D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G vs. Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G

[imported_MikeS]

Hi. I am looking to upgrade from my Microsoft wireless router(which no longer connects) to a newer one. I have researched it and these two seem to be the best. I was wondering which people thought the best router was between D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G vs. Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G.

I have done alot of checking and both seem to have pros and cons similar to each other. I have come to a stalemate as to which is the best. The main computer which will be hooked up to the router is on the first floor and I want to connect a laptop and desktop on the second floor to the wirless router. If anyone can give me any help as to which is the best it would be greatly appreciated seeing how I can't decide after reading the many pros and cons on both of these routers.

All three computers are Dells and two are running XP while the main computer is running WinMe.

Thanks for any help you can give and thanks for having a great forum.

 

[JackMDS]

As it comes from production line the D-Link/Netgear SuperG chipset yields faster connection.

The Linksys Speed Booster chipset is Slower.

However the Linksys is more stable, and the firmware is based on Linux, so it is currently a popular Hacked device.

:sun:

 

[skriefal]

What chipsets or cards are used in your three client PCs? You'll minimize the potential for any incompatibility by buying a router that uses an 802.11b/g chipset from the same manufacturer as the chips used in your client PC's 802.11g cards.

If the client PCs are using cards based on a Broadcom chipset, then I suggest that you buy the Linksys. If the client PCs are using cards with an Atheros chipset, then I recommend that you buy the D-Link or Netgear. If they're using something else (Intersil/Globespanvirata, Realtek, etc) then it probably won't matter too much.

 

[imported_MikeS]

I'm going to get all new cards with which ever router I buy. I just can't figure out which is the better router to buy.

 

[WeiWei]

My network of 8 computers(4 wired, 4 wireless) is currently setup through D-Link DI-624 and hasn't been giving me any problems at all.

D-Link is cheaper than Linksys isn't it ? Occasionally, D-Link also has rebates which makes the router a really good buy at around 50 bucks which is what I got it for.

 

[TekViper]

I had a di-642. It is currently packed in a box ready to be shipped back to buy.com as an RMA. Had a problem with it because it had very poor signal strength. I had the router and nic withen 15ft with only one household wall seperating them and barely got over 30% signal. However when i recieved the package from buy.com it looked like the router had already been opened. The antenna was already screwed on and it had a crack at the base. Hopefully the poor signal problem was related to this. Here is the item on buy.com, http://www.buy.com/prod/DI_624...oc/33379/10372905.html. thats probably the cheapest you can get it after the rebate and includes a wireless superg dlink nic.

currently im not sure if i should try another di-642 and hope this one was a dud, or try a different router altogether...

 

[InlineFive]

I have a WRT54g and it is really an impressive computer. Very stable, very fast (200Mhz) with great signals.

 

[coolred]

I was also wondering this, glad I searched before posting. I want to setup a small network(all new equipment, router, wireless NICs, except on the wired computers, I will use onboard NIC's, as well as wired to my PS2.

I want to set it up more for a learning experience rather then an actual need to share broadband or anything else over it. It will come in handy for sure, but I mainly want to learn as much as I can to see if its somehting I like doing. I was leaning more towards the Linksys, due to its hackability, but I wans't really sure on what alot of the benefits of the hacked firmwares are. I know you can increase the single strength, and a whole bunch of other stuff, just wondering how useful it all is. So if I want to learn as much as possible, would I be better off with the Linksys and loading one of the hacked firmwares?

Also if anyone wanted to go a bit more in depth(PM me, i don't totally want to hijack this thread)for me, a nic elist of what I need, hardware, software, etc. wise to setup a small network, would be great. I currently only have my main rig running, but will have another rig, at least, by years end. Do I need more to get maximum benefit or will 2 be enough? Also I got in on a hot deal a while back for a free copy of Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium edition, will this benefit me in any way?