Best router...wich model?

[negatory]

Hi there!
I'm in a quest to find the best router available suited for my needs.I do a lot of browsing and downloading trough amule and after two failed attempts with linksys routers (BEFSR41v3-> lots of connection losses,BEFSX41->couldn't keep connections alive in amule and VoIP) I don't know wich router to choose.
Please give me your suggestions and oppinions.
Thanks

Pedro Carrico

[dave9191]

I always tend to go with Netgear products. I was dissapointed by other companies in the past, but netgear always seems to work. Ive got a wired netgear router and thats been running for months non stop without a problem. And a netgear wireless access point connected to it thats been there for a couple weeks now without a prob. Over the wireless link I use voip and do a lot of browsing and large files downloads and not one problem yet.

Something like the WGR614 should keep you happy.

[UbuWu]

Don't go for sweex. Mine works in Windows, but in linux you will have to disconnect and reconnect to the network a dozen times to get it running.

[poofyhairguy]

I don't know wich router to choose.
Please give me your suggestions and oppinions.
Thanks

Pedro Carrico

I link Linksys, but since you don't I'll offer something broader-

a cheap old PC running linux acting as a router.

http://freescobox.justmyhost.com/

You would learn a lot...

[Gandalf]

if you need a router that never crash (my current uptime is 65 day) very very powerfull firewall, with auto reporting to dshield.org (with a mod installed), then grap a trash PC (mine is PI 133 Mhz, 32MB Ram, 2GB HDD, 3 NIC PCI, 1 NIC ISA) go to http://www.ipcop.org, download the CD (around 40Mb) burn it and install it, and be happy the rest of your PC days :-P

BTW this system can work with wireless by simply connecting a Access Point (NOT a router, IPCOP will handle the router part)

[kvidell]

http://www.soekris.com/ :)
I love those little things.


The net4801 is a compact, low-power, low-cost, advanced communication computer, based on a 266 Mhz 586 class Geode single chip processor. It has three 10/100 Mbit Ethernet ports, up to 128 Mbyte SDRAM main memory and uses a CompactFlash module or a 2.5" hard drive for program and data storage. It can be expanded using a MiniPCI type III board and a low-power 3.3V standard PCI board. It also offers a USB 1.1 interface and environmental monitoring. It has been designed as a higher performance upgrade to the net4501 and is software and form factor compatible.
Check them out, you might like :)

Though if you're looking for a NAT Box, I'd say Netgear...
HOWEVER! The ~REAL~ Netgears... the ones in the blue tin cans... not the stupid iRouters. (.Nat? hehe) My mom's iRouter is terrible. (I'm on it right now, actually) It has this silly habbit of ceasing to function because it isn't very durable and my sister's pup knocked it off of it's... where it was. (Maybe if it doesn't hit the ground repeatedly it would be okay... but I just find them to be generally ugly anyway... the activity lights are "Big easy to read printed numbers!" :-\ Soo annoying.)

- Kev

[-TayloR-]

Id also vouch for netgear, great make for routers, i have a DG834 and this router also has an uptime in months, brilliant router, great firewall, easy to use port forwarding options, works perfectly for both windows and linux machines, easy to use log systems and email notifications, basically a great router overall, so i recomend that :).

[thechitowncubs]

linksys, so many possibilities since it runs linux

wrt54g

[WildTangent]

i personally have a Dlink DI-604, and its great! i wont use anything but Dlink now

-Wild

[jerome bettis]

i personally have a Dlink DI-604, and its great! i wont use anything but Dlink now

-Wild
really i have the same router and it sucks!!! i would not recommend it.

[somuchfortheafter]

i have linksys router that i used to abhore, however since the latest firmware update i have yet to see a router that i liked more ....

[darkoptix]

I would adgree with what poofyhairguy said, a freesco box IS the way to go. How do I know, well I am using one right now. Now, can a linksys router run a simple webserver, ftp, and much much more. Plus, is there any linksys routers with 98 megs of ram and a p166 powering them... i think not. http://www.freesco.org for more info.

Personnally setting up freesco was a simple task, I use as a dedicated dialup router that has been on for a month now with flawless results. Tweaking the settings is simple and easy to comprehend. It also has much more to tweak even with the linux firmware upgrade on linksys routers.

