Posted on 10/22/2014 5:30:43 PM PDT by PROCON
I'm moving from Oregon to Washington and my new cable provider (Charter TV) asks if I want to lease a wireless router to interact with their internet modem for $6.00/month.
I know nothing about wireless routers.
Should I go with the company or buy a router?
What kind? I only have one computer.
And yes I'm logged in and my Beeber is set to stune.
Can’t you skip getting a router if you only have one computer?
Just ethernet cable between your computer and cable modem
I’ve got a LINKSYS WRT 1900 AC and I like it OK.
Buy one.
It’s a laptop that may move from here to there.
Just a note that a few wireless routers will refuse to work with Linux computers
I’ve had better performance using service provider’s equipment than short stints with store bought.
If you have only one device that is internet capable, you don’t need a wireless router, you can get along fine without one.
You *might* need wireless capability if you have a smartphone, or a tablet, or friends who want to come over and use your internet connection without plugging in.
Another possible use for wireless is if you have a smart TV that you use for Netflix or other streaming uses.
If you use ONLY the ‘puter on the web, you don’t need a wireless router. If you *DO* end up needing one, you can pick a half decent (NOT great) one up at the Source for as little as $50., so I wouldn’t worry about it for now.
I buy them, but then I do this stuff for a living. They’re very easy to set up, most of that having to do with securing it from bandwidth poachers. Preferred brand is LinkSys. Glad to give you more info if you desire... Good luck!
We have a Cisco Valet Plus. It’s a few years old, and has given us no trouble. It comes with a thumb drive that has the driver, password, etc., etc.
If you ever add anything (smartphone, Roku, Kindle, wireless printer, etc.), you can access the thumb drive for the password.
It’s pretty easy to use, and works very well.
I don’t remember what I paid for it, but it wasn’t expensive.
A lot of people would be fine with a $50 linksys WRT54GL.
If you need more speed or have a big house maybe you could justify spending more.
Paying the rental would be a rip off
I’ve done both over the years and found that it was always better to go with the one they rent to you. East to upgrade, will work with their updates, etc. If it goes bad, you get a new one at no cost.
The only thing you need to make sure and do is ask if it is their newest modem. They won’t always give you the newest, just what they have on the truck.
What is this beeber thing i keep seeing posted?
Buy one and you can save on your data plan on other devices when you are home. Like using your cell phone to browse the web.
However...
Be advised that if there is any issue whatsoever, your cable company is going to tell you they can't help you because of the piece of crap you've got plugged into their modem.
So, you must always lie to them, and tell them that the modem is plugged directly into your computer by a patch cable.
They won't help you debug any issues with a third party router. You can't blame them for that. You can blame them for trying to rip you off for $72/year. If -- after going through their routine problem determination they can't find the cause -- you will then have to remedy your wireless issue, whatever it is, by yourself.
Go to amazon ... just checked - wireless G for 47 bucks.
FReeper lore. Beebers, stuned (for stunned), HUGH (for huge) and SERIES (for serious) are all the hilarious typo artifacts of days gone by.
April 1998... Seriesly?
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