# Home network question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 5, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-network-question/552688 "2010-09-05T16:05:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-network-question/552688/1 "2010-09-05T16:05:30Z")
Okay, I find myself in need of a new router (old one dying). Here’s the basic setup: High-Speed Modem set to bridge mode. Modem connected (hard-wire) to Wireless Router (Cisco/Linksys WRT54G). 2 Laptops (mine/wife’s). 1 Printer (currently used by walking a laptop in, hooking up, printing) 1 MyBook 1TB drive used for file sharing & backup (ditto - only we usually walk the drive around) While in the store the other day, I noticed the Belkin Play/Play Max routers which claim to support a printer and drive through the router (no share server needed). Sounds great! Sign me up. Oops, the Belkins get lousy reviews. So anybody have any experience with/recommendation for a better alternative? Ideally I love the idea of Modem-\>Router-\>Peripherals, so that I don’t have to have a “server” running to support the print/file shares. Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-network-question/552688/2 "2010-09-05T19:00:27Z")
It’s pricey, but I hear good things about the[Apple Airport Extreme Base Station](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002TLTG9E). Attach a USB hub to it and you can connect both the hard drive and printer. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-network-question/552688/3 "2010-09-07T05:58:14Z")
Support for printers in wireless router-print server combo units is _not_ plug and play and many will only support specific printers or brands so check this re your printer before you buy any combo unit. If your current router is working OK a better choice might be a new laser with wireless capability or an ethernet port built in. Many printers have this these days. You can also get stand alone wireless print servers on ebay for $20-$30 shipped. Again, check compatibility before buying. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-network-question/552688/4 "2010-09-07T06:13:04Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > So anybody have any experience with/recommendation for a better alternative? Ideally I love the idea of Modem-\>Router-\>Peripherals, so that I don’t have to have a “server” running to support the print/file shares. > > Thanks in advance! My first thought is something like this [http://www.iogear.com/product/GUIP204/](http://www.iogear.com/product/GUIP204/) I have worked with similar units, but not this specific model. In a nutshell it installs a virtual usb port driver that connects via network to the hub unit. The computer thinks it plugged in hardline to the hub. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-network-question/552688/5 "2010-09-07T06:27:15Z")
Here are 2 more products that look similar. The Newegg reviews should be helpful. There are over a hundred for the Asus product but only 10 for Dlink [D-Link DIR-685 802.11b/g/n Xtreme N Gigabit Router](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127270) [ASUS WL-500GP V2 802.11b/g Multi-Functional Wireless Router](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320030)