Wired Router Query

ive begun looking for a wired gigabit router, so i was wondering if anyone here know of a good one, or give me suggestions for brands and the like? my plan is to upgrade my entire network in time, to gigabit standards; router, then switch, then nic, then tearing out all my CAT5 for CAT6, and finally getting some sillyfast overpriced internet connection to justify my spending all that money on high standard gear

so, router, WIRED, goodness. if you must, you may suggest a wireless one, provided it has physical ports that are also gigabit and routed, and has the ability to turn the wireless off. (careful here, ive found several, but when you read the fine print, it only switches through the physical ports, not routes)

 

heh, do not question my desire for shiny new tech!

but that said, you are correct, we do not yet have internet that fast, the two biggest ISPs around here have 50 and 25 currently, but both fully intend to push that bracket in the coming years. iirc, the latter one, which is currently limited to 25 is currently in the process of replacing/developing/deploying their network, which will allow them to reach 100mb (to leave their competitor behind i assume).

though. that said, i have a almost-a-decade-old router that perodicially shits its self and dies on my current connection when it push it (given that it was bought by my parents and not me, i wouldnt be surprised if the damn thing was only 10mb). and i wish to upgrade it. but i see no point in spending money on a common router when ill have to replace it in a few years when they do get sillyfast internet available, id rather just spend alittle more now for something gigbit capable and be done with it. (to say nothing of the bragging rights with my technician friends)

to describe my network currently, we have a modem in the basement, and about a foot away we have my current router, from which runs three cat5, one to the living room (family computer), one to my parents office (office comp) and one to my room (all my gear). this is because my ISP is stingy with the IP addys, and so i can pay extra for a half dozen of the damn things, or pay for one and route locally. (also the responsible thing to do)

the cable to my room connects to a switch, which divides between my personal computer, my lappy, my PS3, Wii, printer, and remote storage/server/funbox/flavour of the month/etc. aside from the potential internet applications, i want a gigabit network to speed up my shuffling of files locally.

but yes, im aware that cisco is the best. and its what i use at work and such.... but as you noted, i would rather not have to resort to selling my organs to afford it. i just need something small, four-ish port, home gigabit wired router. the two primary issues i have are A) beyond cisco, im not terribly familiar with which brands are awsome or suck, especially for the home market. B) the prevalence of wireless routers in the home market (you lazy unsecure turds!) have all but pushed wired devices out of physical stores, so i need to shop online, im just not having much luck there either, with the few devices that have looked promising, often have scathingly negative reviews and claims that they dont actually achieve the speeds they claim to have. while im aware some (probably alot) is likely user error, it would be nice to know which brands (or even specific routers) are tried and true products.

im aware im something of a early adopter here, but i though someone other than me might have given it some heavy thought and already arrived at a ideal product, even if they havnt taken the plunge yet. hense the topic.

on a final note, i need no help with a switch... gigabit switches are common and cheap, already. id have no issues getting my hands on one, but i want the router first.

 

thanks for the offer, but ill just buy a new one... the asshats discontinued it in canada, but i can still order it from the states, so imma do that.

 

How can you do anything on your phone without wireless? And what about your laptop are you always going to plug it in?

 

i use my phone for phoning, nothing else. and the lappy was my old college computer, i used it to connect to the college wifi... but in the dorms i always used a wire, i always use a wire for anything of any significance. now adays it is very stationary, only moving from its spot when i travel or such, and naturally having no wifi at home is not a impediment then.

 

internet connections in the US are often above 50mb, just its way to expensive to put into your home since you need the infrastructure to receive say a t1 line from your ISP and you have to pay for them to lay the t1 line, but thats just in the details...

any kind of wireless router will distribute ip addresses through DHCP, even if its not actually routing but switching. this seems to solve your ip problem? I really like my WNR3500L wireless N router, has 4 LAN gigabit ports, and allows for custom firmware which will let you get your geek on for funzies.

 

mhmmmmm, more to the point, i know far too much about how easy it is to hack even 'secure' wifi to ever trust it, ever. im well aware than wireless routers can punt DHCP through the air, but that is not my issue with them. its my slightly excessive but professionally justified paranoia with regards to spraying my bits into thin air


out of curiosity, how common is the ability to turn the wireless completely off on a wireless router (which also has wired ports)

 

Aral - very common to do so, and WPA2 provides a very good level of security, but if your that paranoid... well more power to you

Enigma - I know, I was almost CCNA certified in high school, and literally just completed my basic telecom course last monday for my MIS degree I just didnt know the exact prices, hell for 350 id almost do it

 

unless, say, you want to future proof your network

 

25k a month for internet, pretty good deal

 

We just got U-verse setup here in Alabama 100meg to the house. Its a combination of HDTV and DSL basicly. We have a dedicated switch so we can control the speed to each application plus living 170feet from the DSLAM is nice. The service is only $145 bucks a month which is alot less then we were paying for Cable+DSL. It was running us roughly 200 bucks a month with less channels then this current setup offers.