how many routers do I need?

WillysEmptyWallet said:Pricegrabber gives nothing great so far...

FWIW get the

Belkin F5D7230-4 Wireless-G Broadband Router

then add the ATT phone, jackets or zenith remote to the oder. Mix or match (BF FARs to get to $100)PM the add on fillers (FARs) to week to 26/27 BF flyer. NOw that you are at $100 add your sugar coupons to the order the 25 Off 100 (back of catalog), 25 Gift Award (back of catalog) or dump a Award $25.

Get router and the FARs and make $5.00 to $22.00.
if you are willing to risk it selling out before the update the price...they wont PM if you use the coupon

if you are willing to risk it selling out before the update the price...they wont PM if you use the coupon

That is YMMV

lillazyfats81 said:pdxor said:fat9wallet said:Do we need an Access Point for this router? Or is it built in?

TIA

I'd like to know too if this router can be used as an Access Point?

ALL WIRELESS routers can be used as an Access Point.. Regardless of Make/Model

I'll give fat9wallet the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he/she was asking whether this can bridge a wireless network. These can probably do WDS bridging, but they can't act as a client bridge.

There's a firmware update...
FW Update

Silly question? Can I get it now for free deliver then price match later for the difference? Thanks!

duckyee said:Silly question? Can I get it now for free deliver then price match later for the difference? Thanks!yes, buy now then PM to their new price

.

Already got in the similar deal a few weeks ago, was $69.98 - 10 (instant) - 35 (rebate) = $24.94. Then PM'ed to Buy.com (Staples added next day delivery, ugh, $20.61) which got me down to $49. Then they failed to deliver next day, took two days, complained, they refunded $7.60. Finally, submitted the same $20 rebate from RebateHQ. Fortunately, the Staples rebate did NOT require original UPC or receipt, $20 does.

Final tally, 69.98 - 10 (instant) - 11 (PM) - 35 (rebate) - 7.60 (ship refund) - 20.00 (rebate #2) - 1.00 (FatCash) = -$14.62 (+ tax)

I bought this to replace a D-Link DI-624, which I'm quite happy with, but doesn't support bridging. By definition, a wireless router *is* an access point. But you can also convert this router into a *pure* access point *or* wireless bridge (i.e., client). In fact, I did just that by connecting a D-Link USB 2.0 ethernet adapter to by Tivo, placed the Belkin in AP mode, and patch the USB adapter to the AP over CAT5. This is the functional equivalent of having installed a wireless adapter (PCI, USB, whatever) on the Tivo! Only now I get "G" performance, NO wireless adapter compatibility issues, and other clients (wired or wireless) can be added to that bridge as well, since it's an AP.

I also had to replace my DI-624 w/ a Belkin F5D7231-4 HSM router (from the CompUSA $30 AR deal a couple weeks ago) so that the bridge could actually bridge to something. But I found the Belkin's, as a router, lacking. If you're used to LOTs of cool features, as on the DI-624, you're gonna be a little disappointed. For example, the Belkin line can't disable wireless (I find this unbelievable actually), no xmit power adjustments, no static DHCP assignemnts (only FOREVER leases, not quite as good, a soft reset can cause a change, and there go your firewall settings), no DDNS (Dynamic DNS updates to no-ip.org or dydns.org, for example, if you have such accounts), sometimes awkward and/or incomplete admin interface, can't disable SSID in bridging/AP mode (well, you can, but APs can no longer connect), non-detachable antenna (what if you want an aftermarket high-gain replacement?), no email alerts on attack or full log, and so on. If you're expecting features like these, the Belkin isn't for you. But if you want a decent, average performing, "I don't want to think too much about it", "it's only for mom", type of router, it will suffice. It's performance isn't quite up to my DI-624 either, even at "G" speeds, my DI-624 gets 20-22mbps, while this Belkin hovers around 14-18mbps (identical environment and config). Again, adequate, but far from being a leader.

One final point, I bit on the Staples deal since it made money, of course, but I had already been looking for a router to replace the DI-624 because I wanted bridging, then this deal came along, and right on its heels, the CompUSA deals on HSM products. So I jumped, the net cost was nominal and worthy of experimentation. So if you need/want WDS (wireless bridging), these Belkin's will do the job. Are there better routers that also support WDS? Beats me, maybe so, but at this price, it costs next to nothing to try the Belkin. You can't beat FREE! But I can promise you, you'll be disappointed w/ the Belkin as a "router" if you're expectations are too high. I was so disappointed myself, I reinstalled my DI-624 router, turned off the wireless, then patched the Belkin F5D7231-4 HSM router (in AP mode) to the DI-624 via crossover. So now I have the best of both worlds -- all wireless clients are dumped on the DI-624, which handles DHCP, NAT, fireall, etc., while the F5D7231-4 HSM is an AP for the other Belkin AP (F5D7230-4) on the Tivo. Other wireless clients, such as my wife's laptop or my servers can choose among either Belkin AP for access to the Internet.

HTH

eibgrad

Still wondering when the IR will show up