[Anonymouse]

I have a US Robotics USR 5461 router - and as I'm typing this, I'm sitting just outside my upstairs flat, watching Tigger prowling around the yard, scent-marking (I think our neighbours' cats have been around again - she hates them!); on line-of-sight between my laptop and the router, there is a concrete floor and an outside wall. Signal strength is low, it's true (and not surprising), but I'm still online.

It cost a bit more than the Belkin or Linksys equivalent, but as it provides a) online firmware upgrades and b) a built-in firewall, I figure it's well worth it. I'd definitely advise getting a router with a hardware firewall in any case, because in conjunction with a software firewall and network encryption, it'll make your network as secure as home networks ever get.

And yes, you should secure your network; it's surprising how powerful some wireless cards can be - mine is currently detecting four wireless networks apart from my own, only one of which is secured!