wireless router suggestions
 

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

I use this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833127053

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.

Thirded. We got that one the week it came out, and it has never let me down.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I use the Apple Airport Express. 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.

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.

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.