by Beks
Saturday morning, I woke up and tried to click on my favorite internet news site.
‘YOUR COMPUTER HAS LOST CONNECTION WITH THE INTERNET’ blared across my screen.
A five minute phone call to my internet provider later, I discovered my wireless router had died. Sure, my router is older than most sixth graders but I had hoped it would hang on until I was debt free – such a selfish router not to consider my finances before dying. But alas, in government terms, the router has ‘reached the end of its useful life’.
So, I did what I do best when it comes to broken things in my home, I kept my mouth shut and hoped no one would notice. In a crunch, I could bike to our local library to write the blog.
Thirty seconds after I made my decision to hide it, my brother shouted, ‘The internet is down! Do you want me to call the cable company? I’ve got a report to write for work.’
Darn.
I dragged my desktop computer halfway into the hallway and the Ethernet cable the other half distance to serve as a makeshift internet station. My brother isn’t necessarily pleased since he usually surfs the internet from the comfort of his room and given the fact that he pays half the bill, I need to fix it.
I am writing this blog from the ‘comfort’ of my makeshift internet station with my body jimmied between the hallway, the office, and the bathroom. I’ve tripped my husband 14 times and I have a nasty bruise on my leg. My brother keeps asking when I’m getting off the computer so he can write his work report. For my sanity and the sanity of those I live with…
Where is the best (code word – CHEAPEST) place to get a router?
Beks is a full-time government employee who enjoys blogging late into the night after her four kids have gone to sleep. She’s been married to Chris, her college sweetheart, for 15 years. In 2017, after 3 long years working the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps, they paid off more than $70K and became debt free. When she’s not working or blogging, she’s exploring the great outdoors.
I generally hit up Newegg.com
You can get both wireless routers:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=145&name=Wireless-Routers
and wired routers:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=28&name=Wired-Routers
Or you could run to Best Buy or Wal*Mart if you don’t want to wait for shipping. I generally purchase Belkin products as they have always worked well for me.
I prefer to buy all my computer equipment from newegg.com. Usually the cheapest, but not always. Just had really good luck with service and delivery. If not set on a specific brand or product, the customer reviews are a good source of information.
If you can make do for a few days (I’m on the road until Friday) I can send you one for free. I someone have two when clearly I only need one. It’s used, but you’re welcome to it.
I was going to suggest Freecycle, but MB is willing to send it to you! Even better.
It’s really frustrating to have to replace things that (one hopes) should just keep working indefinitely. In the last week our tea kettle top melted (is that ridiculous??) rendering it useless, our toaster died a fiery death and sump pump gave up the ghost. I’m hoping that bad things happening in threes is true!
Craigslist– there’s usually someone selling one.
In a pinch, Radio Shack is my go to for cheap.
I second Newegg. They have been my supplier for anything computer/media related for about 10 years.
You can ironically buy a router on the internet :-). Do a quick search on slickdeals.net – there have been numerous routers listed for $~20 within the past week or so.
If you can’t hang in there til MB gets you the router, check Staples and other office stores. Often, at least one of them will have a router cheap/free after rebate.
Otherwise, if you know which brands are decent vs not… I say Amazon usually has the best prices. (But with NewEgg/Tiger Direct/etc you can get cash-back through Bing, Mr. Rebates, Ebates etc.) For the record, ours is Ativa which, to my knowledge, isn’t a big brand. But it’s suited us well for the last three or so years without any trouble at all…
PS. Have you considered just buying longer ethernet cable and running it along the hall to the necessary spots?
Are you able to rent one from your cable company/internet provider? We can do that here, but I realize California is much different that Wisconsin!
Newegg.com
I just bought a wireless router for 34 bucks last week.
Im a lurker but I have been reading you for a good long while. 🙂
I would go with Newegg as well. They have some great deals.
Newegg all the way! 🙂
I sure hope you found one! I am a big fan of Amamzon. Whatever you do, make sure to google coupon codes and make sure to use it at whichever place you decide to buy it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190
The WRT54GL is hands down the best consumer router out there. I’m an IT Consultant for a living, and have installed thousands of them with only 1 or 2 bad ones out of the box.
Flash it with the Tomato firmware and you basically have a commercial grade router.
NewEgg.com is the best. period.
Newegg will probably be your best bet if you can wait a few days for shipping. What router do you have? I’ve fixed my router quite a few times. It’s just an early Linksys and is still going strong. Feel free to email me to discuss.
MB – Thanks so much for the offer!!! My brother ended up lasting 8 hours with no internet before he left the house and came home with a router. He does a lot of gaming and has the patience of a 5 year old. When I asked him how much I owed him, he said he’d cover it since we don’t charge him much rent. Woo Hoo!
What a nice bro!!!