Anyone have experiece with Cisco routers?

[IronWolf]

I like the LinkSys stuff for consumer products. I have one I bought three years ago probably that just keeps going. Granted it is an older model so no 54G for me, but I mainly use the wireless for web surfing and email. Large file transfers get a hardline connection!

The WRT54G from LinkSys is a pretty decent little box that can do wireless and simple firewalling for you. I have put two of these in for people at work and I get no complaints from them. Set 'em up, secure 'em and forget about 'em.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

A 802.11g router should get you 54Mps

The stuff I read on the Dell website said it's 54Mps within 3 meters and 18Mbs within a significantly larger distance. Since I'm planning on having the computer about 25 meters away, I'm basing it on the reduced speeds.

also like Linksys products a lot, but the ones with good built-in firewalls are more expensive I think.

People I've talked to have said that hackers can emulate your network and get you to log in, so there's got to be some sort of encryption. (I don't plan on living in Hicksville forever, so I'd like some security...)

 

[Maerdwyn]

The stuff I read on the Dell website said it's 54Mps within 3 meters and 18Mbs within a significantly larger distance. Since I'm planning on having the computer about 25 meters away, I'm basing it on the reduced speeds.



People I've talked to have said that hackers can emulate your network and get you to log in, so there's got to be some sort of encryption. (I don't plan on living in Hicksville forever, so I'd like some security...)

Both the Linksys and the D-link (and other popular brands, like Netgear) current models have 128 bit encryption and at least basic firewall functions. I've worked with the model Iron Wolf suggested as well, and it is a good one. If you set up the encryption according to the instructions on the company's website, you'll be in good shape security wise.

 

[thatdarncat]

So, thanks to ConfigMaker, I had the two routers talking to each other for a while (able to ping each other and deliver configurations across the network), and then it dropped.

ConfigMaker rocks, I've got a slightly dated version I was going to offer to send you. I'm glad everything is working.

As for wireless routers and APs, I'd recommend linksys with no reservations. I don't have too much experience with configuring their wireless equipment though, so I'll leave the suggestions to the experts

 

[Heretic Apostate]

I've got the computer. I'll be asking questions when I get the router (didn't realize I had to order that... you'd think Dell would have mentioned that ).

Right now, I'm just installing programs. I'll load the big ones when I have access to DSL, to get the patches...