WIRELESS N ROUTERS
Looking For a Wireless Router? Here's Your Guide to Wireless N Routers
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Wireless N Routers by D-Link
At the time this article was written, the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router was available from a number of outlets, including Circuit City, Target, TigerDirect, Super Warehouse, and PC Nation. Prices ranged from $120 to $160. Quite a bit higher than wireless g, but you may find the extra speed and range benefits to be well worth the money. Installs easily, compatible with both PC and Mac systems. This one got good reviews from Smartguider.com. This is also the only wireless N currently listed by D-Link. Also recently ranked #1 Wireless N router by SmartGuider. Features SPI/MAC filtering firewall for greater security.
Linksys Wireless N Routers
Linksys' WRT150N Wireless-N Home Router was ranked #2 by a recent poll on SmartGuider. Reviews indicate it's easy to set up, has great range and speeds, and consumers who purchased this router were happy with their choice. If money is a concern, this one is priced a little lower at prices ranging from $100 to $120 at places like TigerDirect, Super Warehouse, PC Nation, and Circuit City. For security purposes, has SPI/MAC filtering firewall.
Linksys also has the #4 rated Wireless N Router, according to this same poll done by SmartGuider. It's their WRT300N Wireless-N Broadband Router, and it's priced from $81 on up to $130 at such places as Tech For Less, PC Nation, TigerDirect, and Super Warehouse.
Linksys' WRT330N Wireless-N Gigabit Gaming Router was created with the online gamer in mind. Pricier than most Wireless N routers, if gaming is foremost in your mind, you may find the extra dollars worthwhile. Prices range from about $155 to $180 or so, and can be found in places like Dell, PC Nation, and Circuit City.
Wireless N Routers by Belkin
Ranked #3 on the SmartGuider poll, Belkin's N1 Wireless Router offers faster speeds and greater range than previous Wireless G routers. Easily set up, you can share video and audio files with all the computers on your network. And all the computers on your network can connect wirelessly to your broadband Internet account. Pick up your Belkin N1 at PC Nation, Super Warehouse, TigerDirect, or Circuit City for prices ranges between $110 to $130.
Belkin's Wireless Pre-N router landed a #10 spot on the list. Has good range and speed, easy to set up, and comes with software for both PC & Mac. Priced between $105 and $130 and available at places like Amazon.com, Circuit City, Super Warehouse.
NetGear Wireless N Routers
NetGear's WNR854T RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Router claims up to 15 times the speed and 10 times the range over Wireless G routers, if you also use a RangeMax Wireless N adapter. You can surf the 'Net, email, do streaming video and online gaming simultaneously with no noticable loss of speed or range. Available from Amazon.com, Best Buy, Dell, Comp USA, TigerDirect, and Staples, just to name a few. NetGear.com's price was $130, but we found it at TigerDirect for $65.
NetGear also makes the WGT624 - 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router which is one of the top-ranked Wireless N routers currently on the market. Used with Netgear's WG511T 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card, it claims speeds up to 108 Mbps. Online gaming and streaming videos are no problem for this router. This router is priced from $60-$70 at places like TigerDirect, Amazon.com, and Circuit City. Gets the best results when used with the Pre-N network adapter.
In Conclusion
Things look promising for the 3rd generation Wireless N router. They should move from draft status some time in 2008, meaning that the kinks should mostly be worked out and you can expect a stable wireless router with faster speeds, greater range, and perhaps at a slightly lower price.