Give me some advice on buying a router

[C-A]

I plan to but a router from BestBuy (have gift card) and was wanting to get some feedback on the following routers which are in my price range. I am currently considering the Belkin - Wireless-G Plus MIMO Router F5D92304.

Any suggestions on good routers or ones to stay away from?


D-Link - 802.11g Wireless Router WBR-1310 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7650767&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1134699413821)

D-Link - RangeBooster G Wireless Router WBR-2310 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7650455&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1134699413343)

NETGEAR - Super G Wireless Router WGT624 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5925403&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1061127609500)

Belkin - Wireless-G Plus MIMO Router F5D92304 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7241068&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1115364694550)

Buffalo Technology - AirStation Turbo G Wireless Cable/DSL Router (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7442485&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1125238693441)

Linksys - 802.11g Wireless Router WRT54G WHR-HP-G54 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5250774&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1051384663529)

Linksys - SpeedBooster 802.11g Wireless Router WRT54GS (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6304082&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1074787298555)

[Kingsley]

You can't install open-source firmware on Linksys WRT54G v5 and v6 routers.

[siimo]

Stay away from dlink

[leg]

My personal favourite is D-Link. I have the DSL-G624T though and it is a very nice router. It also runs on a version of Monta-Vista. Not that this matters as you administer it through the web interface. It might be a bit dearer than the ones you have listed though.

[C-A]

Anyone have any experience with the NETGEAR - Super G Wireless Router WGT624? I have read that it was a good router for the price.

[Iceni]

I bought a Linksys WRT54GL and installed custom firmware. It's a great router, but I don't really know about the price range compared to the others you listed.

[jimrz]

Anyone have any experience with the NETGEAR - Super G Wireless Router WGT624? I have read that it was a good router for the price.

have had mine for sometime and have had no issues. works just fine with ubuntu breezy through feisty.

[roachk71]

My favorite (and current) router is the Linksys WRT54G, version 2. Install DD-WRT on this router and you can do much more with it, including overclocking, but avoid overclocking above 228 MHz without a heat sink and fan. :KS

[qpieus]

Get a router you can install dd-wrt or tomato firmware on. This firmware turns a $40 router into a router with features normally found on much more expensive routers. For more info see:
dd-wrt: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD-WRT
tomato: http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato

I just bought the buffalo WHR-G54S from circuit city for $40, less with rebates. Flashed it with dd-wrt and am very happy.

[Compucore]

I've had some good experience with the DL-604 from dlink. Mind you its a wired router. Not wireless. Are you looking specifically just for wireless qpieus?

Compucore

[LookTJ]

I suggest buying WRT54GL or WRT54GS and flashing dd-wrt on it.

[LookTJ]

Oh yeah don't buy from best buy....I suggest FRY's

[jbonll05]

I have been usig a Belkin G-Plus, M#F5D7531-4 for a mixed wireles and wired network with broadband cable service. Five machines. It requires zero add-ons and was plug and play from the box. It was bought at Walmart. Speeds are virtually the same wired as wireless. Also as when plugged into the cable modem direct.
JB,Ubuntu user since 4oct05

[zenwhen]

I love my D-Link DIR-655.

[talcite]

As a former employee at a computer store and also a very obsessive networking freak... =P I suggest the buffalo WHR-HP-G54. It's the longest range router that is both relatively cheap and supports DD-WRT. It's actually what i'm running right now. The firmware works very well, includes QoS and other very nice features, and is highly recommended by me =D.

Stay away from MIMO routers because their upgrade lifespan is extremely short. They do not have an official, finalized IEEE spec. Also stay away from Dlink, and the newer v5 and v6 linksys WRT-54G models.

[leg]

Stay away from dlinkAny reasoning to that or just a personal dislike.

[Hallvor]

You can't install open-source firmware on Linksys WRT54G v5 and v6 routers.

Yes, you can. In fact, I have a WRT54GS v5 router with dd-wrt (micro). Linksys routers v5 and v6 are stripped of flash and ram (cheap hardware), but it is possible to use the micro version of dd-wrt without problems. Not as good as the full version, but it works a million times better than the original firmware.

