computer gear question

[mnhermit]

My cheapo router/switch/wireless access point finally gave up the ghost. I need to replace it, but am curious if anyone here has a recommendation. Should I get another $20 cheapo or invest in something a little more robust/expensive like a Netgear or Linksys or ...?

Do any of you have any experience with the new ones that have a USB port on them that can be used for a print server or an external disk? Do they work? How hard are they to set up?

Any advice will be appreciated.

[Fingerplucked]

Our first router was a something or other that came with the Earthlink DSL package. I spent a good 4 hours on the phone with a woman in India. The 4 hours was bad enough. What really pissed me off is that it was the first time in nearly 30 year of home computers that I finally had to give up and call tech support for help.

The router we're now using came with the AT&T U-verse package. I don't know what it is or what it does. The AT&T guy set it up and it works great.

Both experiences left me clueless, but I liked the second one a lot better.

[brucemacneill]

I've used both Netgear and Linksys and either was pretty easy to set up. My current is Netgear and as I recall it even figured out the DSL on its own. No USB n this one so don't know about that but that shouldn't he difficult either.

[mccoyblues]

I have always used Linksys and have never had any issue during setup.

[Dub]

I've used D-Link, Netgear, and Lynksys with no problems. I currently use Apple AirPorts and love them but they aren't cheap.

[Dan McLaughlin]

I have a Belkin Surf model and it is great and very easy to set up.

[dradtke]

We've got the ActionTec that came with our DSL. Works okay, but it might be on its last legs. So I'm reading the responses here, too.

Sometimes things get real squirrelly and bogged down, and we unplug and replug it to reset it. Not sure if it's a router problem or a bandwidth too-many-people-streaming problem.

[omaha]

It seems clear that in a few years, everything will have WiFi...TV's, printers, cameras, toasters(?).

Not sure what that means for you, Dennis, but its something to consider.

[mnhermit]

Dave - that's exactly what my router has been doing since shortly after I plugged it in (about a year ago), I thought it was some sort of buffer overflow inside, but I now believe the cheap ass router was broken from the start and the power outage on Friday just pushed it over the edge.

Thanks for the comments. Not sure I want to spend more than $50, but it might be worth it if I don't have to reboot the router every other day.

[Chesapeake]

I've always had good luck with Linksys, and believe that this is a place where you want to get the top-end model. My theory is, it's worth spending a few extra bucks on something you're going to live with every day for a long time.

The few times I've used a Netgear product, there has always been some little infuriating glitch in the setup. Maybe it's just me, but life is too short and I steer away from Netgear now. Linksys is easy as pie.

[t-bob]

I bought a Netgear N600WNDR3700v2 dual band gigabit router. Not cheap at all 99$ at Amazon. It's the best I've used to date. Coverage is awesome, had problems with others due to tile, slate, and concrete barriers in the house.
Also bought a 12 port ethernet switch - have 3 TVs, 3 DirecTV DVRs, DVD player, a PS3, an Xbox and 2 printers hooked up to it. Use wired whenever possible for the 1 Gig speed. Upgraded wire to CAT6 as well. The iPad is lightning quick wirelessly.

The setup manual for the damn thing...

downloads.netgear.com/files/WNDR3700/Documentation/SM/WNDR3700_SM_04JUN2010.pdf