually just budget low end models and there is not much you can do to improve them. If you want good performance and range, there is a big difference between the cheap ones given to you and the top notch ones. The best of the best wifi routers have 3 large replacable external antennaes with adjustable power throughput for increased range and increased sensitivity for reception.

[Interstella5555]

Originally Posted by Browns2212

I just upgraded about a month ago (went from AT&T DSL to a local company here in NW Ohio) and went from 6 mbps to 25 mbps. This is now a cable modem and I obviously have WiFi. It's not that I'm not happy as I seem to get pretty good speeds on WiFi (usually 10-20 mbps) but I do notice that my "bars" go down in my upstairs bedroom which is on the opposite end of the house as my router.

Are there any settings I can use to improve anything? I'm not sure of the specifics of the router as I'm at work, but it's was provided by the Cable/Internet company I am now with.

Thanks.

Science in real life!!! Either get an extender or physically move the router closer, the signal is getting blocked by walls, whatever you have in the walls, and general distance.

[TM WAZZA]

Originally Posted by darkside flow

5Mbps is not "new fast wifi".. it's pretty standard. I have 35Mbps at home and that's one of the slowest packages available for me. The fastest is 150Mbps.

I wished where I live 35Mbps was the slowest package...

[Browns2212]

Originally Posted by Interstella5555

Science in real life!!! Either get an extender or physically move the router closer, the signal is getting blocked by walls, whatever you have in the walls, and general distance.

I obviously understand that it's going to happen, but I was just curious because I live in a neighborhood where I get a stronger signal from a house that is literally 200 feet away. Plus, in some other threads there were people talking about changing settings to get a better signal, etc.

Its not like my WiFI doesn't work in that particular room, again, I was just asking if I could make it "better". That's all.

[nwmtnbiker]

Originally Posted by Browns2212

I obviously understand that it's going to happen, but I was just curious because I live and a neighborhood where I get a stronger signal from a house that is literally 200 feet away. Plus, in some other threads there were people talking about changing settings to get a better signal, etc.

Its not like my WiFI doesn't work in that particular room, again, I was just asking if I could make it "better". That's all.

I'd just try moving the router might be some unknown electronic nearby causing interference?

[SomeDudeAsking]

Originally Posted by Browns2212

I obviously understand that it's going to happen, but I was just curious because I live and a neighborhood where I get a stronger signal from a house that is literally 200 feet away. Plus, in some other threads there were people talking about changing settings to get a better signal, etc.

Its not like my WiFI doesn't work in that particular room, again, I was just asking if I could make it "better". That's all.

You could go knock on the door of the house with the really strong wifi signal and ask them to turn down the power.

[stuaz]

Wish I had 5Mbps

I have to make do with my 0.5mbps.....

[darkside flow]

Originally Posted by TM WAZZA

I wished where I live 35Mbps was the slowest package...

It was 20Mbps down/1Mbps up and they recently gave a free upgrade to 35Mbps down and 3Mbps up.

[Megalobyte]

Originally Posted by Browns2212

I obviously understand that it's going to happen, but I was just curious because I live in a neighborhood where I get a stronger signal from a house that is literally 200 feet away. Plus, in some other threads there were people talking about changing settings to get a better signal, etc.

Its not like my WiFI doesn't work in that particular room, again, I was just asking if I could make it "better". That's all.

Some routers allow you to adjust the transmit power, my Asus came set to an 80 mw default. I upped it to 150, am getting better signal in the marginal areas in and around my house. Some say boosting the tx power doesn't matter, in my case it did.

[SomeDudeAsking]

Originally Posted by Megalobyte

Some routers allow you to adjust the transmit power, my Asus came set to an 80 mw default. I upped it to 150, am getting better signal in the marginal areas in and around my house. Some say boosting the tx power doesn't matter, in my case it did.

Only 150? Mine is set to 250.

[TH55]

Originally Posted by Interstella5555

5mbs??? You'll be more than fine with a 7 year old router, if you're that worried pick up a new linksys router for $50 or less.

Will that speed up my wifi at all?

[SomeDudeAsking]

Originally Posted by TH55

Will that speed up my wifi at all?

Maybe. If your old router is a 802.11b one then you will definitely get better throughput with a new router with your new connection. If your old router is a 802.11g one, don't bother buying anything.

[Mrbobb]

Originally Posted by TH55

Will that speed up my wifi at all?

A faster WIFI router will speed up the devices INSIDE YOUR HOUSE talking to each other but WILL NOT speed up Internet.

Is like this: You home town got wide boulevards, 10 lanes roads, but the only one highway leading you outside the town is only a single lane. Now you ask if I widen my town's roads to 20 lanes will it gets me faster out of town? NO. But it will get you faster to your neighbor 3 blocks away. WIFI stays inside your house, it doesn't "get out."

[darster]

That's one lousy cable company. At that speed, they should not be charging you more than $5 a month for internet.

[TH55]

Originally Posted by SomeDudeAsking

Maybe. If your old router is a 802.11b one then you will definitely get better throughput with a new router with your new connection. If your old router is a 802.11g one, don't bother buying anything.

I have the Linksys WRT54G. How do I find out if it's 802.11b or g?

[SomeDudeAsking]

Originally Posted by TH55

I have the Linksys WRT54G. How do I find out if it's 802.11b or g?

The WRT54G is a 802.11g router, hence the G in both names. There is no need to buy another router as it is rated for a theoretical 54 mbps throughput with a more real world throughput of 25 mbps. It is faster than what your Internet connection can do.