Sorry to pester you guys with my questions yet again... but I'm router shopping now and I need some help.
I'm not sure why this $60 Netgear router is so much cheaper than say, this "29 TP-Link router or Internode's "99 Billion router. I mean obviously there's wireless N vs. wireless G, and different levels of wireless security, but surely that can't be reason enough to double the price? They're all big brands... also I thought wireless N was pretty much pointless in Australia except for LAN speeds, because our internet speeds can't keep up?
the netgear one is a router only, has no built in modem (nowhere to plug the phone line in). neither does the TP, so you're paying the premium there for faster wireless. the billion has the faster wireless AND a built in modem.
also every linksys i've tried has been shit, and unable to get anywhere near the speeds i get with this cheaparse netgear i'm currently using ;)
Quote from grandinferno;376255: Billion or Linksys. Don't go through the suffering as I have by buying other brands.
Even so, I saw a Linksys wireless N router for $80. I've used Dlink for years and never had problems. Wait. The wireless on my Dlink always drops in and out but I assumed it was either our house or poor signal. I don't even get good mobile reception inside.
Quote from paladin;376256: the billion has the faster wireless AND a built in modem.
But the modem/routers that Internode used to endorse a few years ago were only "29? And now their wireless N ones are "99... shouldn't prices be getting more competitive/cheaper as technology advances? I can't find a Wireless G router/modem :( Too outdated maybe...
Quote from paladin;376261: Since when has new-tech instantly been as cheap or cheaper than the previous generation?
Well, the new-ish wireless N ones should be a similar price to the wireless G ones were when they were new-ish, thus pushing down the prices of the current wireless G router/modems.
IMO if you are having saturation / penetration problems with 802.11g - 802.11N (draft) will provide a bigger footprint in bad connectivity areas as long as the receiving end is Draft N.
The netgear $60 wireless router does not sound like a modem as such only routs Ethernet to wifi so you will still need a adsl modem to go with it. Where as the other two you had talked about sound like they are router/modem combos in one box essentially.
Stay away from Dlink and Linksys wireless N. I use a Netgear DGN2000, which with custom firmware from DGTeam is an awesome modem/N Router. Billion are good too.
TPLink and Belkin only buy if you hate yourself, hate using the internet and hate money.
I have purchased plenty of these for friends with only good things to say about them
Manufacturer Linksys
Manuf part no: WAG320N-AU
Description Linksys WAG320N Wireless-N Selectable Dual Band ADSL2 Modem/Router with 4 Gigabit ports and USB2.0 StorageLink. 1 LAN port can also operate as secondary WAN.
In my experience all soho modem/router/wap are of similar quality (bad). At different points I have pushed D-Link, Linksys, Netgear etc etc and have had a bunch of units fail. Tried switching to another brand? same problems, just a different manufacturer.
If you need a basic adsl/router/wap and all youre doing is file sharing/internet browsing then I would look at something like the Netgear DG834G for $80. I recommend this to friends and family because it has a very simple GUI.
I'm quite skeptical of Linksys. I have had a lot of their mid-range switches ~"000 blow up on me. Their association with Cisco should be be taken with a truckload of salt. If you need redundancy, VPN server, bells, whistles then probably look at a Billion.
If you need a basic adsl/router/wap and all youre doing is file sharing/internet browsing then I would look at something like the Netgear DG834G for $80. I recommend this to friends and family because it has a very simple GUI.
I used a v2 of these for years very happily. I only upgraded to a billion 7300GRA once on ADSL2+ and found approx 2-3Mbps improvement instantly and constantly. Less simple interface with the billion though as you mentioned.