Wireless router

[tsduke]

Wasn't sure best place to post this....

Is there one router that any better than another for a home with several iOS devices and a mac? I have d-link now that keeps dropping wireless every now and then so I want to upgrage to a dual band. Is the Airport Extreme worth the money or can I get another brand for less and get just as good of a device?

 

[Stooby Mcdoobie]

The Airport Extreme is pretty good for the cost, imo, but you could probably find a cheaper router with the same functionality if you look hard enough. If all your devices are Apple, I'd go with the Airport for simplicity.

 

[tsduke]

The Airport Extreme is pretty good for the cost, imo, but you could probably find a cheaper router with the same functionality if you look hard enough. If all your devices are Apple, I'd go with the Airport for simplicity.

I'm not apposed to spending on the airport, but sure wish it was like the rest the routers out there and had 4 ports.

 

[Stooby Mcdoobie]

The Airport Extreme ($179) does have four gigabit ports. The Express ($99) has two ports, but they're not gigabit.

Here's a comparison.

 

[ECUpirate44]

Stay away from Belkin.

 

[tsduke]

The Airport Extreme ($179) does have four gigabit ports. The Express ($99) has two ports, but they're not gigabit.

Here's a comparison.

Isn't one of the ports WAN connection leaving only 3 LAN ports?

 

[Stooby Mcdoobie]

Isn't one of the ports WAN connection leaving only 3 LAN ports?

Yes, that appears to be the case. I feel like they should've listed that on the comparison page. Something like: 1 WAN, 3 LAN. I guess, technically, that still is four ethernet ports.

 

[arjen92]

I really like the TP Link TL-WR1043N. It has great coverage, more than enough options (for having a server etc), and it's way cheaper than Apple's Airport.

Never had a problem. It's also controlling a cheaper smaller router I put on the other side of my house.

To get an idea of what it's up to; 2 iMacs are hooked up by ethernet, the second router is hooked up to it, the Playstation 3 is connected by ethernet, there are two iPads, 5 iPod touches, 3 iPhones, 4 Macbook Pro's and one Macbook. Oh yeah, and the Wii is connected as well.

Of course they are not connected all at the same time (maybe on macbook pro is closed, or some of the ipod's are not actively used). But I never had a problem.

Having Gigabit ports is really nice when streaming and copying HD movies over to other computers.

 

[tsduke]

Crap, I just realized the Airports have no Qos. Considering the price that makes it way overpriced.