Routers??

[coshkara]

I just recently got broadband and would like to buy a router but I have no idea what to look for in one. Does it have to be wireless? Is there pro's/con's of going wireless any info on what I would need to be able to hook a xbox 360, a wii, ps3, and my pc to the net would be helpfull.

[Capper]

You'll probably get asked a lot of questions....size of your house, etc.

I'd personally look at a wireless solution, they typically support up to four wired devices and six wireless devices. Soy u could use the wired solution for your computer, and any other hardware close by, then use the wireless with the XBox and PS3 (Thats what I have, and it works fine).

As to brands, I'm partial to Linksys and DLink, both are solid brands with good products and support.

[coshkara]

Would this work ok then?

LINKSYS WRT54G IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless-G Broadband Router

[Capper]

Thats the exact same router I have now, so yes, it should work perfectly

[Hitman]

Capper touched on the basics already. You don't have to buy a wireless router, but they are more convenient and like Capper said most of them come with a 4 port switch. The size of your house does make a big difference on the effectiveness of wireless. Houses with more then one story, or basements are harder to get signals through out the whole house. You will find that most people run a combination of wired and wireless. Most of the desktops are wired and the laptops and devices in remote areas are wireless.

I had nothing but linksys routers for the past 7 years, and I recently got a D-link gaming router, and that is by far the best router I have ever owned. It has better range then my linksys router, has a faster wireless connection, and also has a 4 port gigabit switch, where most routers only have 10/100.

If you want to extend your wireless connection you can always get WAP or Wireless Bridges. If you want to extend your wired network all you need is a switch.

[Loosecannon]

Don't overlook the D-Link DIR655 ..... It's a great feature laiden router

[Stormcrow]

I'm partial to wireless as well, having set up a few networks and watching them work. However, it can be a bit expensive to initially set up, and you want to make sure you have all the proper devices before going into it. Both the PS3 and Wii have USB 2.0 ports, and you can get a couple of USB wireless adapters for them. Just make double sure the one you pick out is compatible with the specific console, a decent one can be had for around 30-40 dollars. The 360 I believe comes with a optional wireless adapter for using it and Windows on the same network.

The computer can just be wired into the router, or if you want to go completely wireless a PCI based card is preferred over a USB adapter since it won't take up as much space and a port.
Also keep in mind how far apart everything is from the access point, which is the router in this case. That Linksys is a decent model for the price, and has a pretty good range but tends to weaken significantly after about 150-200 feet I've noticed. Thats fine for the average house, but if you have multiple floors or your stuff in the basement then a wireless booster may be something to invest in to expand your access range.

Wired routers are cheaper and cost less to get going, but with a wireless you can connect multiple computers and devices to the same network without having to buy expensive 30'+ Ethernet cables and trying to hide them and not trip over them. Also in my case, the rig I have now is wireless with a cheapo Dynex USB adapter and it has faster speeds then the computers hardwired near the router. Don't expect that in all cases, though. If you do decide to go wireless, I've used that router extensively to set up a home network and can help you get everything started up on it.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Loosecannon

Don't overlook the D-Link DIR655 ..... It's a great feature laiden router

I wouldn't overlook any D-Link router. They are superior to Linksys IMHO.

[Dr. V]

Originally Posted by Hitman

I wouldn't overlook any D-Link router. They are superior to Linksys IMHO.

Agreed.

I use a DIR-625 and I couldn't be happier with the performance - VERY solid and reliable - I've never used any other router than D-Link (after having bad experiences with both Belkin and TrendNet) and none of them have ever given me issues (meaning personal or ones I've used in setups for others).

[screwballl]

I personally have had nothing but problems with any linksys router and had to return the last 3 within a month of buying it. Some people like belkin but others do not...
I would say your best bet is stick with D-link or SMC