Well, the ADSL modem is normally provided by the phone company as they want you to use their brand. They know it and know that it will not cause problems and they are better able to support the end user.
I have to throw my preference to Linksys and I have had them for years.
The first 4 port router/switch I bought was $200 after they were first introduced. This one eventually died and I replaced it with the same model for $50. The only consideration I had was that I then got 2 more computers and had to get an 8 port switch to connect to the 4 port one as I had run out of ports. I might have had enough ports had I gotten the 8 port router.
Wired gives you faster transfer speeds than wireless, don't believe the wireless hype. If you have the option of wire, it is cheaper for the router and network cards, but can be more expensive and a real pain to run wire depending on where it has to run. I had one wall that I had to patch after getting past obstructions in the wall.
These routers have DHCP, so they are a plug and play install.
Connect and power the ADSL modem, connect the router to the modem and power, connect the computers to the router with DHCP, and then change the default password in the router. It can't be more simple to do unless someone else does it for you.
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