Posted on 03/18/2012 3:48:29 PM PDT by Lazlo in PA
I believe that my Trendnet TEW-432BRP Wireless Router is kaput. I get a signal from it on my laptop and Blue Ray player with WiFi. I do not get any internet service from it though. I believe that the unit is not receiving info from my Cisco cable modem. I eliminated the wireless and hard wired the computer directly to the cable modem and I have internet access.
Since I believe my router has failed, does anyone have any ideas on replacing it? I tried to research it and it gave me a headache. I am hoping to spend under $50 and I have a rather large house that I need to cover. The Trendnet was very good at covering the house and even the barn.
I have Belkin 600. I am very happy with it...
Started out with Linksys for the first 5 years or so, now Netgear...cheaper and more reliable than Linksys...no question.
I have used Linksys and DLink consistently for over 14 years. However I made the leap to NetGear, their 4500 model, this past December after glowing reviews from both PC Magazine and MaximumPC. I paid premium price, but I value good solid hardware and will pay when it’s functions suite me to a tee. I switched because my 3 yr old Dlink 655 was failing (lost an ethernet port, and connectivity wasn’t steady). Note that the current price of a Dlink 655 is much cheaper, but the competitive Dlink and Linksys routers are equal or greater in price than the Netgear.
I was looking for two things specifically, coverage and the ability to separate my guest access via dual channel. Living directly in the path of several traveling family members, my home serves as an intra-family B&B, so guest access is critical.
The range on this thing is phenomenal, coverage in a 2200 sq ft home is 3 bars in the farthest corner (router positioned off center and at the back of the house). Connected to a dlink wireless AP that serves to extend the range to an addition on the back of the house that has brick wall between me and the main router.
I currently have 11 devices connected at all times (2 smart phones, 2 wired DVRs, 1 XBox, 1 Wii, 2 wired PCs, 1 printer, 1 wired Windows Home Server, and 1 Blu-Ray). When using my portable devices, I can walk between coverage of the AP and the Router and they switch flawlessy. I recently had family come into town for a tourney and there were 6+ devices also running on my Guest network.
My Dlink would have choked. In fact I was unable to use my Blu-Ray to stream an entire movie even though the Dlink was a mere 10 feet away with only 1/2” drywall in the way. Watched a movie off of Amazon without a blip on the Netgear.
Go to pcmag.com and maximumpc.com and read their router reviews before you buy.
No, it’s not the nature of wireless routers. Seems like you may have range or other interference issues. Mine connects damned fast whenever I reboot; has been that way with every wireless router I’ve owned (and that’s been quite a few). You may very well consider a new 802.11n router. Again, I’ve had pretty good luck with D-Link. They’re very flexible (LOTS of setup options), but not complicated to set up in the least.
They’re also quite inexpensive; can get an n-level (i.e. latest and greatest) unit for under $100.
Allow me to chime in. I’ve mentioned my long time use of D-Link wireless routers several times on this thread....and yep, I also use (and REALLY like) the DIR-655. Great unit.
I wasn’t referring to connection speed, I was referring the arcane nomenclature and convoluted setup process.
"...and which still takes forever to actually connect to my laptop each time I boot, and with which any encounter longer than said automatic connection I dread tremendously."
Sure hope e4200v2 (N900) router lasts! Paid $200 for it! The reviews were mostly positive. Setup easy. Toss disk in and follow instructions.
Right. I dread the router. And the connection time takes longer than it should. But tracking down the issue means dealing with the router, which I dread.
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