I need a wireless router for a business application. The client wants it to be as secure as wireless can be and has six systems throughout the office that need connectivity. I am unsure how well the signal will travel through the walls (though it is not a huge office), so strength of signal is a little bit of an issue. Needs to be under $100, less than $75 woud be optimal. Also, does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can get six pci wireless cards inexpensively? Thanks and Prost!

the only one i'm familiar with is Linksys. It has WEP and WAP for encryption and can be had for less than $75. Whatever you decide on, be sure to get the same brand wireless card to avoid hardware conflict. Linksys has either PCI or USB wireless adapters. The USB adapters come with 5 foot USB cables so the antenna can be placed for optimal signal reception. Depending on where the broadband connection is, you can get a wireless router with a built in switch and plug one or more PCs directly into it without having to buy wireless adapters for them.

Enterprise wireless APs cost $500 and up. the main difference is of course security. These access points support separate authentication servers and have better management methods. they can use windows/ldap/radius servers for authentication. Starbucks and internet cafes usually use these type of routers. How else can they shut an individual off and charge you for the amount used.. .etc etc.

At my work we use the Cisco Aironet series of APs... Dlink makes a few good hotspot gateways as well.

secure and cheap are incompatable concepts. Look for a wireless router/firewall appliance. It's going to be more than $75 My netgear wireless router/firewall was $150 and I consider that cheap. Whatever you decide on, save yourself some lifespan, and get the same manufacturer for the wireless nics as the wireless router.