In the market for a new router

[SHRED]

I have an old SMC Barricade 4-port router.
I'd like to leave the 2 desktops hardwired and add 1 wireless since we
have a new laptop.

The Linksys WRT54GL appears to get good reviews but some have issues
with the setup and that concerns me.
Anyone have this one and can recommend a simple way to set it up securely?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190

Lots of people do not recommend using the install CD included.
They use either Tomato http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato or DD-WRT
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

It's all new to me.

Just curious; would this router be any faster than my SMC?

 

[John Weiss]

I have an old SMC Barricade 4-port router.
I'd like to leave the 2 desktops hardwired and add 1 wireless since we
have a new laptop.

The Linksys WRT54GL appears to get good reviews but some have issues with
the setup and that concerns me.
Anyone have this one and can recommend a simple way to set it up
securely?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190

Lots of people do not recommend using the install CD included.
They use either Tomato http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato or DD-WRT
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

It's all new to me.

The Linksys routers are, in general, very good and great values. It may be
time to go with a wireless-N version, if it is guaranteed firmware
upgradable to the final IEEE 802.1N standard (expected next spring).
Otherwise, the WRT-54G series is fine.

I don't think you want to play with flashing new firmware (Tomato/DD-WRT)
until you're more familiar.

I agree that it is often easier to set them up manually rather than using
the CD, but if you're new to it, just go through the menus using a web
browser, and do the minimal setup necessary:

Set your password

For the wireless, set the SSID and set up your WPA encryption code.
Remember the code so you can set it in your computer that will be
wirelessly connected.

Write down.save somewhere those settings.

There may be a few other things to do, but you'll learn more by browsing
the menus.

 

[Chris Darwin]

I have an old SMC Barricade 4-port router.
I'd like to leave the 2 desktops hardwired and add 1 wireless since we
have a new laptop.

The Linksys WRT54GL appears to get good reviews but some have issues with
the setup and that concerns me.
Anyone have this one and can recommend a simple way to set it up securely?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190

Lots of people do not recommend using the install CD included.
They use either Tomato http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato or DD-WRT
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

It's all new to me.

Just curious; would this router be any faster than my SMC?

I like my new Linksys WCG200 Wireless cable modem/router combo. Free's up
some desk space. About $150 compared to about $140 for a separate cable
modem router setup.

 

[John Adams]

I like my new Linksys WCG200 Wireless cable modem/router combo. Free's up
some desk space. About $150 compared to about $140 for a separate cable
modem router setup.

I expect the cable modem doesn't work with all ISPs though.