My 5YO Linksys Router Died? New One?

[21stHermit]

My 5YO Linksys Router Died? and I need a New Router.

The Linksys had a b/g wireless and a 4-port 10/100 hub. Tried 3 different PC's wired and wireless, nothing would work. I connected my Internet radio directly to this PC and it is working. I'm writing this.

All I know about routers is theirs a bunch of 4-letter acronyms, none of which I understand. I figure I should go b/g/n and 10/100/1000, everything else I know not.

A quick search at Newegg suggests these things are half the price I paid 5 years ago.

What should I look for and/or not look for.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[ImDonly1]

If you want a gigabit router with wireless N, it probably will be $80-100.

If you want something for $50 you will probably have to settle for non-gigabit or non-wireless N.

 

[wiretap]

Solid platform: WRT54GL (supports DD-WRT & Tomato)
New goodies: Asus RT-N16 (supports DD-WRT & Tomato)

 

[21stHermit]

Solid platform: WRT54GL (supports DD-WRT & Tomato)
New goodies: Asus RT-N16 (supports DD-WRT & Tomato)

What do those acronyms mean?

 

[wiretap]

They are aftermarket firmware which open up new options and capabilities of the router.

 

[gsaldivar]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato_%28firmware)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ddwrt

 

[dman]

They are aftermarket firmware which open up new options and capabilities of the router.

It sounds like you haven't a need for the extra features, but the aftermarket firmware's are often more stable than the factory software. Unfortunately only some brands and models are compatible with DD-WRT and Tomato. The rest you have to hope the vendor is good about revising and fixing any problems, but, most typically focus on the very serious issues for a few months until they release a hardware revision and then you are stuck with a doorstop. Also, because the vendors constantly release hardware revisions (even within the same model family) it's very difficult to find a consensus on which models are stable with the factory software.

If you aren't technical and aren't using any custom services like VPN or Voice over IP, you might want to call your ISP and see what they have with wireless capabilities. That way you have a one-stop shop for support if there are any problems.

 

[JackMDS]

Unless there is specific reason for a need of Draft_N.

Real reason means technical rather than fashionable need.

You are better of with an independent Good Giga switch and a High Power Wireless Router.

Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162134

8 Ports - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156251

5 Ports - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156250

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Entry Level Buffalo, Asus, and Linksys GL Routers can be Flashed with 3rd party free firmware.

If you need extra features (other than the Power Boost) take a look at Tomato and DD-WRT.

If the features that you need are available in Tomato Flash with Tomato.

Tomato features - [L=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato_(firmware)#Features]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato_(firmware)#Features[/L]

Otherwise, use DD-WRT.

[L=http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/ind..._is_DD-WRT%3F#Features]http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3F#Features[/L]

It is much easier to Flash Tomato than DD-WRT, thus to avoid frustration and Bricking risk I would recommend to casual “Flashers” to go with Tomato.

----------------------------
As an indirect side Note.

Routers are actually small computers with very weak CPU, small memory, and the Firmware acts as the OS.

Just like you do not expect using a NetBook for D Gaming, do not expect Entry Level Router to perform well under the load that is generated by heavy P2P downloads.

Taking into consideration the big savings done by the "Questionable Downloads", One can spend few hundred $$ on a "real" SOHO Router.

 

[21stHermit]

Well I rarely use wireless, but my lappie has it. Most of my system is wired 10/100. My need for a router is so I can distribute my internet to multiple computers and access my NAS. My new Clarkdale has 10/100/1000 so just made sense to go to Gigabit.

Since it's been five years, b/g/n seemed to make sense for future proof. My internet is wireless and slow ~45KB/s so my bandwidth needs are modest at best.

Because I'm solar electric, high power (Buffalo) doesn't sound good.

Doing a quick search, wireless routers are cheaper than equivalent wired routers.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...e=&srchInDesc=

Thanks for the post.

 

[21stHermit]

False Alarm.

Now that the sunlight is streaming in I got out my multimeter and checked the wall wart: 17V open circuit. Plugged him back into the router, pressed the reset button, re-connected the cables and viola, working Linksys router.

I do trouble shooting so infrequently I'm lost for the first few hours.

Thanks to all who replied.

 

[JackMDS]

Glad that you solve the problem. :thumbsup:

Since it's been five years, b/g/n seemed to make sense for future proof. My internet is wireless and slow ~45KB/s so my bandwidth needs are modest at best.

Future proof exists only in the land of the Yeti. :hmm:

Because I'm solar electric, high power (Buffalo) doesn't sound good.

High Power in this case means 80mW instead of 33mW

I.e. It is so small that will not effect even solar. But from a point of view of WIFI it will extend nicly the signal.