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todd ellis · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 6:24 am Post subject: wireless router

non-VO related gear question:

i'm replacing my up-until-recently-faithful belkin wireless router. it also has 4 wired outputs. anybody have a recommendation on a new box? or on one NOT to get?
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heyguido · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 6:31 am Post subject:

Unless you're desperate to do it immediately, hold off just a little while longer for the new 802.11ac standard to hit the market. The new standard operates in the 5ghz range, with channel width 4 times wider than N. It's ridiculously fast, up to 3 times faster that 802.11n, built to support multiple simultaneous HDvideo streams (up to 4). Backward compatible with a,b,g, and n by way of a 2nd 2.4ghz channel, so it's a dual-channel system. As throughput reaches 1.3GBps, they might even be good enough to support SourceConnect over wireless finally.

1st products with this new tech are just being announced. Buffalo's new router (AirStation WZR-D1800H) is available now for $180, and Netgear's new 6200 arrives this month. Apple is said to be an early supporter of the standard, as well, though they have yet to announce its inclusion in any upcoming products. Worth the wait, if you can. If not, 802.11n dual-channel is the way to go...
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Don Brookshire
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Bruce · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:05 am Post subject:

Since you're halfway into the Apple world, what about an Airport? Mine works well and has a USB port on it for connecting a common printer for all users. It's a few years old now so the new ones might even mix drinks and make toast, for all I know.

B
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Bish · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:36 am Post subject:

If you only wanted wireless "g", I'd say the Linksys WRT-54G... damn thing is bullet-proof (especially with upgraded DD-WRT open-source firmware). I was sad to pension mine off when I needed to move to an "n" network... but I put in the Apple Extreme and have been wonderfully happy with it. Since then, we've added the Time Capsule which is an Airport Extreme with a 2TB HDD built in. The only downside (apart from not being cheap) is that the Apple products only have three hard ports, so I'm using some small Linksys 5-port 10/100 switches (EZXS55W) to connect the low-priority/low bandwidth stuff (like the VoIP line).

As far as mixing drinks and making toast... they tend to be light on the booze & heavy on the mixer, and they burn the toast far too often for my liking.
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Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
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todd ellis · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 11:37 am Post subject:

i'm 50/50 mac/pc and since i build my mac for less that $300 - i don't really see spending the money for apple products.

just looking for a generic work-horse type of router, really --- something i don't have to re-set every day.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
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heyguido · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 12:02 pm Post subject:

Todd....

Since most of the chips in wireless routers are made by Broadcom, most names like Cisco/Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, etc are pretty similar, though I'd rate Belkin near the bottom on quality of connectors and power supplies.

If you're replacing a simple workhorse, go for wireless N, and you'll get wireless performance that will keep up with your broadband feed. 4 ports is pretty standard these days on most N routers priced around $50 from Netgear or Cisco/Linksys.

Spend $20 more and get dual-band N for future-proof reliability and speed... Or $20 less this week @Bestbuy for a Belkin N with 4 ports.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

todd ellis · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 2:53 pm Post subject:

great input - thanks all!
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Limerick Lane Audio · Contributore Level V Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Posts: 151

flaspots · Contributore Level V Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 191

I've been thrashing a completely stock LinkSys WRT54G for seven or eight years now. No issues with streaming to the wireless boxes, and no issues with anything to the wired boxes.

Chuck Davis · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:45 am Post subject:

Another vote for the WRT54G. I'm using Source Connect on mine with 0 problems. My studio sits directly above the router on the second floor.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject:

Groupon just posted this. Had to grab it since I had an additional $10 off:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-belkin-wireless-router?addxe=dm9qZWZmQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ==&utm_medium=email&utm_source=channel_goods-deals&sid=11181576&user=8e7f67a6c767590f6d69294df73c7cdcaa5eb51bfda7a9d4c058d5eb456452c0&utm_campaign=11181576&s=body&d=gg-belkin-wireless-router&p=3&c=deal_img
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todd ellis · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 2:32 pm Post subject:

well - THAT would have been GREAT ... yesterday.

well ... poop.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Bish · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:03 pm Post subject:

Still showing as available to me... 2 days left. $29 + $5 s/h is a pretty good deal... or did you mean it was too late 'cos you'd already bought summat?
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

todd ellis · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:05 pm Post subject:

done already purchased one. Angry

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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?