Need advice please choosing from these 3 routers

[PapaPrem]

Hello everyone. I'm in the market for a new router. However, I am somewhat limited by my choices. I have a $75 dollar Staples Gift Card that I plan to use, so I am limited to the choices available at Staples. I don't want to go with a Linksys and D-Link due to several past bad experiences. The items that I use wireless for, are a laptop, an HTC smartphone, and a HP Touchpad.
Gigabit ports aren't really necessary as I do not have a Gigabit adapter/card on my desktop or pre-historic Xbox 1 (which I use as a media center.)
Dual Band would be nice to have as I live in an apartment with 3 cordless handsets and a microwave, but I don't know if its really a necessity considering not many devices are capable of utilizing the 5GHz spectrum. I've had problems maintaining a connection and playing YouTube videos on my HP Touchpad with my recently deceased Linksys WRT54GX4 (SRX400) router. So hopefully, one of these newer routers will help solve that problem. I narrowed my choices down to:

1) Belkin N750 Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router (Model F9K1103)

2) NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless-N300 Gigabit Router (Model WNR3500L)

3) NETGEAR N600 Wireless Dual Band Router (Model WNDR3400)

The Belkin N750 is Dual Band and rated #2 overall on the WAN to LAN Throughput Router Chart on Smallbuilder net and seems to have great range. However, its firmware seems to have very limited configuration options and DD-WRT or Tomato isn't available for it. I also understand that it wont allow me the option to set Static IP's for my devices. I currently have a wireless printer, that is hardwired via Cat5E cable to my existing router using a Static IP. (I was having trouble getting it to connect wirelessly thats why I connected it using the cable.) So that is somewhat a concern. This router would cost me around $75 after coupon.

The Netgear N300 WNR3500L does not have Dual Band but does have Gigabit connections. I believe it is also more outdated compared to the other 2 routers , but seems to be solid nevertheless. What's enticing is that it is an Open Source friendly router so I can put DD-WRT or Tomato on it. This router would cost me around $50 after coupon.

The Netgear N600 Dual Band WNDR3400 has Dual Band but does not have Gigabit ports. I dont believe DD-WRT or Tomato are available at this time for it. It also has a Lifetime Warranty, which is pretty unprecedented when it comes to Netgear or the majority of router manufacturers these days.. The other 2 routers have only a 2 year and 1 year warranty, respectively. This router would cost me around $55 after coupon.

The prices for all these are in my range. I live in an apartment complex. So with all this in mind, which router would you guys recommend for me? I have also included a screenshot of the spec comparison on Staples.com, for these 3 routers, below. Thanks and I apologize for the lengthy post.

 

[cmetz]

PapaPrem, my suggestion to you is that you put your gift card back into your pocket, then search the Hot Deals forums (or eBay) for a refurbished WNDR3700v1. They go refurb for about $56 and are an excellent deal at that price point.

The WNDR3700v2 has slightly worse wireless performance. The WNDR3700v3 is a completely different unit. Staples sells the "WNDR3700" for $120, no idea what version it is so you'd have to learn how to decipher the info on the box. You'd end up spending your gift card + $45 + tax for a unit with slightly worse wireless performance than the $56 unit.

Belkin has a poor track record of hackability. What does this mean? If the Belikin firmware doesn't do what you want or need, or they just don't update or fix it, you're SOL. Netgear has a better track record in general but it varies model to model. The WNDR3700 happens to have a strong level of support in the third-party firmwares, so you'll be able to run better firmware for years to come.

Both the WNDR3400 and WNDR3500L are based on Broadcom SOCs. They have poor open source Linux support, which means that third-party firmware either has to use Broadcom's binary-only drivers (which locks them to very specific old kernel versions), or they use really rough to nonexistent open-source drivers. The WNDR3700 is based on an Atheros SOC with decent open source drivers for all of the hardware - the open-source Atheros driver isn't as good as the binary-only Atheros or Broadcom drivers, but it is catching up and maturing.

So basically, you have a lot more options with the 3700.

 

[JackMDS]

I had very bad experience with every brand that sells Wireless Routers.

Brand name per-se means nothing (none of them manufacture the core of the Wireless to begin with).