If you don't have a old computer lying around, I have no advice because i've never used broadband. :(

[Gandalf]

I would adgree with what poofyhairguy said, a freesco box IS the way to go. How do I know, well I am using one right now. Now, can a linksys router run a simple webserver, ftp, and much much more. Plus, is there any linksys routers with 98 megs of ram and a p166 powering them... i think not. http://www.freesco.org for more info.

Personnally setting up freesco was a simple task, I use as a dedicated dialup router that has been on for a month now with flawless results. Tweaking the settings is simple and easy to comprehend. It also has much more to tweak even with the linux firmware upgrade on linksys routers.

If you don't have a old computer lying around, I have no advice because i've never used broadband. :(
i prefer IPCOP instead of freesco, check it out man, has better interface MORE features!

[mark]

Using a NetGear RP-614 here and I would recommend it without hesitation...I've had problems with dLink and Linksys products in the past, but the NetGear stuff I've worked with has been very solid.

[negatory]

Thank you very much for all your replies!
I'm thinking that I can build my own router with my old P3 667 but I don't know if I want to hear another (non-silent) computer besides my (noisy) UPS :???: .I'll investigate the netgear routers.I've seen some cisco routers for SOHO with good specifications but I haven't heard any user opinions...does anybody have one of these?
Thanks.

Pedro Carrico

[Gandalf]

yes i have a NETGEAR WRT45G very good router i use it as an AP with my IPCOP router so i can use laptops in wifi mode, but be aware if you're going to buy linksys WRT45G or WRT45GS, update the Firmware with latest officail BETA releases located in http://www.siemens-mobiles.org/linksys/ (i gor them from the developper directly, wanna know why then see this topic http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2601&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

[poptones]

Another vote for IPCop. I've been using one about two years now and running on a 200MHz Vectra with 32MB RAM it is probably the most reliable piece of equipment in the room. The only time it gets rebooted is when the power goes out, and even that is rare since I plugged it into my UPS. It's crammed with features and it works right out of the box but is loaded with easy to configure features.

Also, 1.4.x has traffic shaping which is awesome especially since I am on a dialup and need every bps I can get.

[Gandalf]

Another vote for IPCop. I've been using one about two years now and running on a 200MHz Vectra with 32MB RAM it is probably the most reliable piece of equipment in the room. The only time it gets rebooted is when the power goes out, and even that is rare since I plugged it into my UPS. It's crammed with features and it works right out of the box but is loaded with easy to configure features.

Also, 1.4.x has traffic shaping which is awesome especially since I am on a dialup and need every bps I can get.
exactly, it just ROCKS!!!

[rickwood]

I like the SMC Barricade. So reliable that I never even gave it a second thought. I had a model that included a built-in print server, and would act as a router for dial-up (with an external modem, of course) or broadband. Unfortunately, this was my first router, and I failed to appreciate how flawlessly it worked. Then one day my house got struck by lightning. Not a good day. I lost my SMC router, a hub, one monitor, one motherboard, one tv, two thermostats, etc, etc, etc. Anyway, when I replaced the router, I bought what was locally available and cheap -- a Belkin. Only after using the Belkin for a few months did I appreciate the SMC Barricade that I had before the lightning strike. So in my book:

Belkin = YOU DON'T WANT THIS
SMC Barricade = WORKS SO FLAWLESS YOU WON'T GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT

[MemoryDump]

yes i have a NETGEAR WRT45G very good router i use it as an AP with my IPCOP router so i can use laptops in wifi mode, but be aware if you're going to buy linksys WRT45G or WRT45GS, update the Firmware with latest officail BETA releases located in http://www.siemens-mobiles.org/linksys/ (i gor them from the developper directly, wanna know why then see this topic http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2601&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

what kind of wireless PCI card do I need to install in my linuxbox so I can WAP access in my house? I used to run mandrake on an old box which last years.. but now that I've discovered ipcop I though I'd get rid of my dlink router and setup my own box again..
the box already has 2 NIC cards in it.. what other card would you guys recommend? dlink card? linksys? will wireless card do?
I want to set this up so I can use my laptop anywhere..
thxs
-MD

[darkoptix]

Hmm, didn't know about IPcop when I made my router, from what I have read, it looks simpler than freesco, so I may try installing it on a 486 to give it a test. Thanks for telling me about it. Maybe it will replace the freesco router. \\:D/ \\:D/

[poofyhairguy]

the box already has 2 NIC cards in it.. what other card would you guys recommend? dlink card? linksys? will wireless card do?


