Suggest a wireless router

It's time to upgrade the wireless router, as the current one can't handle Skype and Facetime, which Grandpa insists upon using. Any suggestions for a particular brand or spec?

For ease of use, no other funky stuff (like running servers with their own DHCP servers), hook-it-up-to-the-router-and-forget-it, I really like my Apple Airport Extreme (bought from the Apple refurb store).

If you want more knobs to twiddle you're probably better off with something that can use the dd-wrt firmware rather than the manufacturer's one as the latter ones often tend to be a little on the buggy side. I had an ASUS RT-N12 before (which I did flash to dd-wrt) and that was working OK most of the time but did need the odd reboot as it had a hard time coping with the vagaries of Charter.

However, Skype over wireless doesn't seem to be working as well as Skype over a wired connection, even when they're going into the same router. I mainly use Skype from my (wired) desktop for that particular reason.

I just got a Cisco/Linksys E3000. Do a bit of research, it was lauded for its continuous signal capabilities, might be just the sauce you need for a video stream.

Still, for video chat you might be better with a hardline, is that an option?

Scott Lear wrote: Still, for video chat you might be better with a hardline, is that an option?

That's what I would strongly recommend if there is any scope for that. Especially if there are multiple wireless networks in the vicinity that may have an effect on the throughput of the new one.

If there are I would check if the computer is 5GHz wifi capable and get a 5GHz router, that band is less crowded than the 2.4GHz ones.

I went with a dual-channel N router because I recently got a few internet-based TV boxes. That way I can have one channel for internet and printing, and another channel for media streaming. Its a Netgear brand and I forget the model number.

Now I just need to upgrade my ISP speed

When my old router got into a disagreement with my wife's computer, I saw that as a sign to upgrade to an N one. I stayed with Belkin since that's what we had. The range of the new one is fantastic, too. I can get a strong signal anywhere in the house, including upstairs. I got it at Best Buy.

I'm running a D-Link cheapie. Works great.

I just bought a netgear N300, so far so good.
I'd have bought an el cheap-o but I was buying a netgear range extender and this was the same brand and $10 more than the base netgear one plus it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Some fancy Netgear one, bought it in May of '10, around $80ish or so.

Never had a problem with it.