Help picking the right wi-fi router

[Loopy]

I've been trying to find the best wireless router (802.11G) based on my needs
but haven't had much luck could someone give me some advice?

I need a router I can use with DSL, a good built in firewall (with spi, mac filtering and NAT why do so few routers have NAT?) WPA encryption, a replaceable antennae and possible a port to plug in a usb printer for sharing.

As far as range goes I think I just need medium range with the best possible speed, The router will prob. be on the top floor of a 2 story house and I'll need access on the bottom floor, I don't need to be able to pick up a signal in the yard.

Thanks.

[TechZ]

I've had mixed experience with mostly all brands, DLink, Netgear, Linksys (current one). Although 3com continuosly have proven to be a good product in my use.

New wifi/router/modem combo's usually have all what you need and more, also look at getting a package deal, that gets you same brand router and pci/laptop wifi cards, as best compatablity with similar brand hardware, it also lets you use the "extra" features they incorporate into it, such as faster speeds, better signal,etc.

[confus-ed]

.. also look at getting a package deal, that gets you same brand router and pci/laptop wifi cards, as best compatablity with similar brand hardware, it also lets you use the "extra" features they incorporate into it, such as faster speeds, better signal,etc.

Good call techz .. there's lots of stuff now, that lets you use say two or three class g signals together to produce effective network transfer speeds 2x or 3x faster than the class g 'limit' of 54MBit/Sec, which is very useful if you are doing any large amounts of cross network stuff, like copies, or say streaming media from one pc to another..

[Loopy]

As far as the 802.11g adapters do all of them have to have wpa in order to have my entire network wpa protected?

I was thinking about going with adapters that don't use proprietary enhancements (based on the fact that if I change routers the enhancements won't work) any suggestions?

[TechZ]

In the end, its upto you and mostly all new wifi equipment will definately have WPA and WEP, and with newer standards of each coming out a simple firmware update should bring older hardware upto speed. Compatability, more so than enhancements are the reason I recommended going with similar brand router + client pci/pc cards.