Calling any network geeks...

[Uncle Cracker]

Gonna set up a wireless network on my home comps, and want to replace my current AT&T DSL modem (Westell black box) with a wireless gateway. AT&T's still only selling one with 802.11 a/b/g compatibility, but I'd like to get one of the speedier 802.11 n units, since I do a lot of file transfers between boxes, and the n-protocol units are 150-300 Mbps, while the g-protocol units are only around 50 Mbps. AT&T says they can work with any bona-fide third-party DSL gateway I choose, so I've been looking at the Netgear DGN2000100NAS or its beefed-up dual-channel big brother, the DGND3300-100NAS. I've seen a lot of bad press about Netgear in general, as well as some about these units. Many folks have apparently seen theirs puke a couple of months out of warranty, and others have found Netgear's tech support to be totally sh!tty.

Anybody had experience with either of these (good or bad)? Is there any reason to go to dual channel (2.5/5.0)? Do you have any alternative makes to recommend? I have found that 2Wire (who makes the ones AT&T sells) has them also, but they sell only through DSL providers...

Thanks in advance for any he'p you can give me...

[LinuxRandal]

You need the N for your INTRANET (internal network). N will not have an effect on your download speed/dsl modem. Why not just get an N router/NAT box/"firewall" to go between your current, paid for modem, and your network?

[pelligrini]

I second that notion. I'd probably get a wireless router without any built in modems. It could be used with any internet connection. If the providers supplied device is also wireless capable it could be used for guests without letting them into your home network.

I got a Linksys Wireless-N a while back when they first came out, a WRT330N. If I had to do it again I would get a router that also supported external drives.

[crokett]

As LR said, get a standalone router and hook that to your existing AT&T box. I also highly recommend getting one that supports the DD-WRT or Tomato open firmware. You can do a lot more with it, including if the new router is a print server with a USB port, using the port to attach storage so you also have a NAS.

[Uncle Cracker]

I had kind of ruled out a separate wireless router to use with my DSL modem, because back in the day, I had an early Linksys wireless-g router, and the AT&T box constantly fought with it, with AT&T finally advising me to do away with the router altogether (which I did at the time, because I really didn't need a network then). That, plus many of the user reviews I see for the Netgear gateways state that their DSL throughput increased noticeably when they consolidated to a gateway. I don't know enough to know if it's significant, however.

Have things gotten better since then, perhaps? Maybe I should rethink? What do y'all think of dual-channel?

Also, if you could recommend specific makes and/or models with your suggestions, it would help me get around the noxious brain-fart I've been walking around with since I started thinking about this...

[gsmittle]

I had kind of ruled out a separate wireless router to use with my DSL modem, because back in the day, I had an early Linksys wireless-g router, and the AT&T box constantly fought with it, with AT&T finally advising me to do away with the router altogether (which I did at the time, because I really didn't need a network then). That, plus many of the user reviews I see for the Netgear gateways state that their DSL throughput increased noticeably when they consolidated to a gateway. I don't know enough to know if it's significant, however.

Have things gotten better since then, perhaps? Maybe I should rethink? What do y'all think of dual-channel?

Also, if you could recommend specific makes and/or models with your suggestions, it would help me get around the noxious brain-fart I've been walking around with since I started thinking about this...

AirPort, AirPort, AirPort. If you want to get hard-core, try a TimeCapsule. I'm not sure the auto backup would work with Winderz, but you'd get network attached storage.

g.

[August86]

Unless you are familiar with getting Apple hardware to play nicely with others -any others-I would advise against it. Even BSD on which 0S10 is built.

Mike D.

AirPort, AirPort, AirPort. If you want to get hard-core, try a TimeCapsule. I'm not sure the auto backup would work with Winderz, but you'd get network attached storage.

g.

[gsmittle]

Unless you are familiar with getting Apple hardware to play nicely with others -any others-I would advise against it. Even BSD on which 0S10 is built.

Mike D.

Interesting… Haven't had any issues in the past.

g.

[vanguard]

Can you use a wired network or does it have to be wireless? Cheap desktop 1000 Mbps cards will set you back about $11 each.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833180026

A cheap desktop switch will setyou back about $14.98

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833130056

Patch cables can be had for between $1 and $5.

You'll be three times faster than wireless and have better security.

If you have to be wireless. Choose carefully. I have AT&T Uverse, but I don't use the integrated wireless network, because I needed to add a wireless bridge to enabled some non-wireless devices access to my network.

I use a set of Netgear WNR834s to do this. In general if you're going to need this type of set-up, you'll need to choose carefully and select a single manufacturer. I've found that interoperability is poor between manufacturers and even different versions of the same model device by a single mfg.

[Uncle Cracker]

Can you use a wired network or does it have to be wireless?

Has to be wireless... My second desktop and my laptop are in different areas of the house.

In general if you're going to need this type of set-up, you'll need to choose carefully and select a single manufacturer. I've found that interoperability is poor between manufacturers and even different versions of the same model device by a single mfg.

I had heard this also. I can't do anything about the laptop, as it's wireless-g capability is built-in, and has worked well all over the country with a variety of routers. The new desktop, however, willuse a wireless-n USB "dongle", and I plan to use a complementary one from whichever manufacturer makes the gateway or router I end up with...

[Stytooner]

I just finished setting up all the house computers and one in the shop for file transfers to the CNC machines.
It was getting old using a flash drive.
I pretty much had to do something. LOML's computer had a backdoor virus somehow.
Anyway, now running my desktop Win 7 and a netbook with 7. A spare laptop for driving a cnc machine using XP. LOML's wired desktop is also XP. My shop computer is Vista. I had fun getting these to play fair together.

What really helped me was a Cisco Valet Plus.

I tried a few times before with different wireless to get something wireless in the shop without any luck. Installed this one and BAM! No problems at all. I did have one issue I thought, but found out it was actually my DSL messing up.
These guys have real people that speak english that will talk you through any issues 24/7 free of charge. Can't touch that.
The router could not be any simpler.
The issues I had with all the windows was just file sharing permissions which I finally tickled enough to work right.

[vanguard]

had heard this also. I can't do anything about the laptop, as it's wireless-g capability is built-in, and has worked well all over the country with a variety of routers. The new desktop, however, willuse a wireless-n USB "dongle", and I plan to use a complementary one from whichever manufacturer makes the gateway or router I end up with...

Usually the network cards are less problematic routers, the problem is normally with router, access points and bridges. It sounds like you need a simple wireless network and won't require a bridge, so most should do.

Check newegg this afternoon (after 1pm Pacific) they have a Netgear refurbished unit 'Shell Shocker'. The cost should be low and shipping will be free. It should also offer WPA/WPA2 encryption - which should be the minimum acceptable you should look for in a router.

I would also recommend an expansion based (PCI) NIC instead of the USB dongle. The antennas on a regular card should perform much better than the dongle.

[Uncle Cracker]

I would also recommend an expansion based (PCI) NIC instead of the USB dongle. The antennas on a regular card should perform much better than the dongle.

That's good advice, and ordinarily I would take it, but the desktop that's going to host the router for now has no expansion slots available, and it will soon switch places with the one in the remote location, so a dongle will be my only option then, hence the reason I'm going to go ahead with it, rather than tossing out a PCI card at that time...