Installing WiFi in my home.

[Lasher]

I need this to work with my laptop in a different room about 100 feet away. Connecting via ethernet to cable modem and desktop Pc. I'm thinking about a Linksys wireless router with the 802.11g option. Speed and reliability are essential.

Any advice?

[lazarus]

1. if your laptop can handle it

n is better than g, I believe. I could be wrong, but I think it's better. But not all laptop are up to n yet.

Over the years, I've found routers to be pretty interchangeable. I'm using a no-name router from Fry's right now that cost me 20 bucks and works as well as any brand name router I've had.

[Lasher]

3. A friend just recommended the D-Link DIR-655 wireless router.

He says it's compliant with the new 802.11N spec and is backward compatible with G devices. Of course, you need an N wireless adapter in your laptop to run at the N spec, which is supposed to have a longer range and faster speed. But like Hobbit709 points out downthread, your speed will probably limited by your internet connection unless you're doing something intra-LAN.

The DIR-655 can be had for $80 at Tiger Direct.

ftp://ftp10.dlink.com/pdfs/products/DIR-655/DIR-655_ds.pdf

So you're right, N is better than G.

[hobbit709]

2. Any router is capable of a lot more speed than your broadband connection.

you might have the N router capable of 150mbps on a network, but if you're connected to the internet with a 3mbps speed, that isn't going to change.
The only router I've ever had a problem with was a Belkin-which did not want to connect my VOIP properly.
And don't EVER let ATT talk you into one of those 2Wire POSs.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Definitely want a router with 802-11n capability.

That is for extended broadcast range. I have one set up in my 2nd floor office that provides internet to the entire house, including my basement family room. We use Roku with the wireless internet, no problems streaming movies. Typically, I get 2.5-3.5 megabits/sec. connection throughput...if you haven't done it before, there are internet sites devoted to testing your connection speed - Google 'broadband speedtest' if you want to check yours (should run multiple tests over time to see what your average connection rate is).