Hey. My new aluminum MacBook won't connect to my home's Westell router. After loads of tests, I figured out that there's nothing wrong with my Airport card in the notebook, and decided I need to buy a router. Does anybody have any suggestions for a relatively cheap, reliable, fast router that I can buy? Preferably it should be under 80 dollars.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Cheap Router
- Thread starter pogsklinc
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Here's a good list from Amazon. I like Linksys. I would recommend against anything D-Link, Belkin, or Netgear.
The WRT54GL Linksys is probably the most reliable router ever created. You can also flash it with Tomato firmware or DDWRT which improves reliability. Supposedly the Linksys WRT54G2 is pretty good too and newer. Neither are Wireless N but they are cheap. Of all the N routers the only reliable one I would recommend is the AEBS but that is going to be more expensive.
The WRT54GL Linksys is probably the most reliable router ever created. You can also flash it with Tomato firmware or DDWRT which improves reliability. Supposedly the Linksys WRT54G2 is pretty good too and newer. Neither are Wireless N but they are cheap. Of all the N routers the only reliable one I would recommend is the AEBS but that is going to be more expensive.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I too recommend the Linksys WRT54GL, it's the gold standard in consumer wireless network gear. If you want more range, simply fold some aluminum foil to form a parabola.
Do not buy Belkin!!
Please, for the love of god, do not buy a Belkin Wireless-G router. I had one in my old apartment and it gave me nothing but headaches. It was the single most unreliable piece of electronics I have ever owned. They are usually sold at best buy (go figure) and are the cheapest router (~$20) available.
1. The router likes to drop the signal randomly and every time you must restart the router completely. This takes about 90 seconds every time.
2. Sometimes, even when the router shows a full signal it will keep trying to access a web page until my ISP thinks there is something wrong and will tell me to check my wireless connection, which inevitably would mean restarting firefox and clearing the cache in order to access the web page
3. Belkin is currently undergoing investigation for posting fake, positive reviews of their products when they could just be paying somebody to issue firmware updates to actually fix their products.
Rant over. I feel better now
.
Please, for the love of god, do not buy a Belkin Wireless-G router. I had one in my old apartment and it gave me nothing but headaches. It was the single most unreliable piece of electronics I have ever owned. They are usually sold at best buy (go figure) and are the cheapest router (~$20) available.
1. The router likes to drop the signal randomly and every time you must restart the router completely. This takes about 90 seconds every time.
2. Sometimes, even when the router shows a full signal it will keep trying to access a web page until my ISP thinks there is something wrong and will tell me to check my wireless connection, which inevitably would mean restarting firefox and clearing the cache in order to access the web page
3. Belkin is currently undergoing investigation for posting fake, positive reviews of their products when they could just be paying somebody to issue firmware updates to actually fix their products.
Rant over. I feel better now
.
I actually use the Motorola 850G router. (I think that's the model number. I'm not at home to look it up). It was cheaper than the Linksys, and it can also run DDWRT. I'm not entirely sure if they still make them, but I found mine on ebay very cheap.