Travel Technology - wireless router suggestions




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ajalan
Apr 14, 06, 5:15 pm
Does anyone have a suggestion for a good wireless router to travel with for when I connect to hotel high-speed. Primarily I am looking for something that will protect from anything follow guests may be doing out on what is a pretty open network, so it would be nice if the "WAN" port could also be wireless.

The other things I am interested in, in order of importance are:

Security/encryption
Small, I don't want anything too bulky
Light, ideally if it didn't have a transformer brick that would be great
1 or 2 Ethernet jacks, in case I want to or need to use wired for some reason
Easy admin
Cheap

Any suggestions?

TIA,

AJ


billinaz
Apr 17, 06, 12:06 pm
I use this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833127053

kanebear
Apr 17, 06, 12:49 pm
I use this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833127053

Second that. I use it too and love it. Beats the Netgear soundly. IMO nothing that small is going to connect directly to AC but you can run it off a USB port if you have a universal USB charger.


ScottC
Apr 17, 06, 1:00 pm
Thirded. We got that one the week it came out, and it has never let me down.

ajalan
Apr 17, 06, 1:18 pm
Have either of you seen issues with it dropping connections every once in a while? Some of the review I have read say that this is problem. I need to at least maintain a VPN connection, and I do occasionally have to do things like download iso images for work.

SoManyMiles-SoLittleTime
Apr 17, 06, 1:59 pm
Second that. I use it too and love it. Beats the Netgear soundly.
And fourth this one. In fact I'm using it right now in the office. :cool:

Have both the D-link and the Netgear. The Netgrear has a single user only switch, but you can get the same effect with the D-link in AP mode (rather than router). However I was never able to set up encription in AP mode. Otherwise setup is very simple in router mode, including WPA.

Dropping connections: Never had this problem at all, and use it 8 hours a day.

Both the D-link and the Netgear are actually fine products, but the D-link is probably better, and significantly smaller (my experience in general with D-link products is that they're a piece of junk, but this one is in a completely different league).

Cost: I got both the D-link and Netgear on rebates. Check around.

jolou
Apr 17, 06, 2:19 pm
Just received the LinksysTravel Router WTR54GS last week. So far so good. Will take it on a trip to SE-Asia next week and will know more in 3 weeks.
So far, this is what I can reply to your wishlist:

Security/encryption YES
Small, I don't want anything too bulky YES
Light, ideally if it didn't have a transformer brick that would be great INDEED POWER IS BUILT-IN !
1 or 2 Ethernet jacks, in case I want to or need to use wired for some reason YES
Easy admin YES
Cheap DON'T KNOW U.S. PRICE.

USAFAN
Apr 17, 06, 3:00 pm
Just received the LinksysTravel Router WTR54GS last week. So far so good. Will take it on a trip to SE-Asia next week and will know more in 3 weeks.

Before you start your trip, check on the internet, if there is a new update (firmware?) for your router available. Those upgrades solve most problems you might have or get.

kanebear
Apr 17, 06, 3:29 pm
Have either of you seen issues with it dropping connections every once in a while? Some of the review I have read say that this is problem. I need to at least maintain a VPN connection, and I do occasionally have to do things like download iso images for work.

I had this issue initially when using WPA. I dropped back to WEP and it disappeared. I subsequently went back to WPA and it never happened again so I'm not sure what was causing it! What would happen is that the router would spontaneously reboot after a certain period of usage. It was intensely annoying but has completely stopped and hasn't recurred in many many gigabytes transferred and many months of use.

murphy
Apr 17, 06, 3:34 pm
I use the Apple Airport Express (http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/). If you only need a travel router, it's overpriced, but the AirTunes feature with the optical audio out is great for music through my home stereo, and makes it a better value.

In addition to all your requirements, it also has a USB out port, so can be used as a wireless print server. You can get it refurbed for $99 from Apple.

If you don't care about AirTunes or print serving, I'd get the Linksys. I don't like have to carry another AC adapter.

ajalan
May 1, 06, 9:13 am
I tried teh dlink, and it didn't seem to really do what I wanted. I couldn't set up wireless for both the Internet Side and "Internal" side. I also think I couldn't set up the wireless for Internet at all, that seemed to imply I had to use AP mode. I didn't play with it for long, but I didn't have a ton of time. I picked up the linksys and I will try that.

Lehava
May 1, 06, 9:19 am
another vote for the Dlink. TOTALLY love mine!!!! Very easy to travel with and incredibly reliable. Am going to get a second one for home as a matter of fact.



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