Wireless Router
 Lightly used NetGear WNR2000 300 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless N Router WPS Button US $11.50 
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 NetGear N600 Wireless Dual Band Router WNDR3400 US $37.00
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 Linksys Wireless Router WRT54G v22 Tomato 128 Firmware 7dBi Antenna US $39.99
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 US Robotics USR8054 54 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless G Router w cables US $15.99
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 Brand new in the box Linksys E1200 300 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless N Router US $22.27
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 D Link DIR 655 Extreme N Gigabit Wireless Router White AS IS US $16.50
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 Apple AirPort Extreme 3 Port Gigabit Wireless N Router MC340LL A US $115.00
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 RangeMAx Dual Band Wireless N Router with DSL Modem US $47.75
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 TL WR703N Portable Mini 150M 80211n WiFi Wireless 3G Router Blue US $27.99
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 D link DKT USBN 300 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless N Router DIR 615 US $10.49
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 Linksys WRT160N 300 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless N Router US $12.50
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 ATT 2701HG B 4 Port 10 100 Wireless G Router US $35.00
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 Sonicwall Firewall Router TZ100 Wireless Unlimited Transferable US $265.00
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 ASUS WL 520GU 125 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless G Router TOMATO USB US $44.99
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 LINKSYS WIRELESS BROADBAND ROUTER 24 GHz 80211 US $24.99
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 Cradlepoint PHS300 Wireless G Router US $2.25
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 D link Super G with MIMO DI 624M 108 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless G Router US $14.99
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 Linksys WRT54G 54 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless G Router with 7dbi Antennas US $19.99
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 GOOD USED FREE SHIP Linksys WRT54G 54 Mbps 4 Port Wireless G Router WRT54G US $16.01
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 Actiontec GT704WGB 54 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless G Router US $14.99
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 Airlink 101 Wireless Router Ultra Slim USB 20 Adapter 80211G Lot US $40.00
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 Linksys WKPC54G 54 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless G Router US $33.00
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 Linksys Wireless N Home Router 4 Port Model No WRT150N US $19.99
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 Netgear N300 Wireless ADSL2 Modem Router DGN2200 US $20.50
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 Novatel MiFi 2200 54 Mbps Wireless G Router US $10.00
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 Belkin N150 150 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless N Router F9K1001 Used US $20.00
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 Mini Travel Wireless N WiFi Network Router Access Point Client AdapterAntenna US $32.00
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 Linksys WRT54GS 1 Port 10 100 Wireless G Router WRT54GS FR US $20.00
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 ATT Wireless Router DSL Modem Gateway 2701HG B US $40.00
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 Linksys E1000 300 Mbps 4 Port 10 100 Wireless N Router US $21.10
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Router Functionalities
Firewall
Firewalls are ideal for home networks. They help in protecting home use computers by stalling the destructive efforts of other official websites and potential hackers. This software or hardware device filters the information coming through the internet connection, flagging the information that is not to be allowed through. You can find some such models at:
VPN Pass through
VPN pass through feature of routers allows traffic between the endpoints and does not support one of the endpoints. This feature is ideal for routers of home use or small office setups; they are less expensive than a router with full VPN that supports the endpoints.
DHCP server
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers can be implemented for windows based system. The server automatically assigns an IP address to the computer’s TCP/IP stack software.
Wireless Access Point
The performance of your network will depend on signal strength of the wireless access point. Before you position it, find out the exact location from where it will give the maximum network range.
DSL Modem
Digital Subscriber Line modems are faster than regular modems and can use the existing phone lines. Both internet connection and phone lines for telephone calls can be used simultaneously.
Voice over IP gateway
VoIP routers have both wireless networking feature and telephone terminal adapters. With this feature the network can access both Internet and voice communications.
Protocols
These are formats for transferring data between the various devices. The protocols determine the various aspects of the data like compression types, delivery and retrieval by devices and error checking. The standard protocols differ in their various features, so in order to communicate with other computers correct protocols must be selected.
Internet Protocol (IP) enables unique addressing for computers.
When used with transport control protocol, it is referred as TCP/IP.
The newer IP version 6 is referred as IPv6. This version addresses 16 bytes in length.
DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol assigns dynamic IP addresses to devices on a network.
Routing Protocols
The information packets have to be routed by a series of routers to get to its destination. Latest routers automatically exchange route information with other routers through the use of routing protocols.
While configuring the router on your own, you have to choose what types of routing protocol you have to install and configure.
RIP version-1: It is a dynamic protocol and automatically figures routing tables on its own, thus manual inputs are not required.
Encryption Standards
This feature configures the virtual private network, encryption hardware advanced integration modules and the network modules.
Data Encryption Standard - applies 56-bit key to 64-bit block of data. This is the most commonly used encryption standard. A single key is used which is very difficult to break.
Triple DES (3DES) - applies 3 keys in succession making it more difficult to break the code.
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) will be the next encryption standard for commercial transactions in the private sector.
MD5
SHA 1
Modulation
There are many standards of modulation. The most commonly used types are:
QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, a dominant modulation technique for high speed digital signals.
CCK: Complimentary Code Keying is a modulation scheme to operate in data speeds up to 11Mbps in the RF band.
OFDM: Orthogonal Frequency division multiplexing modulation is used for even higher speeds of 54Mbps.
DSSS: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum use wideband signals that are not easy to detect and resists jamming attempts.
Security
Today no home and office network is secure. To counter the hacking efforts of hackers, look for good built-in security functionalities. These will ensure that your system doesn’t slow down, those within the range of your wireless are not able to view your files, emails, instant messages, usernames and passwords. Depending on the security features you can also block spams, illegal activities with your internet connection and prevent loading of dangerous software.
This however doesn’t mean your network is completely secure.
Some steps that can be taken are:
Enable WEP, wired equivalent privacy encryption provides security to WLANS. The WEP keys encrypt the data stream.
Turning on WPA encryption. The Wi-Fi protected access adds on the authentication and encryption features WEP explained above.
TKIP, Temporal Key Integrity Protocol covers up for the encryption weaknesses of WEP.
WPA2 protection is the latest one and provides high level of protection.
Enable wireless MAC Address filtering.
WEP Encryption length
The WEP encryption is based on a combination of secret user keys and system generated values. The key encrypts and de-encrypts the data that is transferred between the access points and the clients. There are two versions:
The earlier version supported 40-bit encryption; the key length was 40 bits and 24 additional bits of system generated data, thus a total of 64 bits.
Easy decoding of 40 bit WEP encryption encouraged vendors to go in for 128-bit encryption. 128-bit encryption has a key length of 104 bits.
Antenna Type
The omni directional antenna of routers broadcast 360degrees around the router. Position them in such a way that you can make the most of the radiating signals.
External antennas can add strength significantly, thus giving a wider range and increased network performance when compared with the performance of in-built antennas.
Detachable antennas disable 802.11a lower band communications when detached. On attaching the antenna the lower band is enabled. Thus they can be screwed into the device and can be upgraded easily.
The third type is the internal integrated antennas. These antennas are built-in, and hence cannot be changed or directed.
Brand Name
Wireless routers are still evolving, and at this infant stage it will do good to stick to one brand. Switching between brands can lead to compatibility problems. Linksys and Netgear wireless routers are among the few companies that have the highest wireless router ratings a company can get.
Linksys
Linksys wireless routers are easy to install and are reputed to give good performance and signal range. The various features that the router supports are protection from hackers with NAT technology, VPN pass through, and can encrypt all wireless transmissions. Most of its models have excellent performance and extremely useful support features. Some of the features are the firewall and routing capabilities, MAC address filtering and virtual server support. Most of the models are easy to configure with the browser-based configuration.
Netgear
Netgear wireless routers have not only superior looks but also good signal strength and wider range. Security features are good and are taken care of with WPA-PSK, WEP (128-bit). Netgear markets wide range of wireless routers for home networking as well as business networking. The selling factors are ease of use, reliability, quality and security.
Apple
Customers loyal to this brand can go in for wireless routers of this brand; they are however priced higher than models of other brands with similar features. Security and support features are good.
For Wireless Router Reviews you can Visit:
http://www.reviewgist.com
Reviews
Wireless Router Reviews
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