BUFFALO WHR-HP-G54 vs LINKSYS WRT54GL

[NikolaeVarius]

What is the consensus between these two routers? I only need my PS3 to connect to the wireless network, while two computers will be connected using the LAN ports.

I'm open to flashing the firmware, but I've never done it before so I have some fear of bricking the firmware.

Is the wireless gaming connection good?

Thanks in advance

 

[JackMDS]

As is the Buffalo is much better across the board

When Flashed with DD-WRT they act the same for wire traffic.

After flashing the Buffalo still maintains better Wireless because its is High Power (HP) RF output.

If you are scared of the Flashing process use Tomato instead of DD-WRT.

 

[bobdole369]

Using the buffalo stock firmware just fine. It'll handle your setup.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
As is the Buffalo is much better across the board

When Flashed with DD-WRT they act the same for wire traffic.

After flashing the Buffalo still maintains better Wireless because its is High Power (HP) RF output.

If you are scared of the Flashing process use Tomato instead of DD-WRT.

Does the power output really matter much even at short ranges?

 

[JackMDS]

If it is very noisy environment (signal wise) it might.

Otherwise get this, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
If it is very noisy environment (signal wise) it might.

Otherwise get this, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023

Well, the reason I'm getting the router really is because there isn't any connection around me :evil: , what are the differences between the ASUS and the Buffalo router, or is it just the cheapness. And if range really doesn't matter, does power also allow me to keep a better connection?

 

[JackMDS]

The Asus has less powerful Wireless.

Quote: "if range really doesn't matter, does power also allow me to keep a better connection".

In theory yes, Wireless is not so much about Signal Strength as it is about Signal to Noise ratio ( http://www.ezlan.net/wbars.html ).

Thus if your environment is noisy, even for short range, the Buffalo would provide a cleaner signal.

Would it make a different at your environment? I do not know.

My Office environment is in a big NYC Building (300 units) and there is is about 50 visible SSIDs.

It does make a difference in such environment even within two rooms.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Will the memory and ccpu of the Buffalo have any effect on anything.

And if I'm using bitorrent on the wired connection, will that effect the wireless connection much?

 

[Minjin]

I don't understand the whole signal strength thing. I buy that if my router is stronger, I could see a better signal at my client. But what does that matter if the client isn't equally as strong? Are we really assuming that the limitation is solely on the router side? That doesn't make sense to me.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Minjin
I don't understand the whole signal strength thing. I buy that if my router is stronger, I could see a better signal at my client. But what does that matter if the client isn't equally as strong? Are we really assuming that the limitation is solely on the router side? That doesn't make sense to me.

1. The Router has to be stronger because it is built to serve many Clients. The Client interact only with One Router at the time.

The Client (especially Laptops) have issues with Power consumption and size that dictates limitations in construction.

If a Signal from the Router does not reach a client then it does Not matter what the Client strength is.

If the signal gets to the Client, but it is weak, then a stronger emitting client card with Hi dbi directional Antenna can help.

The main issue is that in an indoor settings many times the problem is No Signal or weak unstable signal, and then No client can deal with it.

2.4GHz gets Killed by many type of obstructions (absorbed in water molecules would be the main culprit) that are present in an indoor environment.

BTW in many Wireless Router the Radio Chipset is the same as the one that are used on PCI Wireless cards. I.e. a "Puny" 30mW Transmitter.

The Buffalo HP takes only 10mW (which would be very clean signal) out of the Radio, feeds it into a Power Amp., and 5 dbi Antenna.

Most draft_N router use also a similar "Puny" 30mW Radio. The main difference (Wireless wise) from the 802.11g is the concoction of alternate feeding to a triple Antenna (Aka Mimo), the Antennae are very cheap (otherwise three Good Antennae would make the Routers even more expensive).

The N arrangement if designed and constructed well should yield a little better then 802.11g. In the truth it is a small step from 802.11g and not withstanding the marketing Hype that is built around it.

The elaborate Antenna structure makes it a problem to build good Wireless clients, and additional Networking Devices.

At the end, N main advandege would be providing more adequate bandwidth for Short Range Video Streaming, and hopefully something better would come along in the future.

 

[Minjin]

I thought N gave better range?

I'm debating over how to best setup my GF's house. She works at a gym (owned by her family) that's attached to the building where she lives. The gym pays for cable and they recently decided to get internet there as well. I ended up buying a wireless router for her and set it up at the gym. She just barely gets a signal at her house. It's good for checking email and minor browsing but anything much more and it drops as it's right on the edge. The router is an Asus wl520gu that I installed dd-wrt on and cranked up the power. I'm trying to figure out how to get her a better signal. I was thinking about switching to an N router and N card to get better range but I'm not sure if that will work. Running an ethernet cable is my backup plan but it would require a bit of work. The host and client are about 100ft apart and separated by two walls. Any thoughts?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Minjin I was thinking about switching to an N router and N card to get better range but I'm not sure if that will work. Running an ethernet cable is my backup plan but it would require a bit of work. The host and client are about 100ft apart and separated by two walls. Any thoughts?

Following what I posted above, the odds are Three to One that Draft_N will Not be better then what you already did.

However some of this is Not a Big Philosophical issue but Just Money.

Get an Draft_N for $100 and if it does not do better you would have an Expeisive spare Router.