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Router Recommendations

post #1 of 15
12/27/07 at 2:45pm
Thread Starter 
I just moved back to the USA and am trying to research all sorts of stuff...my question here is which brand of wireless router to buy.

I don't need anything with great range because it will be in a 2 bdrm apartment and I don't need anything with the new 'n' protocol because the 2 laptops which will be connecting can only use a, b, or g.

So what are the good routers nowadays...linksys, netgear...something else?

Also, are there some good websites to evaluate ISP's for a particular area? I am moving to north carolina and like to do a little downloading now and then but don't want to be capped or messed with.

Thanks for any help!
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post #2 of 15
12/27/07 at 2:59pm
Dlink GameLounge Xtreme N
Belkin N1 Vision
Yes N is still crap but these are highly rated routers with some good/interesting features...
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post #3 of 15
12/27/07 at 3:12pm
I have a Netgear that works perfect but others have had problems with netgear so take it for what its worth. Also depending on who you are getting your Internet connection from they may provide a router for you.
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post #4 of 15
12/27/07 at 3:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarqHelmet View Post
I have a Netgear that works perfect but others have had problems with netgear so take it for what its worth. Also depending on who you are getting your Internet connection from they may provide a router for you.
Yeah, I am currently visiting with in-laws and their netgear is giving me connection problems thru a stupid WEP encryption on my acer laptop. I guess this would turn me off of netgear, though, I am sure this is a problem I could figure out if I wanted to.

I think they'll give us the modem, but not the router. Will check on this.
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post #5 of 15
12/27/07 at 3:19pm
Since you don't need great range and sound like speed is not that important either, I recommend something between the $40 and $70 mark.

If you don't want to spend much, newegg currently has a deal on a Rosewill router:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166018

$39 or $43 with a 5dbi antenna, or else $53 with 8dbi antenna. Inexpensive, but still WPA2 capable, for example.

Then there is the WRT54GL, more on the feature side, since you can install 3rd-prty firmwares, but that will cost you $61. I recommend this one because I have one (actually, the identical WRT54G v2, not to confuse with the new WRT54G) and it allows me to do many many things, limited only to the available storage space (8MB, IIRC).

Yes, I could recommend other pre-N routers, but for you they don't seem useful, cost-wise, and let's not forget they're just drafts for now.

//edit

Actually, I'm looking for one, too, but I need great range and good price, no need for N. Too bad the aussies banned the great Buffalo WHR-54-something router in USA.
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post #6 of 15
12/27/07 at 3:39pm
Lets see which dead routers do I have here in my box, Dlink, check, netgear, check. Linksys? Wait, no Linksys? Oh yea, cause it's the only one left working.
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post #7 of 15
12/27/07 at 4:28pm
I vote Linksys, I've got a WRT54GS and it's been working great for over a year now. Occasional drop-outs but those are maybe once every 2 months
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post #8 of 15
12/27/07 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah...I saw the linksys had great reviews on newegg. The Rosewill makes me nervous, probably for no good reason.

I think the winner may be the linksys!

More input is still welcome, though.
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post #9 of 15
12/27/07 at 5:59pm
Rosewell is good stuff.
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post #10 of 15
12/27/07 at 8:31pm
I still have my Linksys WRT54GX4 (SRX 400) and it works very well.
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post #11 of 15
12/28/07 at 9:53pm
I confirm what others are saying here. I have mine for, IIRC, 3 or 3.5 yrs. In the beginning I didn't know how to solve the occasional WAN drop-outs. Then, I changed the MTU to 1300 (Linksys support), no drop-outs since (at least not one for the router to be blamed).

And after I flashed with OpenWrt, the MTU size was at defaults, and once it reported an uptime of 3 months! 3 months without slowing down (heck, I even only turned it off because I was going to travel for some days). Ah, and did I say I didn't get any WAN drop-outs in, say, 2 yrs or so? That is why I will probably buy another one (wrt54GL) to increase my coverage.

Ah, and a clueless friend (that is not me ) asked me to buy a gigabit switch for him. Does any of you have a suggestion?

//edit

If you want to "hack" it in any way, just make sure to buy the WRT54GL, not the WRT54G (this one has the RAM and flash cut by half, if memory serves me well).
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post #12 of 15
12/28/07 at 11:05pm
Thread Starter 
I just bought this linksys from newegg.

So, many seem to be mentioning 3rd party firmware. What is recommended for this router and where can I find it for download?

Thanks for the help thus far.
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post #13 of 15
12/29/07 at 2:08am
dd-wrt
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post #14 of 15
12/29/07 at 2:08am
Y2 OMFG you're alive!
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post #15 of 15
12/29/07 at 11:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by YankeeDeuce View Post
thanks!
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