Reply #95: Linksys WRT54G versus Apple AirPort Base Station [View All]

[Atlant]

Okay, let's compare Apples versus pears...

The Linksys WRT54G IEEE-802.11g wireless router with four
port switch is $109.99 at Amazon, minus a $10 rebate. So
we'll call it $100 even.

The Apple Airport Base Station (with a two-port Ethernet
switch) is $199.

Yes, $99 more. But for your money you get several additional
features that may be worth something to someone:

1. It routes the AppleTalk protocols. Last I knew, the
Linksys didn't do that.

2. It contains a very clean management facility built into
MacOS/X.

3. The Apple ABS knows how to route from one ABS to another to
extend your range without wiring to the several ABS's.

And for $50 more (so $249), you can buy the Apple product with a
built-in 56Kbit/sec modem so it can fall-back to a dial-up ISP when
your cable/DSL provider is down. This version of the product also
allows the connection of several different external antennas for
increased range over the LinkSys router. (BTW, the web contains
descriptions of how to hack an external antenna onto the cheaper
version too.)

Is it worth it?

I guess that depends. That last feature (fall-back to a dial-up ISP)
has saved our internet connection quite a few times when ComCast has
decided we're not worthy of their bits any given morning.

You pays your money and you takes your choice, I guess.

Atlant