For people with v5 or v6 routers, see this:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php?title=Flash_Your_Version_5_WRT54G

[Zdravko]

Stay away from dlink
Why? I have a dlink and there is absolutely no problem for Ubuntu FF 7.04! :KS

[LookTJ]

Why? I have a dlink and there is absolutely no problem for Ubuntu FF 7.04! :KSI am sorry...but I have to agree with the statement "Stay away from dlink" for the following reasons

the firmware is bad
some routers stop working as a AP so I have to reboot it
I tried everything
etc everyone said.I had a DI 524

So I switched to Linksys WRT54G models and put dd-wrt on it.

[LookTJ]

You can't install open-source firmware on Linksys WRT54G v5 and v6 routers.
Wanna bet? (http://www.bitsum.com/openwiking/owbase/ow.asp?WRT54G5_CFE#h8) :D there you go!

I have a WRT54GS v6

it's flawless

[mips]

Stay away from dlink

amen!

[mips]

I don't understand what you are looking for as you are listing different type of device.

Some are just wireless routers
Others are wireless routers with DSL modems built in

What is it you need ? Just wireless&switch or do you need wireless/switch/dsl ???

[Crashmaxx]

Are there different "grades" of routers or anything like that? I used to have an old Linksys one, but it was 802.11.b and got to be insanely slow and unreliable. I replaced it with a seemingly nice Belkin 802.11.g 54gb model and it is a lot more reliable. But now that I am putting decent load on it with torrents and streaming video to myself within the LAN, it has really begun to suffer.

It will slow to a crawl and sometime even just not load stuff. The only "solution" I have found is I got one of those outlet timers. And I set it up to "unplug" it for one minute twice a day. But I still have major slowdown sometimes and this seems like it should be completely unnecessary.

Is it an issue with the software on it or the hardware itself? In other words, would a business class router be better as it is made to take a lot more load, or will a router I can install open source firmware on be a better bet?

Not trying to take this off topic. Just wondering what is the real difference in routers is and why these problems would occur in the first place.

[talcite]

That is usually a case of bad firmware Crashmaxx. Hardware is usually all the same across most routers. They all use broadcom or atheros chipsets.

As for my advice about Dlink:

- bad firmware, bad firmware, bad firmware!
- not able to load 3rd party firmware onto it.
- they violated GPL!!!

And about the WRT-54G v5 and v6:

- several of these routers are neutered, their flash has been reduced to a point where 3rd party firmware is limited. For example, you are only able to load DD-WRT micro onto v5 and v6s, plus there are a high number of brickings during this process. You can't tell if it's neutered unless you look at the serial number... a real pain if you ask me.
- The WRT-54GL is probably one of the best choices you can make I guess. It's more expensive and has less transmit range than the buffalo I recommended, but it can practically load every type of firmware you can imagine. The WRT-54G/GL is the most widely hacked router in the world after all. So if you really want the linksys and don't mind the extra cash, go for the GL.

[Hallvor]

A decent router should IMO have at least 4 mb flash and 16 mb ram. Then you can put new (free) firmware on it, and it will be just as good as a much more expensive router with proprietary firmware.

Anyway, powercycling your router twice a day is not normal. It is probably just mediocre firmware causing it. You should check if you can flash your router with dd-wrt.

I have one of those crappy Linksys WRT54GS with only 2 mb flash and 8 mb ram, and it has been up for about a month with (sometimes) heavy bittorrent traffic. Not necessary to powercycle it for weeks.

[leg]

I am sorry...but I have to agree with the statement "Stay away from dlink" for the following reasons

the firmware is bad
some routers stop working as a AP so I have to reboot it
I tried everything
etc everyone said.I had a DI 524

So I switched to Linksys WRT54G models and put dd-wrt on it.I agree that model had some bad firmware but was upgradeable. I have the 624 and it is very good. When I bought this one I researched lots of routers and found similar problems with an awful lot of them including linksys. For this reason I stayed with D-Link. From my research I would not change to linksys but if I had to use another make it would be Belkin.

[mips]

I agree that model had some bad firmware but was upgradeable. I have the 624 and it is very good.

Even the 624 had issues. If you want you can do a search here on d-link/dlink and my userid and you will get the idea.

