Q: Hello all,
I have been active in the hot deals section and bought three wireless devices:
1) D-Link DI-711 Wireless Cable Modem DSL Router
2) D Link DWL-900AP Wireless Access Point
3) SMC Barricade Wireless Cable Modem 7004AWBR DSL Router
All three are on their way to me now and I need to decide what to keep. I want to love them and others will sell on Ebay. I am using a Linux box as a firewall and an Internet gateway. As a result, I will not need the cable modem / DSL router functionality. I will only use the wireless access point functionality.
BTW – I took the USR 2415 Wireless PCMCIA, and PCI adapter package. Thank you.
Best Answer: I don't see a huge difference between an access point and a router in the context of a home network. The ultimate choice depends on the distribution of PCs vs notebooks in your home and the need for speed on streaming video.
A wireless router or gateway is the usual choice for DSL at home since it is just one box and you get DSL from WAN side and ethernet or wireless at the LAN side.
Ethernet is typically faster and more reliable than wireless LAN especially for streaming video applications, so if you have desktops that can directly be connected to the router, the router would be your choice.
However, if you wish to go totally wireless, then an access point could be better suitable.
Re:Thanks for the advice. I decided to keep one of the SMC Barricades. Two reasons:
1) Print Server
2) Highly recommended from people here and from reviews.
I am writing this from one of my bedrooms 
Re:Well, it kind of depends on what you need. If you need a router then the access point is elliminated. If you need a hub/switch and/or a print server on the router then the DI-711 is elliminated. That would leave you with just the SMC
I don't have any personal experience with that unit but PC Magazine gave it Editors' Choice (http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s%253D1610%2526a%253D21270,00.asp). I'd probably stick with that one and sell the others. Unless you don't need these features and can make more money selling the SMC. Then I would keep the DI-711. Hope this helps any Re:So you know I wont be very objective as i only use the higher end models because my job is to use them….
They are all SOHO units and so they dont have all the features i care about…
I hear some decent things about the SMC Barricade, but the DLink i have not heard much on.
0 Comments.