Recommendations wanted re: wireless/wired router

[Pilgrim]

I have a friend that asked me to recommend a wireless/wired router that will be used within the home to connect 1 Desktop (wired) and 1 laptop (wireless)... AND... to be shared with an elderly lady who lives next door. The adjacent house is within 20 feet I am told.

Networking is my weak spot so I thought I would seek advice from those of you who have a penchant for this. Personally I have been using my old standby, a Linksys WRT54G for many years without any problems. But I am guessing the technology has greatly advanced since I purchased this old thing which would give both better performance but especially range.

What say you?

[John Gray]

ADSL or cable? I would go for a Wireless-N router, which should give better range, but you will be going through two outer walls, at least...

There's no possibility of laying an ethernet cable between the houses and through the walls, is there?

[Pilgrim]

ADSL or cable? I would go for a Wireless-N router, which should give better range, but you will be going through two outer walls, at least...

There's no possibility of laying an ethernet cable between the houses and through the walls, is there?

1. I'm fairly certain that they don't have ADSL, but I can check.

2. Dunno... it might be possible, but only if drilling holes in the walls wasn't required. I can check on that also.

[Pilgrim]

ADSL or cable? ...

There's no possibility of laying an ethernet cable between the houses and through the walls, is there?

1. I was just told that they have a DSL connection.

2. And, I was informed that laying a cable wouldn't be feasible for whatever reason and that it would have to be run up 3 floors on the neighbor's house where the woman has her PC.

So, with that further information, what router seems best to meet those requirements and situation? I am interested in brand/model if possible and not just "type"... UNLESS of course, brand isn't that important, i.e., Buffalo, Linksys, Netgear, etc., are basically on the same level??

THANKS

[JoeP]

So, with that further information, what router seems best to meet those requirements and situation? I am interested in brand/model if possible and not just "type"... UNLESS of course, brand isn't that important, i.e., Buffalo, Linksys, Netgear, etc., are basically on the same level??

I've had very good luck with D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router at home.

Joe

[John Gray]

I was informed that laying a cable wouldn't be feasible for whatever reason and that it would have to be run up 3 floors on the neighbor's house where the woman has her PC.

I don't like the sound of that, because it seems that the signal would have to go at a sharp angle through an outside wall, and perhaps also a couple of (solid?) floors. Thus lots of Stuff to cause attenuation.

I wonder if you can borrow a router to try to assess simply the wireless signal strength from where it will be situated to where this lady will be wanting to use a laptop/PC? Doesn't have to be connected to anything except the mains power, just broadcasting wireless signals. There's really no other way of doing it than to try it. Joe's recommendation is probably as good as any, if not better! Can you do 'sale or return' easily?

[NYIntensity]

One thing you may want to try is placing the router near a window that has line-of-sight to a window the PC is going to be located in... getting the router up to that part of the house may require something fancy, like powerline ethernet ;)

[mwolfman]

Remember - if the computer doesn't have N capabilities, it's not going to matter. I have a Linksys G router that works my floor, the two floors above me, next door (both ways), my backyard and across the street. A G or N wireless router should work fine.