wireless routers, which brand?

[bevolution]

Best buy is running lots of specials on wireless routers. They have three brands on sale. Forgetting price for now, which of these three brands is likely to be the most reliable, the easiest to configure, and has the best tech support?
Linksys, Belkin, or Netgear?

 

[idigTexas]

If I were buying, I'd rank them:

Netgear
Linksys
Belkin

I have no opinion on technical support. I typically don't use it.

 

[bevolution]

Idig-

Do you own a Netgear router? The reason I asked about tech suppport is that if it is easy to configure then I would not need to deal with tech support. I'm looking for the one that is most likely to be trouble free out of the box. In order of price Linksys is most expensive, then Netgear, and then Belkin. The Belkin is the by far the cheapest. After rebate and including the pc card a Belkin wireless G router and card will cost 25 dollars after 90 dollar rebate. But this scares me cause I figure there is a reason it is so cheap...hard to configure, sorry tech support,etc.

PS I get the impression that all of them are lacking in the tech suppport department and was hoping to find the one that I would be least likely to need tech support.

 

[Ignatius]

FWIW, if you use Time Warner for ISP service, they recommend Linksys, or at least they did two years ago...

 

[EEE]

i had a linksys that was fried by lightning a few years ago. sent it in and they sent a new one back. that is pretty good service. also they are the biggest brand and are now owned by cisco.

i had a netgear once. it worked for about a week.

 

[wherzwaldo]

I've been using the same Linksys router for a couple of years with no problems. Next one I buy (I'm still on 802.11b

) will probably be a Netgear.

 

[idigTexas]

I've used a multitude of Netgear, Linksys, D-Link, Hawking, Belkin, and other networking products over the years. I've had the least trouble with Netgear, and only slightly more difficulty with Linksys. I have had zero trouble with Linksys since the Cisco buy-out, but I only have one data point during that time.

My personal opinion is that no brand is particularly easy or difficult to set up. They are all pretty much the same.

 

[bevolution]

I bought the Belkin 802.11g Router and card for $25 after rebate. I figure at that price, I have 30 days to make sure I can get it to work or I'll just take it back.

 

[wherzwaldo]

It's not just about ease of setup. You want something that will last and won't drop your wireless connection.

I used to own one of the earliest 802.11b routers available - the Lucent Orinoco RG-1000. The thing cost $350 in 2001, to give you an idea of how new home wireless networking was (it wasn't even available in stores like Best Buy yet). It was pretty good, but then it completely crapped out four days on the wrong side of the 1-year warranty.

As long as you buy a brand that has a good track record, you'll be fine for the long haul. I don't know anything about Belkin routers.