Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

BELKIN or... NETGEAR or... AIRPORT EXTREME

Which one ?

  • Belkin

    Votes: 1 3.2%

  • Netgear

    Votes: 6 19.4%

  • AirPort Extreme

    Votes: 22 71.0%

  • Other...

    Votes: 2 6.5%
  • Total voters
    31
M

MrGeePee

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 1, 2007
142
0
UK
Hi, im looking for a new wireless modem router. Im not sure which one to get, so some help from you guys would be great.

I currently have a 2 year old Belkin (54mbps). 3 months ago it started disconnecting every now and then. Sometimes looses connection for upto 10+ hours :( ....so I'm not to confident in buying another Belkin.

Ive always been a PC user until 2 days ago, so i have no idea how good Belkin or Netgear run with Mac's.

These are the models im interested in...

NETGEAR DG834N
*270 Mbps
*Upto 300m Range

354503.jpg


BELKIN F5D8633UK4A
*300 Mbps
*Upto 1200 Foot (Range)

421081.jpg


AirPort Extreme Base Station
MB053_lm.jpg
 
Remember that the Extreme does not have an ADSL modem biult in so if you go for that option and you require an ADSL modem you will need to get this as well.

I have a Linksys modem (also wireless router too but I have that part switched off) an Extreme and 3 express units. I would highly recommend the extreme.

Good luck.
 
I'd go for the netgear, functional and they work great.

Belkins I don't touch anymore, most belkin stuff I have is dodgy.:mad:
 
I have had bad luck with Linksys and Netgear both. Myself, I believe D-Link makes the best networking equipment for everyday home/office use.
 
Cudadown said:
I have had bad luck with Linksys and Netgear both. Myself, I believe D-Link makes the best networking equipment for everyday home/office use.
Click to expand...

My D-link router is also problematic, it has a DNS issue which I've only just managed to sort out by hard-coding the DNS's into each computer because putting them into the router didn't work and refuses to remember an altered username and password once it's been rebooted.

So I can't say D-link are in my good books right now. :p
 
Thanks guys.

I didn't realize the Ariport Extreme never had a built in modem

I'll more than likely go for the Netgear one.
 
The AirPort Extreme will probably be the easiest to set up. I'm using a Belkin Pre-N router and I've had no problems though (except that I can't get it to use 802.11n). The AirPort Extreme will probably be the least problematic though with your Mac. And it works great with PCs.
 
I'm also interested in a new router. For me, the wifi reach/penetration is the most important to me as I have my router upstairs in a fairly big house and need to access the net downstairs.
I'd opt for the Apple Extreme but without external antennas I'm worried that it won't reach as far as my current linksys. Is this the case?
 
well I've tried the dlink, netgear and the airport extreme. I now have a linksys business VPN router with the ae extreme acting as a N wireless bridge. Works fantastic with great wireless range/speed. The netgear had so so range and the d-link had firewall/port forwarding issues.
 
JSchwage said:
The AirPort Extreme will probably be the easiest to set up. I'm using a Belkin Pre-N router and I've had no problems though (except that I can't get it to use 802.11n). The AirPort Extreme will probably be the least problematic though with your Mac. And it works great with PCs.
Click to expand...

The AirPort Extreme is a pain at times. For example the utility won't find the thing so you can change anything. I found a work around though. Disable IPv6 in the network preferences and you shouldn't have any issues with that.

Also, I have issues with my Airdisk. It just won't connect, or the airport disk utility will keep rejecting my password even though it is correct.

That said, I do like it. The ADSL modem is only an issue if you have DSL, otherwise there is no point in having it really. Cable is better anyway :D
 
timestamp said:
The AirPort Extreme is a pain at times. For example the utility won't find the thing so you can change anything. I found a work around though. Disable IPv6 in the network preferences and you shouldn't have any issues with that.

Also, I have issues with my Airdisk. It just won't connect, or the airport disk utility will keep rejecting my password even though it is correct.

That said, I do like it. The ADSL modem is only an issue if you have DSL, otherwise there is no point in having it really. Cable is better anyway :D
Click to expand...

I just ordered an AEBS myself, and then started reading the customer reviews more thoroughly after ordering it. It seems like a lot of people were having trouble and so angry about it, and most of them didn't seem to realize about the IPv6 thing. It is pretty unacceptable that Apple is trying to sell a device that can't handle a simple next generation internet protocol, but it's not like it's in use at all anyway, except apparently by WDS on Airport Express...
 
EricNau said:
I would go with anything Linksys (a division of Cisco, one of the largest networking companies in the world).
Click to expand...

Which could also be a reason to avoid them in general, as well. Linksys was acquired by Cisco to provide a ready-made SOHO line of products, and has seen little real new development since then in the same vein that there was while they were still an independent company, innovating and developing in competition for their own success, instead of being Cisco's entry in the home (and very possibly a loss leader, at that). Even though they are a standalone division, there is always influence and "guidance" from the parent company that, in this case as in many others, I believe dilutes the original product development direction and emphasis to some extent. On the other hand, though, I think Linksys has gained some advantage from it as well, particularly in VPN routers (which is likely next on the shopping list).

My own experience post-acquisition has been that the general build quality & reliability have suffered from a lack of care or attention. I have slowly had to replace all of my Linksys (Cisco) gear, the last piece remaining being the cable modem, and that's starting to require reboots a couple times a month now. I'm not saying it's necessarily bad, just that it's closer to Radio Shack than it used to be. I would rather have seen Cisco develop and produce their own consumer/SOHO line than just buy out a pre-existing label, though if I were in their shoes, I would've likely done the same thing, and bought the same company.
 
Osarkon said:
Belkins I don't touch anymore, most belkin stuff I have is dodgy.:mad:
Click to expand...

Except for their surge protectors, the best, in my opinion. And their customer service was pretty good for it too, except it was a CA local number, which was weird.

But about the router, I voted Airport Extreme because they're just SO easy to set-up and maintain.
 
I have no idea about the IPv6 issue. I read about the Air Disk issues after I tried to find a solution to the problems I was having with Air Disk. I should have read them first. But forgive me for thinking Apple would not have released such a broken product. It is just broken. There is an older firmware that works better wrt AirDisk but that firmware is no good for the gigabit eth version... I think I'll return mine and look for another 802.11n router with NAS capability.

shadowfax said:
I just ordered an AEBS myself, and then started reading the customer reviews more thoroughly after ordering it. It seems like a lot of people were having trouble and so angry about it, and most of them didn't seem to realize about the IPv6 thing. It is pretty unacceptable that Apple is trying to sell a device that can't handle a simple next generation internet protocol, but it's not like it's in use at all anyway, except apparently by WDS on Airport Express...
Click to expand...
 
InfiniteLoop said:
I have no idea about the IPv6 issue. I read about the Air Disk issues after I tried to find a solution to the problems I was having with Air Disk. I should have read them first. But forgive me for thinking Apple would not have released such a broken product. It is just broken. There is an older firmware that works better wrt AirDisk but that firmware is no good for the gigabit eth version... I think I'll return mine and look for another 802.11n router with NAS capability.
Click to expand...
you're right, it's pretty retarded that their own flagship wireless router has a feature that is buggy in tiger and downright broken in leopard. I already ordered mine, or I would hold off. I would use NAS if it worked, but I don't need it at all. I am sure a firmware update in a few weeks will fix this crap, probably alongside 10.5.2..... I dunno about the IPv6 though, apple has always been fishy on IPv6. as if I care, long as I can disable it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back