New router for 360/PS3/PC...

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 08 Jul 2009, 13:25

We now have cable-internet instead of ADSL, but sadly that also means I have to buy a new router (the old provider had a modem/router in one, a so-called Wanadoo LiveBox), but I keep reading that N-routers are of no use for my consoles, and if I would get an N-router I also had to be very carefull to pick the right one so it would be compatible with the G-standard, as well as being able to have both the N-stuff and the G-stuff at the same time so I could use the N for my PC and the G for my consoles.

Anyway, it doesn't help that there are about a zillion routers on the market, and not really much 'buy this!' advisory reviews when it comes to routers for consoles.

How did you guys go about picking the right router, are you happy with your choice, and what (if anything) would you advice a dork like me!?

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 08 Jul 2009, 15:13

We use an Apple Airport Extreme Wireless-N access point in my house, it works fine with both my PS3 and PSP. No clue about PC and 360 though since I have them connected via ethernet.

I don't recommend it at all though, there's no firmware setup web interface that you can point your browser at, you need to download a fucking utility from Apple's site.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Jul 2009, 18:31

Personally I'd get a Netgear. They're one of the best makes worldwide. It's what I own.

All 802.11n routers are also G compatible btw, set it up for A/B/G/N. So it will default to whatever speed the device supports. The best are ADSL Wireless Routers (or cable). They have a modem, Wifi and Router all built in.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 08 Jul 2009, 19:53

Thanks guys. As you know I'm no expert on this kinda stuff (it's too fucking annoying to keep being up to date with all the new developments), but it's extremely frustrating to take in so much info in such a small amount of time and then seeing a thousand different options for routers to buy, and different people/sites saying different of slightly conflicting stuff, etc etc

At first I was planning on buying an N-router, but then I read about needing a special kind of N-router to avoid it dropping automatically to G whenever you use the consoles (which don't support N), which would be very expensive ofcourse...
Many people just tell me to just get a G-router, which is perfect for the consoles, and more than fast enough for my internet connection (I need to call the provider to tell them to bump it up to 25mb/s btw...)

Apart from that there is shit going on with the UPC mediabox/connection downstairs, doctor's appointments, trying to pick a plasma screen, some crap going on with MSN/Hotmail (seems to be fixed now), etc etc. And once I have the router I'll probably have to forward ports and all that BS...

It's been a few annoying days, where I was hoping for some stress-free relaxation after my vacation

Anyway, will pick up some MS points and a new (G) router tomorrow I think. Was planning on buying Battlefield 1943 on XBL, which was released today, but the EA online is once again less than stellar it seems...

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 08 Jul 2009, 22:31

I agree with bradavon, definitely go for a Netgear. I have a DGN2000 which can actually run 4 different SSIDs at the same time, meaning I can set a 802.11n connection for my HTPC, XBox 360 & XBox, and also set a 802.11g connection for other older devices that don't support 802.11n. There's probably a similar version which features a cable modem instead of DSL.

802.11g is limited to 54MBps, so yes it is fine for web use, but if you do a lot of file transfers across a network like I do, you'll really need to go for 300MBps 802.11n. Its far quicker for big file transfers.

Damn, is Battlefield 1943 out?! I've been that busy over the last week or so I completely forgot about it! Time to get some more MS points it seems...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Jul 2009, 13:31

That's pretty neat it allows four SSIDs but 802.11n will default to 802.11g anyway, so why need it?

I'm happy with my Netgear DG834G or whatever it is but today I'd go N.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 09 Jul 2009, 14:31

Just saw the Netgear WNR2000 here at the local MediaMarkt. I think that would be the one to buy, I guess.

Will pick it up for 50 euro after I have done some fast grocery-shopping.

edit: bought it, and will install it once the guy who's gonna fix the UPC mediabox has come buy and done his thing...

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 09 Jul 2009, 19:35

bradavon wrote:That's pretty neat it allows four SSIDs but 802.11n will default to 802.11g anyway, so why need it?

I'm happy with my Netgear DG834G or whatever it is but today I'd go N.

