I'm looking for the best return on investment in setting up a wireless
network for my small business. Any answers to the follwing questions
would be appreciated. Some info on my small business: 5 employees
including myself. Currently paying for LAN setup as part of my rental
package for my workspace.

Questions.
1) What are the most cost effective wireless routers that exist on the market?

2) What price range should I expect to pay for a router to support 5 employees? 

3) What alternative steps should I take secure my wireless network
(other than web encription) once set up?

Hi johnnybx1,

With regards to a wireless router the first thing to consider is
speed. What is your connection to the internet, and what speed does
your business require? The cost of the router will be dependent on the
speeds it supports. However, as you increase the speed of the router,
the distance it can operate over drops. What kind of distances will
your employees be in relation to the router? Do you have wireless
clients set up for your employees, such as wireless pci cards or
notebook cards?

Regards,
Neutron Coding.

1) If your network is going to be used for internet access and
printing files (not large file transfers) a netgear 802.11b (11mbps)
wireless network will be sufficient and cost effective.
Other options would be to use an 802.11g or 802.11a network which both
operate at 54mbps but cost slightly more.

2) The neat thing about a Wireless network is it does not require any
additional equipment (other than a computer and wireless network card)
to add users. If the wireless router will support 1 user, it will
support 5 users with no changes needed.  A Netgear 802.11b router
(model MR814) can be purchased from TXMicro.com for $19.99 + shipping.
 (If you do not want to use this vendor you can find other low cost
vendors on www.pricewatch.com)

3) To secure your network, on the router, you will want to enable 

a) Mac address Authentication: This will allow only the computers you
want on your network to connect to the router.  To obtain the mac
address of your computer click start > run  and type in "command".
Then type in "ipconfig /all" and look for the mac address (ex:
0A-0C-21-7C-FE-54).  Place this in the Mac address table provided on
the router configuration page to allow only that PC to connect. (do
this for each pc you want on the network)

b) Enable the Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK) feature: Do this by following
the instructions provided with the router. (easy)

c) Ensure the firewall is enabled on the router (this is enabled by
default on this router).

Finally, you will want to make sure that you get network cards that
will enable you to connect with the router you purchase.  Most will be
compatible with more than 1 standard. For example they make Network
cards that can connect to 802.11a, b, or g networks..

hi just buy a linksys wap54g wireless access point abt 40 bucks,
buy a 4 port linksys router . linksys has been good to me.

My solution is the Linksys Wireless-G Cable Gateway. It is one unit,:
cable modem AND router. Wonderful, I love it.

Linksys WCG200
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=579

I paid $149.00 for mine. The text at the link mentions "for your
home," however, this will work for your business just fine.

~~Cynthia

ok first of all "buisness" i noted here... is your books going to be
on this network?? if so you better think security, no better security
then wires, but if wireless is the way you would rather go then i
would suggest the D-Link DI-624, connects at 54mbps, its wireless B
down gradeable which means if a wireless b type NIC comes on the
network it will accept it, now as for security... i bought this for an
office place who wanted network and be able to access wireless with a
laptop, picked up one of these baby's and i set it up, well im very
impressed with this router.. i now have one at home. so ya... many
things to think about with wireless, #1, they never get out as far as
they say they can (if that makes any sense) i tried a few good name
ones and blah, range is just not happening in routers yet... next
print server... another blah, if you are going wireless get the
wireless print server for the printer if networking a printer is a
must... and now i just cant stress this enough... surge protect your
stuff... i seen many buisness lose stuff over spikes... enought that i
hate working on stuff in this one area of my home town cause its bad
for spikes... spikes can come thought the wall, phone line and
network... so for a few bucks more, surge protect stuff... heh sorry
guy not trying to tell ya how to run your buisness, just thowing at ya
what i do all the time and what i see.... hope i answered some of your
questions if not all...