best wireless router for VI broadband?

They recommend Linksys routers. I remember being on the phone with one of the support guys and he said they run better with Linksys over the Netgear I was attempting to purchase.

I have a Linksys router with BroadbandVI and it works very well.

thanks, will look for one of them

Beachy, I will ask Doug and get back with you tomorrow. I know he just got a new router.

Netgears are incompatible with the VIBroadband service. They always drop the signal.

Netgears are incompatible with the VIBroadband service. They always drop the signal.

Tomatoes are incompatible with my refrigerator. They always go bad in it.

Linksys WRT-160N

i am using linksys @ home (w/choice vi) - i feel that i can recommend it. i set up someone else's home network (broadband vi) using linksys, replacing a checkpoint safe@home and it's been a champ.

There are different series of Linsys routers, also. If you're installing a system in a house with concrete walls (which I assume you are), my Broadband VI installer recommended a series N just for this purpose. However, if you buy the typical series G, you can buy an network extender to go along with it. I've found that OfficeMax has a better selection than Radio Shack currently.

Lisa

We tried to use our existing Linksys G by adding an extender and it did work very well due to all the concrete. We upgraded to an N and it works great.

I run a Linksys and a Netgear in tandem so if I have a problem I can switch from one internal network to another and see if it is my problem or BroadbandVI. Both are G series routers. I would highly recommend you purchase a small UPS to plug both the power inserter for the Broadband VI radio and your router into. Made my connection much more stable. Also during a WAPA outage I can stay online until my laptop battery dies. Office Max has the small ones for $50 - $60. This has done wonders to stabilize my connection.

I would recommend you try an N series router before trying a range extender. I have a range extender and it works well, but they are not as user friendly to setup as a router.

Finally I would highly recommend CISCO's Network Magic software. Makes it a breeze to set up your network, implement security, monitor your network's performance, run diagnostics, etc. I have an icon in my toolbar that tells me when I connected to the internet. Knowing that you are connected to your router isn't enough. You can try the full version for 10 days for free or at least you could when I bought it.

Jim

After several years of operation, my Linksys wirelss G router finally gave up. I replaced it with a Netgear WNR2000 wireless N router. For some reason, it didn't like my Macbook, but my wife could surf with her older Dell laptop just fine. I replaced the Netgear with a D-Link Dual Band DIR-825 router. It runs wireless G AND wireless N at the same time! So you don't have to decide which flavor of network you want to use. My wife is now perfectly happy with her wireless G network at 2.4 GHz and I am surfing (much faster now) on the wireless N network at 5.8 GHz. The router is upstairs in the office, and I can hit it downstairs and in the basement with no problems. It is a little bit pricier than the standard G or N routers, but IMHO the convenience more than makes up for the increase in price.

wow, i learned a lot from this thread, thanks to all the experts who weighed in!... and to the original poster.

FYI: 5.8 and 2.4GHZ are your frequencies and has nothing to do directly with your speed. When my laptop is in a good location for reception I have an internal network speed of 54Mbs. I can use a lot of this speed if I am sharing files internally or streaming video internally, however your surfing speed on the Internet is limited to what you are paying Broadband VI for 500Kbs or I Mbs plus whatever boost you get for the first 40 seconds.

If you live in a big city in a densely populated area where many people have wireless routers that could cause interference. Being able to operate in the 5.8 MHz frequency band gives you channels that may not being used. It also may give you longer range. All you need to do here is check which frequencies/ Channel are the strongest in your area from Broadband VI and select something else to avoid potential interference. The best choices are either channels1, 6 or 11 as they are the only non over lapping channels. Channel 6 is the default most routers come tuned to so usually picking another frequency is a good idea to avoid potential interference.

Jim

I am going to be living at our house on St Thomas for 6 weeks come March and work there remotely and then rent the place out again, but I am wondering what will be the best options for me? Innovative DSL, VI Broadband, or just get an AT&T air card?

Any suggestions?

in the islands, you get what works. due to old infrastructure, congestion, lack of facilities and the lay of the land... or even inside wiring issues, one service or the other may not work. it does not mean the service is "bad"...

your best bet is wired dsl service of any kind, then wireless, and finally satellite... this has to do with pricing and availability.

if your aircard works where you will be, there is no need for anything else.

If you are there for just a few months then I would get the air card so you can take it with you. Signing up for DSL and BBVI require contracts and instllation fees which won't make sense for that short period of time.

But BBVI is by far the most reliable and fastest. I had Innovative DSL and I switched to Broadband VI and it is way more reliable. I couldn't even connect to yahoo on Sundays and peak surfing times with Innovative.

we use netgear and have alot of trouble. now i know we should be using linksy or what ever it is. thanks a bunch.

Anita is right, you get what works at your location. For me it's Innovative at my current location. At other locations it's Broadband VI. Wierd answer but very true.

That said, for 6 weeks an air card may be your best bet although they require contracts too usually and are also capped at 5GB/month data transfer which rules them out for me. The advantage as StuScott said is you can take it with you. It will take 2-3 weeks just to get Innovative setup most likely so that would not really be a good option.

I think BBVI has access points though that you can just hit with Wifi, if you are near one of those then maybe that would be a good option. Beeski on here could probably provide more detail.

Sean

I already tried to pick up the wifi and only one came up and it was a neighbor and he had his signal locked with password. Tenant there now has an air card and swears by it....will give AT&T a call.

Beeski is still experiencing shock & awe at getting a Certificate of Existence and revised Biz License in under 3 hours yesterday.

That said...regarding routers:
a) the wireless signal does not go through concrete
b) don't waste your money on "N", because your laptop probably doesn't do "N"
c) if you connect 2 routers together, if they have the same IP subnets (default Linksys is 192.168.1.xxx) you will have a conflict
d) they lock up.....unplug the electricity to it for a minute or 2 to clear it
e) they die.....they are cheap, consumer grade electronics....not made to last forever
f) buy whatever is on sale
g) I'm not a fan of Netgear
h) the wireless signal does not go through concrete

If you plan to use two routers you need to set the second one up as an access point. You also need to change the default IP on the access point.

This is for someone that knows what they are doing or is willing to read the instructions.

Jim

I still believe an N series is your best bet, but obviously you also need an N card for your laptop. Guess I forgot to mention that. Laptops automatically read G.

My laptop has a built-in N adapter. I bought it in August.