Which router works well with a Wii?

Cinderelley · #1 11-06-2007, 07:18 PM

My DS15 would like a router for his birthday. From what little I've been able to learn, some are compatible with a Wii (his reason he wants it) and some are not. To add to my confusion, some that are compatible are not as good as others. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good one?

medic9016 · #2 11-06-2007, 08:26 PM

We use a Netgear wireless router, with DSL service. I have no problems at all. I have used Netgear for several years with no problems.

Wii also has a USB wireless thumb link that works well also. It plugs into a USB port on your computer that is hooked up to the internet. It only works when the computer is on.

Cinderelley · #3 11-06-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medic9016

We use a Netgear wireless router, with DSL service. I have no problems at all. I have used Netgear for several years with no problems.

Wii also has a USB wireless thumb link that works well also. It plugs into a USB port on your computer that is hooked up to the internet. It only works when the computer is on.

Does it have a number like Netgear XXXX or is it just called Netgear? We tried the USB link, but the icon drew DH nuts (yes, he's a little too ocd sometimes.

)

medic9016 · #4 11-07-2007, 10:48 AM

What I use is a WGR614. This is a 802.11G router, about $40 at Best Buy. You can goto Best Buy online and take a look at the different ones. If you are using just the Wii and a couple of computers. This will be just fine. Before we moved into our new house, I ran two computers, PDA, and other game systems with no problem. Now I have laptop, Wii, PDA run through this router.

drummerboy · #5 11-07-2007, 11:01 AM

The woodworker part of my brain kicked in when I saw the heading, and I was going to recommend a Black & Decker router.

caryrae · #6 11-07-2007, 11:33 AM

I don't know who you use for internet service but I use Qwest and the wireless modem I got from them works great. It's not a router but a wireless modem.

Cinderelley · #7 11-07-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caryrae

I don't know who you use for internet service but I use Qwest and the wireless modem I got from them works great. It's not a router but a wireless modem.

We use Cox digital cable. I don't know the difference between a router and a wireless modem, but he does, and he says it has to be a router.

Quote:

Originally Posted by medic9016

What I use is a WGR614. This is a 802.11G router, about $40 at Best Buy. You can goto Best Buy online and take a look at the different ones. If you are using just the Wii and a couple of computers. This will be just fine. Before we moved into our new house, I ran two computers, PDA, and other game systems with no problem. Now I have laptop, Wii, PDA run through this router.

Thanks. I'll definitely look into this. Best Buy is where I started, and they are the ones that said that some work with the Wii and some don't, but they couldn't tell me which was which. I knew Intercotees would know though.

Dracula766 · #8 11-07-2007, 05:58 PM

I've been using the Lynksis Wireless G w/ speed booster and it works great.

DizneyRox · #9 11-08-2007, 06:52 AM

Be very carefull setting up a wireless network in your house. I'm going to suggest that you make sure you set it up with WPA-PSK at the very least. It appears that the Wii supports this

If you do not secure your wireless network, you run the risk of others in your neighborhood using your internet connection to access the internet. What they do in the Internet you will have no control over, including, downloading illegal music, surfing child pron, etc. All of which YOU will be held liable for.

While it may sound extreme, people need to understand the implications of going wireless. It is a pretty big deal.

The other suggestions seem ok. Personally I don't like Netgear due to reliability/compatibility issues. Linksys has always been pretty good, but I've heard rumblings of that slipping a little recently. And as always, I also can't recommend buying anything a Worst Buy.

medic9016 · #10 11-08-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizneyRox

What they do in the Internet you will have no control over, including, downloading illegal music, surfing child pron, etc. All of which YOU will be held liable for.

I agree with securing your router it is a must. I'll have to do my on research on who is liable for using a unsecured private network.

DizneyRox · #11 11-09-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medic9016

I agree with securing your router it is a must. I'll have to do my on research on who is liable for using a unsecured private network.

Last I heard, ignorance was no excuse in the eyes of the court.

Cinderelley · #12 11-09-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizneyRox

And as always, I also can't recommend buying anything a Worst Buy.

I'm not a big fan of Best Buy either, but I don't know anywhere else I could buy it and have it securely installed. I am definitely not computer literate enough to do it myself.

Cinderelley · #13 11-09-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dracula766

I've been using the Lynksis Wireless G w/ speed booster and it works great.

Well, this is going to sound really stupid but I can't think of any other way to word it at this time. What's a speed booster? I realize it's something to make it go faster, but is it separate from the router or part of a package or something like that?

Dracula766 · #14 11-09-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinderelley

Well, this is going to sound really stupid but I can't think of any other way to word it at this time. What's a speed booster? I realize it's something to make it go faster, but is it separate from the router or part of a package or something like that?

The item description says this;

SpeedBooster technology powers data through on a single 2.4GHz channel, rather than hopping across multiple channels, for increased performance and efficiency

Its like 20 bucks more than the regular one

Cinderelley · #15 11-10-2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dracula766

Its like 20 bucks more than the regular one

This is definitely information that is good to know.

BrerGnat · #16 11-10-2007, 09:24 PM

I have a Linksys Wireless-G 2.4GHz (54MBps) wireless router. It was about $40 at Best Buy.

It works fine with our Wii. The Wii recognized it instantly.

DizneyRox · #17 11-11-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinderelley

I'm not a big fan of Best Buy either, but I don't know anywhere else I could buy it and have it securely installed. I am definitely not computer literate enough to do it myself.

I wouldn't trust Worst Buy to install it securely either.

Many cable providers offer the service, or even pay a local "nerd" to do it. I would just make sure you watch, and ANYWHERE a password/passphrase is required, make sure YOU type it, and remember it.

Again, things to ask for are WPA-PSK encryption or better. WEP is NOT better and can be hacked in less than 5 minutes.

The directions for setting it up really aren't that bad, and the wizards are getting better all the time. The advantages of understanding the router are tremendous. YOU can control the Internet, allow certain machines to access the Internet only at certain times, etc. From a parental standpoint, managing that puppy can be fantastic.

Cinderelley · #18 11-11-2007, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizneyRox

The advantages of understanding the router are tremendous. YOU can control the Internet, allow certain machines to access the Internet only at certain times, etc. From a parental standpoint, managing that puppy can be fantastic.

Wow! I had no idea that it could do so much. Are there any good books/websites that you can recommend for me to learn more about it?

Tekneek · #19 11-11-2007, 01:13 PM

It works fine with D-Link routers as well (I have used one with a DIR-655 specifically).

The "Speedbooster" thing is nothing to spend extra money on.

Tekneek · #20 11-11-2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizneyRox

WEP is NOT better and can be hacked in less than 5 minutes.

I've seen it done in less than 2.