I use to have a Linksys Router sold it someone who needed it more than me now I have two wireless devices my Netbook and Smartphone so I'm looking go wireless, now the thing is I'm kinda into photography and my RAW files can get pretty large so I end up hosting them on more than one computers around the place or I may need to move them around basically the same with my anime collection. So I have decided to go Gigabyte and of course N standard wireless which was a no brainer.

I have seen wireless routers from as low as USD50 to as high as USD200 if not higher so I would like to know what exactly sets these routers apart, what should one look for when purchasing a wireless router?

Well you answered your own question, you need the highest throughput speed to transfer files.

Looks like this one has the highest throughput out there now:

http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0341405

TRENDnet's TEW-691GR 450Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router

Advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna technology with three spatial streams per antenna generates a maximum theoretical wireless throughput of 450Mbps.

Wired data port is actually 2GB which I didn't know consumer grade had come out with.

It's at top of the price range at $195 but if you want speed this looks to be it.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/ is a good place to start.

There are charts that show you the performance of the routers, wired and wireless.

Nope not spending that level of cash.



Thanks nice link

So I have found some which suites my needs/wants but I'm not familiar with any of the brands do any of these brands ring a bell to any of you Buffalo, EnGenius, TP-Link or TRENDnet?

TRENDnet was on sale for $20 at NewEgg and i got one. It works for me with good range.
- too good, my neighbors (5 acres away) started borrowing my bandwidth and i PW-protected it

Are you serious?
Damn!

That's a long distance.

Mine (Linksys WRT45GL I think) has trouble through some of the solid concrete walls in my house. If the signal has to pass through too many, its gone!

LOL!

Whoa now thats just EPIC!!

So I ended up purchasing a Mountain Bike and digging myself further in debt hell, so now I'm back here I noticed on some Routers there is 1 Wan port and 4 Lan ports I was wondering.

Aren't those the same thing, or is it a case that the WAN port can only be used to plug directly from the modem to the Router while the other Routers that have only LAN ports one could use any of the LAN ports as an intermediary for the the modem to Router and then one would just use the other LAN ports to connect to other machines?

So some Routers are 1x WAN, 4x LAN while other are just 4X LAN and have a separate port all together to plug from the modem.

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=CAqD7bLWUPI&subid=0&offerid=193412.1&type=10&tmpid=1534&u1=forums&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Faccessories.dell.com%252Fsna%252Fproducts%252FNetworking%252Fproductdetail.aspx%253Fc%253Dca%2526l%253Den%2526s%253Dbsd%2526cs%253Dcabsdt1%2526sku%253DA2793232

/thread

Can't recall exactly, but WAN is for connecting to the internet (cable/DSL modem). I guess, or for connecting to other routers if you want to expand your network?

dmcowen should know more about this!