Linksys Wireless Routers
Ranked #67,438 in Computers & Electronics, #1,042,413 overall
All about Linksys Wireless Routers
I will give you some information and guidance here to help you make the best choice.... a quality router for a great price!
One of my favourite brands is Linksys, and has been for quite a few years. Yes, there are quite a few other brands out there, and in other lenses, I will look at them all. I'm keeping it simple here for you, one brand at a time, and three categories.
"I just need a cheap, easy solution for a couple computers to share Internet access"
"I've got several computers and a wireless printer I want to share without slowing things down"
"All of the above, with downloading and online gaming too!"
Router Reviews
Don't just take my word for it....
Here, I've done some of the research for you. I've kept it as recent as possible, within the past year.
- Consumer Search Reviews - October 2009
- 3 of the Top 4 are Linksys routers!
- ZDNet Review
- ZDNet review of the WRT610N dual band Wireless N router from Linksys
B G or N. Huh?
What do those letters mean?
Wireless B is the oldest protocol, or language, of the three, and is not really used anymore. Wireless G is still widely used but is rapidly being replaced by wireless N as more and more people upgrade their routers and computers to the latest technology.
One very important thing to remember is that the newer N is backwards compatible with G and B. This means that if you have a wireless N router and a wireless G network adapter in your computer.... it WILL work. The catch is that the speed will be the slower of the two, which means the G speed.
To help you decide whether you need Wireless G, N, or dual-band N; take a moment to consider what you are using your router/network for.
Will you be:
- Sharing an Internet connection
- Sharing a printer
- Online gaming and streaming movies
- Moving files from one computer to another through your home network
If you are in the first two general uses ONLY - then wireless G speeds will be fine. At a speed of 54 Mb/sec (that's mega-bits per second), that's still TWICE AS FAST as the fastest residential Internet service that I'm aware of here in North America. Most high speed Internet access is anywhere from 3 to 10 Mb/sec.
So, if price is a consideration for you, then get the less expensive Wireless G router - it will be fine. If you can, I recommend paying the extra to "future-proof" yourself. Get that Wireless N router, and don't worry about your computer for now. That can always be updated later.
If you are into online gaming, have more than 3 computers online at once, or share files between computers, then you will definitely want more bandwidth, which is what wireless N offers. Wireless N gives you up to 160 Mb/sec transfer speeds in the real world. This added speed is what allows you to share the Internet connection with several computers at once without slowing down. If your laptop only has wireless G, you can upgrade that by purchasing a USB wireless N adapter. This little device plugs into a free USB port on your laptop and will give you the faster wireless N connection that you want.
What about dual-band N you ask? This simply uses 2 frequencies to help ensure that ALL of your wireless traffic (ie Internet surfing, email, downloading, online gaming, VoIP, etc) has enough bandwidth to get through quickly. Think of the wireless connection as a road. More traffic can zip along a 2 lane road than on a single lane road. The same principle applies with dual-band Wireless N. The router automatically uses the second "lane" when the first one starts getting full or slowing down. The end result is that your wireless connection remains fast when a single band N or G wireless connection would be getting bogged down with traffic.
The "Just a router" Answer
My recommendation for an inexpensive, basic wireless router - Linksys WRT54G2

This easy-to-set-up wireless network lets you access your broadband Internet connection to surf the Web and send email - or connect between computers to share music, photos and other files, or print to your printer. All without wires, from all around your home. No trading cables, no waiting for someone else to finish what they're doing, no being stuck in one place.
Keep your digital photos or music in one place; share them from any computer on your network. Four built-in 10/100 Ethernet ports make it easy to connect additional wired computers, storage devices, printers, and other wired devices to your network so you can access them from your wireless-enabled computers.
Wireless security and firewall protection designed to help safeguard your home network and computers from most Internet attacks.
I need more, but without spending a fortune.
Recommended solution for the busy network - Linksys WRT160N

The speed and bandwidth of Wireless-N, today's most advanced wireless technology, makes it easy for multiple users to share Internet access, files and printing. Enjoy media-intensive activities like gaming, video and Voice-over-IP phone calls - all at once, with less lag and performance degradation. Achieves faster speeds when used with Wireless-N enabled devices, but is fully compatible with Wireless-G and -B equipment.
Experience coverage you can count on, all around your home. Wireless-N's Multiple in, Multiple Out MIMO technology actually uses the signal reflections that confuse ordinary wireless technologies to boost range and reduce dead spots.
Four 10/100 Ethernet ports let you connect printers, networked storage drives, and other Ethernet-enabled devices to your network, so you can access and share them wirelessly from all your computers at once. No need to trade cables, or wait for someone else to finish their work before you do yours.
Advanced wireless security and SPI firewall protection designed to help safeguard your home network and computers from most Internet attacks.
I need it ALL
Then go with the best.... Linksys WRT610N

Experience faster wireless connectivity with fewer interruptions with two bands of Wireless-N, today's most advanced wireless technology. The 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands are designed to work separately yet simultaneously, so you can easily customize your ideal configuration - for example, use the 2.4 GHz band to surf, email and print while keeping the less crowded 5 GHz band free for time sensitive traffic like music, gaming and high-definition video. Built-in Media Optimized Networking technology gives time-sensitive traffic priority, so your media can run more smoothly, with fewer interruptions.
Coverage you can count on, all around your home. Wireless-N's Multiple in, Multiple Out MIMO technology actually uses the signal reflections that confuse ordinary wireless technologies to help boost range and reduce dead spots, while its ultra-wide bandwidth greatly reduces interference from nearby wireless devices.
Four integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports let you connect networked storage, computers, and other devices directly to your network and access them at much faster speeds. Storage Link provides USB connectivity for hard drives and memory stick.
Advanced wireless security and SPI firewall protection is designed to help safeguard your home network and computers from most Internet attacks.
Find your Linksys Router here...
Top of the line
Linksys Routers on eBay
Some great deals can be found here!
Additional home networking information
- Wireless & Wired Routers: Setting Up Your Home Computer Network
- Okay, I've got all the stuff. Now what?
- Bandwidth Management for Home Networks
- Keep your home network fast!
- Tips to Simplify Wireless Security
- Secure your wireless network quickly and effectively. I keep the techno-speak to a minimum.
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Liz
Mar 17, 2010 @ 4:37 pm | delete
- Thanks SO much for your router info. It helped me make a decision. First of all, I'm going to return the netgear router I purchased and buy the basic Linksys. My old Linksys B has worked faithfully for over five years, so I trust Linksys.
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by MyPersonalShopper
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