Most Brands have a lot a bad Routers, some decent Routers, and very few Good devices.

The Linksys WRT 54GX line was a real POS, on the other hand the E2500 is a very decent Router.


.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Both the WNDR3400 and WNDR3500L are based on Broadcom SOCs. They have poor open source Linux support, which means that third-party firmware either has to use Broadcom's binary-only drivers (which locks them to very specific old kernel versions), or they use really rough to nonexistent open-source drivers. The WNDR3700 is based on an Atheros SOC with decent open source drivers for all of the hardware - the open-source Atheros driver isn't as good as the binary-only Atheros or Broadcom drivers, but it is catching up and maturing.

So basically, you have a lot more options with the 3700.

I thought that Broadcom was the preferred platform for running DD-WRT on? Atheros is flaky.

 

[PapaPrem]

PapaPrem, my suggestion to you is that you put your gift card back into your pocket, then search the Hot Deals forums (or eBay) for a refurbished WNDR3700v1. They go refurb for about $56 and are an excellent deal at that price point.

The WNDR3700v2 has slightly worse wireless performance. The WNDR3700v3 is a completely different unit. Staples sells the "WNDR3700" for $120, no idea what version it is so you'd have to learn how to decipher the info on the box. You'd end up spending your gift card + $45 + tax for a unit with slightly worse wireless performance than the $56 unit.

Belkin has a poor track record of hackability. What does this mean? If the Belikin firmware doesn't do what you want or need, or they just don't update or fix it, you're SOL. Netgear has a better track record in general but it varies model to model. The WNDR3700 happens to have a strong level of support in the third-party firmwares, so you'll be able to run better firmware for years to come.

Both the WNDR3400 and WNDR3500L are based on Broadcom SOCs. They have poor open source Linux support, which means that third-party firmware either has to use Broadcom's binary-only drivers (which locks them to very specific old kernel versions), or they use really rough to nonexistent open-source drivers. The WNDR3700 is based on an Atheros SOC with decent open source drivers for all of the hardware - the open-source Atheros driver isn't as good as the binary-only Atheros or Broadcom drivers, but it is catching up and maturing.

So basically, you have a lot more options with the 3700.

Thanks for the advice. cmetz. Even though the refurb WNDR3700 is a great price, I rather stay away from refurbs. Especially considering the hit or miss short life span of modern day routers. The WNR3500L is one of the most open source firmware friendly routers on the market. It is specifically marketed for its ability to run DD-WRT and Tomato and might come with those installed right out the box. I don't believe the WNDR3400 is open source capable yet, but if it has the same internals as the WNR3500L (which I'm not too sure about), then its only a matter of time before the firmware can be upgraded to an open source one. The lifetime warranty on the WNDR3400 makes it really stand out, as Netgear must be really confident about the routers build and durability. With the exception of one having Gigabit Ethernet and the other having simultaneous Dual Band, do you know which would have the better hardware between the WNR3500L and the WNDR3400?

 

[jhansman]

I got a Linksys/Cisco refurb from Newegg and it went back two days later; nothing but hassles. Just got and setup the Netgear WNDR 3700 and so far, so good. Had to use WEP encryption to get my wireless devices to connect, but it all went smoothly. What I really like about this router (other than its faster performance than the aging WRT54G it replaced) is Readyshare. Plugged my external USB hard drive in to its USB port, made sure I could see it in the router's setup, and connected to it immediately from a laptop and desktop in my house. Very nice.

 

[PapaPrem]

I got a Linksys/Cisco refurb from Newegg and it went back two days later; nothing but hassles. Just got and setup the Netgear WNDR 3700 and so far, so good. Had to use WEP encryption to get my wireless devices to connect, but it all went smoothly. What I really like about this router (other than its faster performance than the aging WRT54G it replaced) is Readyshare. Plugged my external USB hard drive in to its USB port, made sure I could see it in the router's setup, and connected to it immediately from a laptop and desktop in my house. Very nice.

Thats why I rather avoid refurbs. If they go kaput after 90 days, you've got a really fancy, highly regarded paperweight.
How is the speed with Readyshare? I've heard a lot of negatives stating how the USB port speed is very slow.