You want a prism 2 or 3 card so you can use the hostap driver:

http://www.linux-wlan.org/docs/wlan_adapters.html.gz

http://hostap.epitest.fi/

[psoleko]

I am a big fan of the Linksys WRT54G and GS Models. When combined with sveasoft firmware, they are powerful Linux based routers. The firware also supports similar chipset Asus and Buffalotech routers, never tried either though. I enjoy the simple features such as IP reservations with DHCPD, SSH, unlimited port forwarding in the new firmware, etc...

[MemoryDump]

You want a prism 2 or 3 card so you can use the hostap driver:

http://www.linux-wlan.org/docs/wlan_adapters.html.gz

http://hostap.epitest.fi/
so any card listed on http://www.linux-wlan.org/docs/wlan_adapters.html.gz would work for my WAP setup and hostap/ipcop? I'm leaning towards dlink cards at the moment.

thxs
-MD

[poofyhairguy]

so any card listed on http://www.linux-wlan.org/docs/wlan_adapters.html.gz would work for my WAP setup and hostap/ipcop? I'm leaning towards dlink cards at the moment.

thxs
-MD

Any prism card.

[Mr. Electric Wizard]

Hey, when you have an IPCop setup, do you have to use a Wireless Router for an access point?
I know that the "Blue" zone in IPCop is for wireless, but do you just need a PCI Wireless Card in the IPCop box?
If so, that is totally awesome!

[Geekboy]

I have a Linksys wrt54g and I think it's great. I have it updated to the latest firmware and haven't had an issue. Plus you can install third party firmware (I haven't tried that).

I also used IPCop. I had it running on a P166. Worked great, I thought it was very easy to setup. And once it's finished you can pretty much forget about it. But I wanted wireless and one less PC in the room so I switched to a wireless.

I got my Linksys wrt54g for 50 bucks, pretty cheap.

[Mr. Electric Wizard]

To get Wireless access (Blue zone) in IPCop working do you just need a PCI Wireless card in the IPCop box?

[pmj]

Just don't get a D-Link, I've had bad experiences with them and so has several other people know. I have a Linksys now and I'm very happy with it.

[Mr. Electric Wizard]

OK,
I just read that IPCop uses a Nic (Blue Nic) to use the wireless leg of your LAN.
You need a NIC, and a Wireless Access Point.

[Geekboy]

Not sure why you would want to buy a Wireless Access Point and then run IPCop on a PC. A wireless router would cost the same as an Access Point and would handle both jobs.

I'm really impressed at what my Linksys can do,

[pristoid]

I need to setup a router using Ipcop with two different ip range

1st : 192.168.10.1 / 255 for the internet
2nd : 192.168.0.1 / 255 for the indonesia internet exchange (indonesian only server)

How do I setup my network card so I can use one router only for those two services.

I have static Ip address from my ISP. Thanks :grin:

[beeldings]

Just thought I'd my thoughts...

I've been running an old Linksys BEFSR11 router on my network for about two years without any problems. I've had to restart a few times, but that's it. No dropped connections, no locking-up, no problems at all. I bought it for about $25 used on eBay, but since it's a single-port unit I have it connected to a mini Linksys hub which in turn runs my network for two computers and my PS2. There were times when I would download file(s) on my computer while playing a game on-line with my PS2 and my speeds were consistent, there was hardly any lag. As much as I love my current set-up, I plan on upgrading to something a little more powerful in the future. I want a true firewall, not the NAT that shipped with my Linksys router.

[Quake]

I have to say go with the Linksys WRT54GL, WRT54G under v4.
With the DD-WRT (http://www.dd-wrt.com) firmware, you'll have a very powerful router.

[arsenic23]

I expected more then 80% of the replies here to be "Linksys WRT54G".

Anyway, about the good old WRT:

It's important to realize that all the new WRT54Gs are no longer running anything resembling the old harddware/firmware. These guys are garbage, many of the one's I've put my hands on lock up under heavy load, they are also, of course, not compatible with all of the awsome firmware that made the old WRTs awsome.

Linksys does, however, still manufacter the old hardware that was in the earlier WRT54Gs. The model number for these are WRT54GL ( the L is for linux :) These routers are horribly awsome in the affordable/customizable area.

[matthew]

I didn't notice this thread until now...here's my input:

I have a Linksys WRT54g v2 and love it. It works well with the latest Linksys firmware and you can play with other 3rd party firmwares as well.