Because my old laptop doesn't support WPA-PSK2. I have the 802.11n access set up with WPA-PSK2 and the 802.11g access set up using 128-bit WEP.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 09 Jul 2009, 19:44

I was trying to install it an hour orso ago, but it's a real bitch to get working (wired connection first), and now I'm trying to find my IP and DNS info etc.
Basically at the end of the installation I got the message I could finish the installation, but that I wouldn't be able to connect with the internet with these settings...(!)

-sigh-

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 09 Jul 2009, 20:53

Log in to your control panel at your ISP's website. If they have a half-decent control panel you'll be able to find all the information you need to set your broadband connection up.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jul 2009, 13:31

All you should need is the username/password. Leave the rest as defaults and assign an IP address dynamically.

IronMonkey wrote:Because my old laptop doesn't support WPA-PSK2. I have the 802.11n access set up with WPA-PSK2 and the 802.11g access set up using 128-bit WEP.

Got it. Now that is impressive!

Can you not upgrade the firmware? I'm surprised it doesn't support WPA-PSK, if not WPA-PSK2.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 10 Jul 2009, 20:31

I doubt there's a new firmware available for it, and I think the hardware is limited anyway. Its years old & I only really use it for software testing before I install it on my main PC.

There doesn't seem much point in looking for it really, when my router can handle different security protocols on different SSIDs anyway...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jul 2009, 22:02

WPA-PSK 1 or 2 is more secure than WEP, that's your answer but I take your point.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 11 Jul 2009, 00:20

bradavon wrote:WPA-PSK 1 or 2 is more secure than WEP, that's your answer but I take your point.

I know that, but my laptop doesn't support anything other than WEP. Its probably getting on for 10 years old now.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 11 Jul 2009, 07:37

Who-ever recommended me to get a NetGear modem cause it was great, can expect a fist-sandwich in his mail this week...

Gawd, it's been hell to set-up, and I'm only half-way done cause I still haven't connected my upstairs PC wirelessly (asking me to fill in 3 fields on some pop-up, for which I've tried every possible answer combination)

Connecting the PS3, 360 and PSP wirelessly, went OK though.

I'll probably give it another try tomorrow to connect wirelessly, and otherwise I'll seek help from their helpdesk.

It doesn't help that the manual is on the CD only, and not very clear.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 11 Jul 2009, 09:48

Jeez! What are you trying to do?

Plug in, enter router username/password, enter broadband username/password, enable Wireless, choice Wireless type/key. Done!

The rest can be tinkered with later but none of it is compulsory.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 11 Jul 2009, 09:50

What exact setup do you have? I'm sure between us, me & bradavon can get you sorted out. Seriously, Netgears feature one of the most user-friendly web configuration tools out there. Its not that hard, it just requires a bit of knowledge of the network & how you want it to work.

A lot of people think you should just be able to stick a router in the loop & it should automatically will do everything you want it to do. Not so. A network has to be planned before you try to implement it, otherwise you're just making things difficult for yourself.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 11 Jul 2009, 21:05

bradavon wrote:Jeez! What are you trying to do?

Plug in, enter router username/password, enter broadband username/password, enable Wireless, choice Wireless type/key. Done!

The rest can be tinkered with later but none of it is compulsory.

Apparently, in my case, it isn;t that simple, or else I would have figured it out already.

For the first PC I tried connecting, with the PC, I had to go into the router to alter some settings about the MAC adress or something.

The PC upstairs, which is the one I use, connects through the cable just fine, but wireless is a completely different story, sadly. Will give it another try tomorrow or something.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 11 Jul 2009, 21:06

IronMonkey wrote:What exact setup do you have? I'm sure between us, me & bradavon can get you sorted out. Seriously, Netgears feature one of the most user-friendly web configuration tools out there. Its not that hard, it just requires a bit of knowledge of the network & how you want it to work.

A lot of people think you should just be able to stick a router in the loop & it should automatically will do everything you want it to do. Not so. A network has to be planned before you try to implement it, otherwise you're just making things difficult for yourself.

Maybe you guys can help me out, but I wont try it tonoght, cause I'm dead-tired and really can't use the rage that will come over me once this shit still won't connect...