 

[JackMDS]

The lifetime warranty on the WNDR3400 makes it really stand out, as Netgear must be really confident about the routers build and durability.

I hope that you are kidding about the ""Confident"" factor (or you just came back to earth after being few years on The Volcan home planet.

Life time warranty in this business What it means (on earth) that the manufacturer statistics shows that they get back a lot of floor models etc., it get refurbished and use for few years to sent as a replacement when someone has a None functional unit.

These days the life cycle of the devices is so short 3-4 years. I.e., ""life time"" is Very Short time.

Objectivity, if ignoring the Staple's gift card.

If you do not want a Giga switch in the Router this is the best choice of the sub $100.

The most reasonable sub $100 Wireless Cable/DSL Router is currently this.

If you do not care about 5GHz band and Giga switch.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162033

Otherwise.

High Power RF, a/b/g/n, Giga switch, simple USB for External HD as a storage server, and a user choice to install propriety firmware or DD-WRT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162047

 

[cmetz]

JackMDS,
>I had very bad experience with every brand that sells Wireless Routers.

>Brand name per-se means nothing (none of them manufacture the core of the Wireless to begin with).

>Most Brands have a lot a bad Routers, some decent Routers, and very few Good devices.

I fully agree!

VirtualLarry,

>I thought that Broadcom was the preferred platform for running DD-WRT on? Atheros is flaky.

Broadcom is the preferred platform form DD-WRT right now, because DD-WRT's genesis was as a Linksys WRT54G firmware with ever more features, not to be a completely improved/better firmware. So they don't seem to care that they're stuck with a binary-only driver and whatever old kernel can support that, that's not what they're as interested in doing. And that's okay for a while, until it isn't. Look at how many platforms are stuck on an ancient 2.4.x kernel, because Broadcom dropped support for older chipsets in their binary-only driver.

Long-term, no open driver = you WILL be defunct and they CANNOT fix some problems.

Atheros is far more open, but the open source driver isn't as good as Broadcom's closed driver. It's getting steadily better. I would not call it flaky at all - maybe it once was but that's not true of the current version. It's fine.

Unfortunately, Atheros got bought by Qualcomm, and since then I've noticed that all the new SOHO routers appear to be Broadcom wins. Looks like Atheros might be done and we all might be stuck with Broadcom. I don't think their hardware is any better or worse, but Broadcom's track record on openness is not good.

PapaPrem,

>The lifetime warranty on the WNDR3400 makes it really stand out, as
>Netgear must be really confident about the routers build and durability.

Have you considered that there is fine print or that they otherwise don't quite fully intend to honor the promise you think you're getting? I've had bad experienced with Netgear when it comes to warranty support. That's why I'd prefer to buy a refurb from them - at least I *know* they're not going to honor the warranty. If you're worried about hardware failures, buy two, it's still cheaper! (or buy one now, and if it dies, you can just go buy another later, or buy something else)

Hint: nearly every SOHO grade network equipment manufacturer defines "lifetime" as the time period when they actively offer a product for sale, or that period plus a fixed tail period. So when they don't make it anymore, you are SOL. Given that SOHO router models are usually only made for a couple of years anyway now, do you see the marketing trickery?

>The WNDR3400 is one of the most open source firmware friendly routers
>on the market. It is specifically marketed for its ability to run DD-WRT and
>Tomato and might come with those installed right out the box.

Netgear may market them that way, doesn't mean it's true. Go do some searches and see what the reality is.

DD-WRT: 3400 is a work-in-progress, many complaints. No 3500.
Tomato: Neither 3400 nor 3500 on the supported list I saw.
OpenWRT: Neither is supported.

>With the exception of one having Gigabit Ethernet and the other having
>simultaneous Dual Band, do you know which would have the better
>hardware between the WNR3500L and the WNDR3400?

According to online tables of hardware, they're otherwise pretty much the same.

 

[jhansman]

How is the speed with Readyshare? I've heard a lot of negatives stating how the USB port speed is very slow.

My external drive case is USB 3.0 compliant, and I am satisfied with both the read and write speeds. Not blazing, but not slow either. Haven't tried streaming from it yet; will give that a test tonight.