Choose the best wireless router

So I posted this in the /g/ section of 4chan (complete forgetting that you're not supposed to put up support related questions there) So I'm gonna ask in this forum for some opinions/help, I have some new questions as well


I have a cable connection and I want to make it wireless, I'm going to use a Linksys wireless broadband router because I trust Linksys (is there a better company becuase I've only been hearing about Linksys?)

I'm going to be using the wireless for downloading, as well as some online gaming via my Wii

Now here is the question:


For $49.99 I can get the normal Lynksys Wireless - G Broadband Router
----or-----
For 69.99 I can get a Lynksys Wireless - G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster (which supposedly amps up my connection up to 35%)

A) Which should I go for and why?
B) Also how do I go about locking my signal so that other people can't steal my bandwidth?

Some people were mentioning about flashing some "firmware" either "HyperWRT or OpenWRT", so

D)What is firmware?
E)Which is the best?
F)Where do I get it from?
G)How do I install it?
H)What will it do (make my connection more stable? faster? boost signal range?

Please include any other details you might think I'd need to know and also, USE SIMPLE LANGUAGE, i'm a newbie at this so if you can please walk me through this as much as possible.


Thank you very much for all your time and pacience ^________^

Big name networking brands create wireless routers suitable for home use. Any one of them should be suitable for you.

a) For me, I'd get the cheaper one. use google to see if the other one is worth extra

b) Set the router to NOT BROADCAST the ssid, use WAP encryption and if you can, only allow approved mac addresses to connect to the router.

d) You can think of it as software that controls the router
e) If you have to ask d), you don't need to bother with this one
f) the internet
g) RTFM on the internet
h) get physically closer to the router. if you only have about 4 wireless comps using the router, don't bother about getting faster stuff. it is highly unlikely you will need anything faster.

I love my Asus and Zyxel routers.

Thanks a lot, you guys have been a great help ^_^b

Thanks a lot, you guys have been a great help ^_^b