Sometimes, you really do get what you pay for.
I live in a high-rise on the shore of Lake Michigan. There are probably a few dozen WiFi (802.11) networks in this building and the other tower in the complex. It seems like they all work well, except for two: my old one and one other.
The Netgear WGR614 v6 WiFi router + 4 port ethernet router costs $50 and performed adequately, but not spectacularly, as an ethernet router. It performed abysmally as a WiFi device – I only sustained a connection for longer than a couple minutes a few times. Even when I unplugged my cordless phone and sat, laptop in lap, less than 2 feet from the antenna, it disconnected randomly. The one other network in the building that I know has troubles uses – you guessed it – a Netgear device.
The Linksys WRT54G WiFi router + 4 port ethernet router costs $70 and performs spectacularly in both roles. I am using the wireless network, at the opposite end of my apartment, right now. It is also faster to set up and administer.
Sometimes, you really get what you pay for.