Wireless router recommendations needed...

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ajkula66 · #1 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:30 pm

Getting (finally) rid of my D-Link 624 MiMO router which had one too many quirks from day one...and need something to replace it with...

Excellent range/coverage is a MUST. Fairly big house and a habit of taking a laptop in the yard...

N would be nice, but not a must by any means.

Not looking to spend too much, say $75 max...

al7kz · #2 Post by **al7kz** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:03 am

Well the Linksys WRT54GL is a solid router, and you can load the latest standard version DD-WRT firmware on it. That will let you control TX power from 0 to 251 mW*. 50USD Cheers

* 100 mW is considered maximum for this router and 70 mW for normal use

tf34mech · #3 Post by **tf34mech** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:07 pm

I have always had good luck with Linksys as well. I have a WRT45G which is a work horse and have modded it with WRT firmware and crank up the signal. I have 5 bars no matter where I go.

#4 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:14 pm

I can agree with the Linksys, but then the model WRT54GS, where the S stands for Speedbooster.

You can buy a factory refurbished unit as above, already with the DD-WRT software installed on eBay for $47.95 with free shipping.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Linksys-WRT54GS-Wir ... 0312176629

From personal experience: do NOT install the Linksys software on your laptop/PC, let either Windows manage it, or Access Connections.

#5 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:20 pm

My Netopia does everything you asked for. It is a commercial box and not cheap, but I value a reliable working router above cheap. I just offer this for an alternative point of view. ... JDH

sarbin · #6 Post by **sarbin** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:23 pm

i'll jump in and recommend the wrt54gs also.

when cox hsi in new england offered 15mb/s service, i ditched my zyxel (great device, btw) because it couldn't keep up with the speed. an older netgear throttled the connection, too, so out it went. after some reading and questions in dslreports.com's hardware discussion section, i settled on the linksys and haven't looked back. i get all the bandwidth i'm paying for.

Purcy · #7 Post by **Purcy** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:04 pm

I use the DSL wireless modem/router that Verizon supplied us with, an Actiontech GT704WG. We have the 3mbps download speed and I just recently installed several Netgear 85mbps powerline adapters throughout the house. Very nice for plugging in for ethernet in rooms where you have non-wireless devices, and they're fast!

ajkula66 · #8 Post by **ajkula66** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:39 pm

I find the overwhelming pro-LinkSys vote somewhat surprising, and will admit that these are nowhere near the answers I expected...then again, what do I know anymore...

jdhurst and sarbin, thank you both for reminding me of the fact that I've installed hundreds (if not thousands) of Netopia and Zyxel wired routers as a part of my daily job, and NEVER thought about getting a wireless one from either of these manufacturers...where I should have...

Mr. Hurst, out of curiosity: which Netopia router are you referring to?

I'm going to let this topic go on for a few more days anyway, to get a couple of more suggestions, but it has been very interesting so far...

Thanks to everyone who participated.

#9 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:59 pm

ajkula66 wrote:<snip> out of curiosity: which Netopia router are you referring to?

<snip>
Thanks to everyone who participated.

Netopia Enterprise router 3387WG.

I like it because it works well, and supports my VPN (numerous consumer routers do not). I don't like the telnet interface in terms of recommending to homeowners, but it doesn't bother me.
.. JDH

#10 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:07 pm

George, if you are keen on Netopia, I have a brand new never used Netopia 3347NWG router sitting here. (wifi with 4 ports and ADSL modem)
You get these when you sign up with Eircom Broadband in Ireland. I don't know if they modified the hardware. The accompanying software CD is geared towards the Irish system.
You can have it for the cost of shipping.

beGi · #11 Post by **beGi** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:25 am

My ISP has sent me ZyXEL P-660HW-D3 for free (so I don't know how much it costs). Have no complaints, once you set it up... Click on link for specs and details...

al7kz · #12 Post by **al7kz** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:53 am

delete

EvilH · #13 Post by **EvilH** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:21 am

WRT54GL with DD-WRT. I would stay away from the GS unless you can get your hands on the earlier versions with the larger flash size. You can also occasionally find good commercial stuff on eBay and Craigslist on occasion.

tylerwylie · #14 Post by **tylerwylie** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:36 am

While they were available I would get the Buffalo WHR G125's, as they are friggen AMAZING with DD-WRT compared to anything else you can find for under 50$(These were 40 a pop...).

j-dawg · #15 Post by **j-dawg** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:10 am

Ugh, I know what you mean about the D-Link 624. I had a 524 which is identical at the hardware level, and it was the worst router I've ever had. Never a solid connection, and after a few months it kept restarting every ten minutes or so.

tylerwylie · #16 Post by **tylerwylie** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:31 am

j-dawg wrote:Ugh, I know what you mean about the D-Link 624. I had a 524 which is identical at the hardware level, and it was the worst router I've ever had. Never a solid connection, and after a few months it kept restarting every ten minutes or so.

At least you don't have to deal with DLink's DES-3550's and 3526's and 3612's....every day at work...

ajkula66 · #17 Post by **ajkula66** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:14 pm

Thought I'd update the thread since I've completely forgotten about it...until I've read tylerwylie's post this morning...

I ended up getting an Encore ENHWI-N router from Newegg that had a ridiculous sale on it...haven't tested the "N" aspect of it yet, but b/g works great, and I couldn't be happier with the price as well...excellent range, keeps connection stable, very, very pleased...I guess that I would've been pleased with next to anything after the darn D-Link but we'll see...

BillBraskey · #18 Post by **BillBraskey** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:31 pm

Part of the reason Linksys has remained a competitor is because they were purchased by Cisco. Cisco has been the standard for routers, switches, multi layer switches, and just about everything in between. I'm hoping some day they will have a stripped down version of the Cisco IOS installed on the smaller routers to allow users some advanced level configurations.

Marco665 · #19 Post by **Marco665** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:19 pm

I've got Pentagram P 6381-2, it is the regular version, N is a couple $ more. 1 PC, 2 notebooks and one cell phone connected. Signal rate is "excellent" even through 2 walls (okay, I have no idea of the correct english naming

but - one wall is main-construction-type-like, and the other is movable

).
Router has removable antenna, so you can buy a stronger one if you need reaaalllyyyy good range

dsigma6 · #20 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:57 am

I'm happy with my WRT54G running DD-WRT.

#21 Post by **gator** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:49 pm

I got a netgear WGR614 b/g on sale from newegg and I have not needed to touch ever since I set it up 5-6 months ago. Solid router.

virge · #22 Post by **virge** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:22 pm

I'm running a Belkin WGT624v3 at work and I've only had to restart it once in the past 1.5 years!

Wireless router recommendations needed...

Wireless router recommendations needed...

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