Wow. My WRT54G didn't have a USB port. Poking around, the only one that does this is a WRTSL54GS, which seem to be about $100 on Froogle. And it's only Wireless-G
There's a lot of routers from other brands with USB.
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What is the best wireless router to get right now?
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There's a lot of routers from other brands with USB.
I have to say too that I'm so impressed with the bomb-proofness of Apple's hardware. My router has been completely without issues for 3.5 years now and still going very strong. I don't use the printserver right now, although it was one of the big reasons I bought it.
There was a recent review of the wireless N routers that concluded that there was no clear winner on the scene right now. They found the AEBS very competitive, although, to be fair, only if you plan on serving HDs or printers from it. I think it's very economical if you're planning on bussing a drive and a printer to it.
There was a recent review of the wireless N routers that concluded that there was no clear winner on the scene right now. They found the AEBS very competitive, although, to be fair, only if you plan on serving HDs or printers from it. I think it's very economical if you're planning on bussing a drive and a printer to it.
There is something to be said for looking at what your service provider recommends. The setup is likely to be easier and if you end up needing any kind of support, it will be easier to find someone who understands the nuances of your router when used with their system. Just don't blindly go with their recommendation.
I don't really care about the brand (even though, as I've noted in another thread, I wouldn't cross the street to piss on Linksys, Belkin, or Netgear if they were burning alive).
But I did a Froogle search (you might have a better idea) for "wireless-n router USB" and then sorted it based on price, low to high. About $140-150 is where I started seeing routers that could serve hard drives. But they couldn't serve printers.
That's all I'm saying -- that the AEBS(n) is really not a bad value at all, if you're looking for a Wireless-N router that serves hard drives and printers (and is foxy, but that's largely immaterial).
If you're looking for a Wireless-G router that doesn't serve hard drives or printers, then the AEBS(n) is a ridiculous purchase.
I've got the airport extreme. definitely worth the price. Simple integration, stupid-easy to set up, absolutely gorgeous and super-fast for data transfer.
Definitely worth the extra money, especially with the usb port that let's you plug in an external HD and back stuff up wirelessly.
Definitely worth the extra money, especially with the usb port that let's you plug in an external HD and back stuff up wirelessly.
Airport Extreme "N"
Add me to the list of those recommending the new Airport Extreme with 802.11n. I use it to support a network of six Airport Express units that allows us to play music through any stereo from any computer anywhere in the house, to have a central outboard hard drive to send backups to, and to access printers both upstairs and downstairs. Support is, as usual with Apple, fantastic, and the time I saved trying to configure Linksys and D-Link routers properly amply justifies the price differential. The range of the Extreme far exceeds anything else I've tried--I have maximum signal in places I had next to no connectivity with other wireless routers.
Add me to the list of those recommending the new Airport Extreme with 802.11n. I use it to support a network of six Airport Express units that allows us to play music through any stereo from any computer anywhere in the house, to have a central outboard hard drive to send backups to, and to access printers both upstairs and downstairs. Support is, as usual with Apple, fantastic, and the time I saved trying to configure Linksys and D-Link routers properly amply justifies the price differential. The range of the Extreme far exceeds anything else I've tried--I have maximum signal in places I had next to no connectivity with other wireless routers.
I like the Airport Extreme, as the N wireless, print server and NAS server are lovely things to have, but I won't buy it as it's missing 2 vital things for me.
1. Why no gigabit ethernet? Every single one of Apple's computers does gigabit and has done for years now. I find this omission inexplicable, especially as gigabit routers are pretty cheap.
2. No ADSL modem. This is really a UK market thing, most home routers here have ADSL built in as most people here get their internet tubes that way. (access via satellite, cable etc are a minority.) I can sort of understand Apple not including this feature, so I'll stick with my current speedtouch ADSL2+ modem wireless router.
1. Why no gigabit ethernet? Every single one of Apple's computers does gigabit and has done for years now. I find this omission inexplicable, especially as gigabit routers are pretty cheap.
2. No ADSL modem. This is really a UK market thing, most home routers here have ADSL built in as most people here get their internet tubes that way. (access via satellite, cable etc are a minority.) I can sort of understand Apple not including this feature, so I'll stick with my current speedtouch ADSL2+ modem wireless router.
I've had my AEBS (-n) since first week of March. All I can say is that it's been flawless for me; a bit pricey @ $179? Yup...but I have not had to spend ANY time dealing w/ it since I set it up intially (which took all of 20 minutes at most); that is worth the price premium to me...
To use the drive as a network drive. The drive can then be accessed from other computers on the local network, for file-sharing, etc.
I would like a wireless-n router with gigabit wired. I bought the D-link Xtreme N but I can only connect at 130mb with it. I called D-link and they said there's nothing they can do.
Anyone know of a wireless-n gigabit router that gets full speed with the Mac wireless-n tech?
Anyone know of a wireless-n gigabit router that gets full speed with the Mac wireless-n tech?
Dlink DGL-4300, for no muss no fuss rock solid home networking this is your item. I've had one since they came out (couple years now maybe?) and it's solid. Doesn't crash, gamefuel technology works, gigabit ethernet switch built in. Easy to configure advanced settings if you feel the need. If you like to tinker something flashable might be cheaper but if you want something that's solid and just works the DGL-4300 gets my vote.
Well, I went and bought the Airport Extreme. I get a link speed of 300, compared to the D-link that gives 130. Even though the link speed is 300, the actual transfer speeds I'm getting are no faster than the Dlink....go figure.
Exactly - it's absurd. They should at least offer two versions if they're not going to make one for everyone.
Maybe the pro edition has gigabit ports and more USB ports.
I'd swear by my WRT54G v4. I've had it since 2004 and have never had problems, other than needing to update some firmware once.
Ditto WRT54G (v5 here).
Had mine for about two years, not a single problem.
Can't say the same about D-Link or Netgear products. One experience with each...both utter disastrous failures; I'll never purchase anything but a Linksys. 8 years of Linksys product ownership (both NICs and routers both wired and wireless)...never had one problem, ever. (used to use wired BEFSR41)
Had mine for about two years, not a single problem.
Can't say the same about D-Link or Netgear products. One experience with each...both utter disastrous failures; I'll never purchase anything but a Linksys. 8 years of Linksys product ownership (both NICs and routers both wired and wireless)...never had one problem, ever. (used to use wired BEFSR41)
Stick with Apple
- pick up a last generation Airport Extreem (G) on clearance at the apple store.
- pick up a last generation Airport Extreem (G) on clearance at the apple store.
I'm considering the new Airport Extreme and the Linksys WRT350N, which has 4-port Gigabit + USB port. I want to use the USB port for an external HDD, both offer this feature but I don't know if both implement it well.
Also, you mention you also share your printers to all computers in your network, how do you do that since you use the USB port for your external HDD?
Thx,
Here goes another vote for Netgear.
Sugguestion: Don't get the Netgear Router that has a plastic cover wrapped around it. I have that router and it's really good but sometimes it act stupid because of the heat. The heat doesn't exit through properly and it's a pain in the butt during summer.
Sugguestion: Don't get the Netgear Router that has a plastic cover wrapped around it. I have that router and it's really good but sometimes it act stupid because of the heat. The heat doesn't exit through properly and it's a pain in the butt during summer.
Do I have to have the Airport Extreme to use the Airport Express units? I was going to get 2 Express units...... 1 for a printer and 1 for an External HD.