The best wireless N router??

Bogi094 · Nov 13th, 2008, 04:11 PM

I am looking for a nice wireless N router that could possibly work with time machine.

I have a desktop at home and would like to to have at least 3 ethernet ports. My budget would be at Max. $80 before taxes

I was looking at this D-link router from Staples and it appear to be a wireless N router- dual band, and share port technology. I assume that the Usb would work for a hard drive for time machine? or even a network printer?

Can anyone help me out, and tell me if this router is good and if I could get a better router for the same amount?

Thanks!

Here is the link to the D-link- STAPLES | BUREAU EN GROS
and
D-Link DIR-628 RangeBooster N Dual Band Router

Will this router be compatible with my Mac?

FlaminWiz · Nov 13th, 2008, 05:41 PM

It says it Mac OS X (v10.4) so if you have that or higher, you should be fine.

Also, it does not say 802.11b so if you have any devices that use network B, you should be safe. I doubt you would even have a B-only wireless device though so yeah.

Bogi094 · Nov 13th, 2008, 06:31 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by FlaminWiz
	It says it Mac OS X (v10.4) so if you have that or higher, you should be fine. Also, it does not say 802.11b so if you have any devices that use network B, you should be safe. I doubt you would even have a B-only wireless device though so yeah.

Would time machine work with this? I have a 500gb external drive, but i think time machine only works with there own routers? What do you think?

FlaminWiz · Nov 13th, 2008, 06:54 PM

Time Machine will work with almost any external hard drive. I think you're referring to the Time Capsule BTW. Also, for your 500GB external drive, can it connect from the router or does it have to connect directly through computer?

Bogi094 · Nov 13th, 2008, 07:02 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by FlaminWiz
	Time Machine will work with almost any external hard drive. I think you're referring to the Time Capsule BTW. Also, for your 500GB external drive, can it connect from the router or does it have to connect directly through computer?

Yeah, i wanted to ask if i can make this a time capsule since it has a usb port, but im not sure if my mac can access that

FlaminWiz · Nov 13th, 2008, 08:12 PM

A Time Capsule (hardware) is:
Apple - Time Capsule
Basically, it's a wireless router (N) with a built-in hard drive (500GB or 1TB) but it is very expensive (500GB-$299 and 1TB-$499).
For Time Machine, all it requires is a external hard drive in which the computer has access to (by USB or networking is fine, as well as FireWire if you have it since it's faster than USB and Networking).

Niteshooter · Nov 13th, 2008, 10:45 PM

Your profile doesn't mention where you are located but you might want to check out Canada Computers Canada Computers - Your Neighbourhood Computer Store and Service Centre - PC Systems and Hardware Components, Notebooks, Electronics, and more. for the DLink. We bought our DIR 625 from there as they had the best price in the area.

Bogi094 · Nov 13th, 2008, 11:58 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Niteshooter
	Your profile doesn't mention where you are located but you might want to check out Canada Computers Canada Computers - Your Neighbourhood Computer Store and Service Centre - PC Systems and Hardware Components, Notebooks, Electronics, and more. for the DLink. We bought our DIR 625 from there as they had the best price in the area.

Im in the GTA, and I wanted the 628 because of the USB, so I can connect my 500gb hard drive to it and use it as a backup for my Mac. Its $79.99 and thats the best I found. Currently I am using a 54mbps trendet, which gives me errors with MSN, and doesnt let me watch Youtube. I could wait a bit if the router can get cheaper- but not so long because not being able to go on msn and watch videos on my wireless network is killing me!

G-Mo · Nov 14th, 2008, 12:51 AM

I gotta ask... why Wireless N? Are ALL you wireless devices 802.11n? If not, you are wasting money since a router can only operate as fast as it's lowest connected device, so, that means if you have anything 802.11b/g connected to your network (iPhone, iPod touch, game console, apple tv, older computer, etc...) you won't be running wireless N...

digitddog · Nov 14th, 2008, 01:16 AM

Visit this page for more documentation on the D-Link DIR-628.
D-Link TechSupport DIR-628

According to one of the tech support documents there, Share Port isn't supported by Mac, only Windows. So you probably won't be able to use the D-Link as a print server or wireless network disk for your Macs.

I'd recommend an N device solely because it can extend your wi-fi range (and prices are dropping significantly).

Otherwise, I can't recommend any specific router. I've had good experiences with wireless devices from D-Link, Linksys and Belkin, though, and wouldn't hesitate to try them again.