My dads computer has just got cable and I am going to get a router so I can have the cable in my room. Are wireless routers effecient or are wired all around better. And when we have a router we can both be online at the same time right? Thanks ~Josh

"My dads computer has just got cable and I am going to get a router so I can have the cable in my room. Are wireless routers effecient or are wired all around better." In your case, you'd be better off with wired router due to your being in a different room. "And when we have a router we can both be online at the same time right?" Absolutely.

I use a linksys router and have never had to restart it. My Belkin didnt work as well. the networking cable is very cheap at tcwo.com also.

Although wireless routers work between rooms, it will depend on how far away/how many walls the signal must go through. My wireless router reaches every part of my house, upstairs and down. If you use wireless phones a lot, you might be better off using a wired router. Some wireless phones tend to conflict with the signal. On the other hand wired routers will be more reliable (connection will most likely be lost less). But then you are tasked with running the wire through the house to get it to the other room. All in all it just depends on what sacrifices you want to make. Wireless routers have been more expensive than wired. I have both a Linksys wired router, and a D-Link wireless G router. Both have worked fine.

would the wireless router probably be able to go through 3 walls? ~Josh

Since we can't see into your walls from here, the only way to find out is to try it. However the only drawback to CAT5 is running the cables between rooms: If you have an attic and a power drill it's really not that big a deal. The problem with wireless in years past was security; the encryption standard sucked and it was fairly easy to hack into someone else's network. The standards were upgraded but I've heard they weren't improved all that much. If you want to go the wireless route put the routers as equi-distant between the clients as possible; it doesn't have to be in your dad's room; you could hook it up in the living room. That tends to take care of one PC not getting enough signal strength to connect properly.