cheap router (after rebate)

[peekaboo]

Futureshop in canada is selling Trendnet TEW-431BRP routers
for: 88-38 (instant rebate)-45(mail in rebate)=5 ($CAD)

I have no experience with routers so i would like some opinions (for 5 bucks, if it's not useless, it seems like a good deal) since i am generally suspicious of "great savings".

Furthermore, i have never attempted a "mail-in rebate".
is it as simple as that (mail a card and get a check)?

[AlwaysUp]

Don't know much about this particular router BUT what I do know if you are looking for a bargain, you aren't risking much, as you say. The instant rebate is a no brainer....my own experience is to mail in the cash rebate offer and forget it. Most always a check will show up but don't spend any time hovering over your post box as you will be dissapointed at how long it takes.

[peekaboo]

not worried about the instant rebate or if it takes the mail-in rebate a month to arrive, as long as it arrives.
for 5 bucks i'll buy it without researching it but for 50 bucks (if mail-in rebates are a scam) i'd rather do a bit of research and buy a good wireless router.

[Panama Red]

I've used a wired Trendnet router for a couple customers and both work just fine. Used several nic's and switches from them too. And I've received every rebate for Trendnet products I've submitted. Just like most others, you'll wait 6-10 weeks for the rebate.

[Statica]

My experience with Futureshop's mail in rebates haven't been very good; I think I've got a success rate of about 2 in 5 rebates coming through. However, mfger rebates seem to be much better.
For potentially ~$5, it's a great buy .. just wanted to point out that there is no WPA on that thing... just WEP; personally, I wouldn't use a router on WEP. But if its a router that you are going to use rarely on wireless then you might ignore that shortcoming.

[peekaboo]

i knew it had to be something. nobody sells good stuff for 5 bucks. (although for 5 bucks it's good enough as a foot rest).

I read on the Trendnet site that it "Provides WPA-PSK (Pre-shared Key)". What does this mean?

[Statica]

Originally Posted by peekaboo i knew it had to be something. nobody sells good stuff for 5 bucks. (although for 5 bucks it's good enough as a foot rest). I read on the Trendnet site that it "Provides WPA-PSK (Pre-shared Key)". What does this mean?

I did go through the site and noticed that, it might be something that is provided by a firmware update. Neither the product sheets nor the user guide (here: http://www.trendnet.com/asp/download...=365&SUBMIT=Go) seems to have any mention of a WPA-PSK encryption.
However, further searches of the KB http://www.trendnet.com/kb/kbp_viewq...=410&catId=309 seem to show that there might be a WPA hidden in there somewhere.
If you were that inclined to give it a try, you could buy it, check to see if it's got WPA as advertised, if not return it before sending in the UPC etc for the mail in.