[C-A]

Get a router you can install dd-wrt or tomato firmware on. This firmware turns a $40 router into a router with features normally found on much more expensive routers. For more info see:
dd-wrt: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD-WRT
tomato: http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato

I just bought the buffalo WHR-G54S from circuit city for $40, less with rebates. Flashed it with dd-wrt and am very happy.

thanks, i will check that out

[C-A]

I've had some good experience with the DL-604 from dlink. Mind you its a wired router. Not wireless. Are you looking specifically just for wireless qpieus?

Compucore

My goal is to replace my current router which is wired. My house is wired so I do not have to have wireless router. However, my thinking is that I will go ahead and get a wireless router because I may have use for it in the future.

[C-A]

I suggest buying WRT54GL or WRT54GS and flashing dd-wrt on it.

based upon a previous post, that seems to be a good option

i plan to get a router from bestbuy because i have a gift card
have you had trouble there?

[strabes]

I have the NETGEAR Super G Wireless Router WGT624 that came free with my dell computer and I've never had any problems with it. Configuration is super easy, plus it looks cool (even though it's in the basement closet)

[C-A]

I don't understand what you are looking for as you are listing different type of device.

Some are just wireless routers
Others are wireless routers with DSL modems built in

What is it you need ? Just wireless&switch or do you need wireless/switch/dsl ???

didn't realize that some listed had dsl modems built in, but will go back and look

i am looking for a router with a switch built in, it doesn't have to be wireless but i figured i would get a wireless one since I was buying a new one

[Buffalo Soldier]

Currently using d-link dsl-g604t. Modem + wireless router + 4-port ethernet. So far been working perfectly.

1 minus point thought. I can only manage to upgrade it's firmware using Windows :(

[C-A]

Are there different "grades" of routers or anything like that? I used to have an old Linksys one, but it was 802.11.b and got to be insanely slow and unreliable. I replaced it with a seemingly nice Belkin 802.11.g 54gb model and it is a lot more reliable. But now that I am putting decent load on it with torrents and streaming video to myself within the LAN, it has really begun to suffer.

It will slow to a crawl and sometime even just not load stuff. The only "solution" I have found is I got one of those outlet timers. And I set it up to "unplug" it for one minute twice a day. But I still have major slowdown sometimes and this seems like it should be completely unnecessary.

Is it an issue with the software on it or the hardware itself? In other words, would a business class router be better as it is made to take a lot more load, or will a router I can install open source firmware on be a better bet?

Not trying to take this off topic. Just wondering what is the real difference in routers is and why these problems would occur in the first place.

actually, this is on topic because I have had similar problems which is why i am buying a new router
bittortent apps have been killing my current router which is a very old wire linksys router

[C-A]

I have the NETGEAR Super G Wireless Router WGT624 that came free with my dell computer and I've never had any problems with it. Configuration is super easy, plus it looks cool (even though it's in the basement closet)

is configuration web-based or do you have use a windows program?

[mips]

is configuration web-based or do you have use a windows program?

I had a Netgear and it is all web-based.

[C-A]

I suggest buying WRT54GL or WRT54GS and flashing dd-wrt on it.

Will flashing dd-wrt on a WRT54GS help it handle heavy p2p traffic better?

Does anyone know if any of these routers handle heavy p2p traffic well?

D-Link - 802.11g Wireless Router WBR-1310 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7650767&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1134699413821)

D-Link - RangeBooster G Wireless Router WBR-2310 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7650455&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1134699413343)

NETGEAR - Super G Wireless Router WGT624 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5925403&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1061127609500)

Belkin - Wireless-G Plus MIMO Router F5D92304 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7241068&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1115364694550)

Buffalo Technology - AirStation Turbo G Wireless Cable/DSL Router (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7442485&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050001&id=1125238693441)

[Hallvor]

Yes. A WRT54GS v4 or less, or a WRT54GL with DD-Wrt will handle bittorrent traffic very well. I use bittorrent all the time on a dd-wrt flashed router with half the ram of those models, without any problems. However, you should decrease the default time for tcp and udp timeouts to 90 in the dd-wrt menu (administration>management) because of many connections.