Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Xerxes]

I'm not that up on recent tech developments, but I need a wireless router.

I have a cabel modem service (from Gangnam Cable which is a combo cable tv service and cable modem internet service--fastest broadband in Korea!).

I just want to buy a wireless router for my access point with a good wide range and good speed and reliability.

What box is the best there for the money. I have a wireless router now (don't remember name or specs) but it blows chunks in that I can't get a good connection even when my notebook is right next to it!

Thanks for the help!

[Giant]

All depends on how much you want to spend, a medium brand is Netgear.

[BigBlackEquus]

If you want a well-proven wifi router for about 70,000 won, buy the Linksys WRT54G v.4 router. It is priced right, just plain works well, and is not difficult to set up compared to others.

It is one of the most common ones sold. DO NOT buy version 5 of that router, however! Linksys decided, after v.4, not to allow 3rd party firmware to work on it, so they redesigned the insides totally, and v.5 has major issues. Don't sweat, though, because v.4 seems to be easily available. You can find the version number on the box near the UPC code (v.4) or on the bottom of the router. It never drops a connection on me and it has worked well for several months. I have it set up with AES encryption, although if you aren't worried about encryption, it will just plug in and work (I'd put at least some small level of encryption on it, though).

For better range, go with the 54GS model. If you have a small apartment, and don't care to broadcast your signal across the entire apartment complex for hackers to find, go with my model. I have had very good luck with it, and it will work fine in the typical Korean 1 to 3 bedroom apartment. I wouldn't bother with the "one touch setup" feature it has, though. Unless you have exactly the right equipment, pushing the button will make more problems than it solves.

Don't buy a cheap off-name router. Go with one of the big boys: Linksys, Belkin, Netgear, D-Link (beware of I-link, which is a horribly poor knockoff).

Buying the newest router out there is often a bad idea. Many times, they are released early, with poor firmware and problems, and must be upgraded before they work properly (or you have to live with it until it gets fixed).

You can see some reviews of different routers here:

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/computers/wireless-routers/

[Xerxes]

Wow, thanks all. Thanks BigBlackEquus for the informative and detailed description. I googled AES encryption but it seemed pretty involved, though. Any link to program? It seems like old versions have gone shareware from what I've read.

[BigBlackEquus]

No, setting up AES isn't hard. There is a learning curve of maybe an hour, but you'll get that with any router. About the same as setting up WEP (older/vulnerable encryption) but you just choose AES from the menu.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1277020,00.asp


There is also documentation, with pictures in .pdf format (takes a minute to load once you click the .pdf link) at:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1127782957298&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper


Note: You will take a slightly noticable speed hit (but not much) with AES. I think you have a bit less of a speed hit with WEP, but not sure.

Even if you have the more vulnerable WEP, it's far better than nothing. Unless you're guarding super-secrets, for the average person, encryption serves to keep random wifi sniffing guests from bothering with your computer. When they see encryption of any type, 99.995% of them will just move on to one of the other non-encrypted wifi's in the area.

By the way, if you buy the same router as me, in version 4, you shouldn't need to bother with upgrading the firmware.