Buying my own cable router
I will be using either Time Warner or Grandecom.net for my internet service provider. I just found out that they want to rent it to me for $10 per month and I am sure even more for top rung equipment with extra features I might not even need. I need it to provide wireless access at almost 200 feet away.
What do I need today to get decent range? What price should I be looking to stay within?
What do I need today to get decent range? What price should I be looking to stay within?
ASKER
$70 wow!
".... $70 wow ! " ==> I hope you mean "Wow, that's a really good price" and not "Wow, that's expensive".
It's clearly NOT expensive for a good router ... and note that it completely pays for itself in 7 months with the rental savings (actually quicker, since there are probably significant taxes on those rental fees).
It's clearly NOT expensive for a good router ... and note that it completely pays for itself in 7 months with the rental savings (actually quicker, since there are probably significant taxes on those rental fees).
ASKER
okay I can live with the $70. The problem is that I needed to be an all in one device also. It should provide cable and Wireless in a single unit.
We weren't sure if you were ridiculing the price, or what.
(e.g. maybe you were intent on spending $1000+ for a Cisco 892W, which is already EoL'd)
I don't know of any device that provides both cable and WiFi... typically, the cable company places a splitter on the cable, with one output providing your cable TV (often via another - powered, to reduce connection losses - splitter) and the other output going to the cable modem (whose output feeds a router, which does not necessarily have wireless capability).
(e.g. maybe you were intent on spending $1000+ for a Cisco 892W, which is already EoL'd)
I don't know of any device that provides both cable and WiFi... typically, the cable company places a splitter on the cable, with one output providing your cable TV (often via another - powered, to reduce connection losses - splitter) and the other output going to the cable modem (whose output feeds a router, which does not necessarily have wireless capability).
This cable modem has a built in 4-port switch and an 802.11n wireless access point, so it will do everything you've asked for in a single unit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825122014
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825122014
They should provide a modem without a monthly rental fee... but the one they provide probably does not include a router, switch and WiFi like that SurfBoard does.
ASKER
Unfortunately, I purchased this http://www.ebay.com/itm/251323683891 and it doesn't work.
I was wanting at least 802.11n standard because I think that is the longest range I can get and I don't want to pay rental to Time Warner who was unable to provision the router.
It also occurred to me that since it looks like we are considering a purchase of $100 or so, it might be best to find one that does DSL as well.
But then if they aren't on the list, they have "trouble" provisioning them. What a racket. Assistance still needed.
I was wanting at least 802.11n standard because I think that is the longest range I can get and I don't want to pay rental to Time Warner who was unable to provision the router.
It also occurred to me that since it looks like we are considering a purchase of $100 or so, it might be best to find one that does DSL as well.
But then if they aren't on the list, they have "trouble" provisioning them. What a racket. Assistance still needed.
As I said, they should provide a modem at no charge; they likely only charge you rental on the wireless router.
ASKER
It's a combo unit so they charge a rental
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Basically I agree a separate cable modem and router is a better choice -- not in terms of capability; but separating the functions allows you to more easily upgrade to either the next cable modem standard or the next generation of WiFi without the cost of an integrated unit.
But if you want an integrated unit, the Motorola unit I noted above is an excellent unit; and is used by many cable providers, so it will almost certainly work fine for your setup.
But if you want an integrated unit, the Motorola unit I noted above is an excellent unit; and is used by many cable providers, so it will almost certainly work fine for your setup.
ASKER
I'm beginning to agree. If they only charge for the router and not for the modem, then that is a better choice.
Buffalo WZR-HP-G450H or a
Buffalo WZR-600DHP
Or both... connect one to the cable modem, run ethernet cable to the other side of the building and connect the other one there by one of its LAN ports (instead of the WAN/Internet port), with its DHCP server disabled... that should assure good wireless coverage over the whole building. Note the less-expensive one is actually a dual-band unit, so it would be less likely to be stepped on by other nearby wireless networks.