Router Question

Spacedman · 11 Dec 2007 at 13:05

This is not really my area in the slightest so appologise for the stupiduty of the following question

My brother has decided to chip in for my broadband and as such needs a wireless router (Virgin only has a single port modem) and a wireless dongle thing for his onboard (IP35-E if it matters) network.

I need recomendations for both of these, reliablity and cheapness are as always the deciding factors. Not looking to spend much!

Many thanks all

quackers · 11 Dec 2007 at 13:08

I've got one of these:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-010-NG&groupid=46&catid=1014&subcat=

Does the job ok

mrk · 11 Dec 2007 at 13:09

Linksys WRT54GL will be as stable as you like (91 days live since I got mine...91 days ago) and as for adapters, USB ones tend to be more fiddly, I'd recommend a PCI one ideally.

Whatever you do don't install the adapter's software that comes with it, just install the driver itself so Windows can manage the wireless adapter itself - much more stable and less problems.

yipyipboo · 11 Dec 2007 at 13:10

I have a Linksys WRT54G router connected to my Virgin cable modem, around £40 irc. No problems with it and dead easy to configure.

tolien · 11 Dec 2007 at 13:11

Is it Virgin cable or ADSL?
Both the Linksys WRT54GL the WGR614 quackers suggested are popular, and they're both fairly similar as far as what they do.
The WRT54GL will run third party firmware, though, which'll add all sorts of features. Beware that the WRT54G and WRT54GS that are on sale now are lobotomised, and won't run any firmware other than Linksys provide.

Spacedman · 11 Dec 2007 at 13:15

Didnt know virgin did ASDL, ive got the cable variety. Thanks chaps ill look into the suggestions.

PCI Wireless newtwork card aswel then? My brother wont be pleased, only bought the computer last week

Ideally id like a product that would just install and work, never messed about with firmware before and certainly wouldnt like to on a router without being told exactly what to do... which is probably not allowed here.

PhillyDee · 11 Dec 2007 at 13:25

I bet you are in here in a weeks time asking how you can throttle his connection

Spacedman · 11 Dec 2007 at 13:40

He pays for £5 worth, thats what he gets

tolien · 11 Dec 2007 at 15:51

Spacedman said:
without being told exactly what to do... which is probably not allowed here.

Sure it is. Go to the router's web interface, then Administration -> Upgrade Firmware -> Browse, then select the firmware on your machine. Upload, the firmware installs, job done.
Free and easy, extremely unlikely to do any harm to your router, and will add all sorts of QoS options that will handle traffic shaping...