help me pick a ethernet router

[TheRingmaster]

My netgear router is not functioning properly and I was wanting to buy a new one.

Should i get this one--->d-link (http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10001&firstlevelURLName=D-Link&categoryId=40394&firstlevelURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.staples.com%2Fwebap p%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FTopCategoriesDisplay% 3FstoreId%3D10001%26catalogId%3D10121&catalogId=10121)

or this one--->Linksys (http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10001&firstlevelURLName=Linksys&categoryId=26996&firstlevelURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.staples.com%2Fwebap p%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FTopCategoriesDisplay% 3FstoreId%3D10001%26catalogId%3D10081&catalogId=10081)

what are you guy's experiences

ps. This router will be for my grandfather, who uses windows xp pro.

[hkgonra]

Well first off you can get the linksys cheaper and Best Buy,
Best Buy Linksys
BEFSR41 EtherFast 4 Port Cable/DSL Router. Built-in NAT, DHCP Server. Requires external Cable/DSL Modem $39.99 2/25/2007 -
3/3/2007 None

It is the better of the two routers you mentioned.
The BEFSR41 has been around for years and is rock solid.

If it were me I would go ahead and get a wireless router.
It still has 4 wired ports but gives you the option of wireless for later.

Best Buy Netgear
WGR614NA 2.4 GHz 802.11G Wireless Access Point with 4-port Router. Advanced firewall and parental controls. 54 Mbps speed $39.99 2/25/2007 -
3/3/2007 None

All prices came from this VERY handy site.

http://www.salescircular.com/il.shtml

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I recommend the Linksys WRT54G wireless router. It is one of the most popular and widely used routers, and guess what, the firmware is open source. You can replace the firmware to get many more options using something like dd-wrt (http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/index.php), which is also open source. There are some people who don't like this model, but tell me of a single piece of technology that does not have detractors? There's no such thing.

I bought the Linksys WRT54GC model, because of its price (about slightly less expensive than the WRT54G - but they're related models) and WPA2 (if you upgrade your firmware, I believe the WRT54G can have WPA2 support too). If you're a security nut like me, you'll appreciate the government grade standard that WPA2 is. Cool, huh? If you want something small, this model is probably the smallest router you'll find anywhere. Really. You could fit it in a large pocket. The antenna is internal, which is a feature some people don't like, but makes it more appealing. From what I can see now, the internal antenna has no negative impact on the performance.

By the way, I too moved away from Netgear. Garbage. I am sure they have other great products, but I don't believe it has the open source plus, it didn't have WPA2, and I hated the firmware.

[muguwmp67]

Those prices at Staples are truly horrifying.

When did linksys start opensourcing their firmware? I bought one of the WRT54 models a little more than a year ago, and bricked it while trying to install a 3rd party firmware to keep it from crashing while using bittorrent.

I use a D-link WBR-2310 wireless router and like it a lot, but if all linksys firmware is opensource now, they're definitely the way to go, I think.

[cowlip]

wrt54g story: http://redir.internet.com/!search/www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3562391

basically linksys were bought by cisco, and they were caught violating the gpl a few times.

you have to be careful about which model of wrt54g you buy. The ones in stores today all use Vxworks which is proprietary. There are certain versions of these (v5-v7 vxworks) you can upgrade in a few steps to an open source firmware but the newest wrt54g version 8 can't do this. They do sell a model called wrt54gl which is basically a rebadged v4 and upgradeable OOB. There are lots of old wrt54gs on ebay, you just have to ask the seller the serial number or version on the bottom of the router (usu. they list it)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrt54g#WRT54G


One of the more popular modern routers today is Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 though.

[RandomJoe]

I've used both Linksys and D-Link quite successfully over the years, either one would be good I'm sure. Netgear stuff has been so-so for me... I tend to stay away from it too.

At home, most of my gear is Linksys - I also have one of the WRT54Gs (original models) that has been reimaged. But it's pretty much overkill for me now - I only use it as an AP, I have a Linux PC doing firewall/router duty now.

I too would suggest you buy the thing somewhere else! Definitely cheaper elsewhere. I just checked on Newegg and the Linksys is $47, the D-Link $34. I'm frankly surprised that Best Buy beat out Newegg, but I hate going to Best Buy so seldom price-check there...!

[TheRingmaster]

thanks guys for all your comments and I do agree that the prices are horrible, but we don't have many computer/accessories shops around here. I would have to go to rockford for best buy and all of them.

we ended up buying the linksys and so far it has worked great.