New home wireless router - suggestions?

[Corydon]

OK, my old (5+ yo) DLink is dying on the wireless side and it's time to start thinking about a replacement/upgrade. We've also got DOCSIS 3 coming to the neighborhood, and I'd like to have something that could handle the faster speeds (may look at the faster tiers, maybe 22/5...it's good to work for the cable company!), so I'm assuming that means "n" is the way to go.

At home:

2 desktops with gigabit NICs connected via cat5e. I'd like to take advantage of the speed boost over the LAN from my current 10/100 router.

2 laptops that connect wirelessly regularly. My work computer already has n built in, the other laptop just has g. Also friends come over and hop on the wireless connection sometimes.

We do use the LAN for file sharing, mostly music right now, although video could be in the future.

I'm basically looking for something that will be as future proof as possible. I don't want to have to do another upgrade for another five years if I can help it

Ability to use open source firmware would be cool, but not a necessity. I don't connect to my computers from outside, so port forwarding, etc. isn't really that big a deal.

So which brands/models should I be looking at here? Preferably under $100, although I'd be willing to go over that a little for the right piece of equipment.

 

[JackMDS]

Yeah there is Draft-N, and there is a debate of its value.

From my perspective.

Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833162134

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

Unlike the other compatible Routers the Buffalo's High Power stock firmware is very Good As Is.

I.e., if you have a Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 you do not need any of the additional features of Tomato or DD-WRT, No need to install either.

The Wireless Boosting Power Feature available in both is Not a useful feature for the Buffalo HP.

The Buffalo?s Wireless Power is at the Max., and Tomato/DD-WRT do not really Boost its Wireless. If the power boosting is not left at the default when using Tomato/DD-WRT on the Buffalo HP, the Wireless signal might get worse by adding noise and reducing the Signal to Noise Ratio.

http://www.ezlan.net/WHR-HP-G54.html

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 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato_(firmware)#Features

Otherwise, use DD-WRT.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/ind..._is_DD-WRT%3F#Features

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.

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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" Router.

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Giga

Since Giga adds nothing to Internet and Wireless there is No point to force it into the Wireless Router and compromise on the components.

An inexpensive Giga switch with Jumbo frames, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833129025

Plug it to the Router and plug the Giga capable computers into it.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: Corydon
I'm basically looking for something that will be as future proof as possible. I don't want to have to do another upgrade for another five years if I can help it

Nothing at present can guarantee this. Standard-g is going to become obsolete, and draft-n will change to standard-n at some point in the near future, and vendors will come out with better wireless radios, etc.

For something in your budget which would hit all your stated requirements, look at the D-Link DIR-655 or the similar TrendNet TEW-633GR.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/30308/96/
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com...,com_chart/Itemid,189/

For third-party firmware compatibility, look at the Linksys routers (and check DD-WRT's page for model, hardware revision and support info).

The WRT310N is a good starting point.

 

[michael19]

WRT54GL. Yea, it won't do N. But N is in draft and will take a long time to get out of draft. Also, it's not like once N comes out of draft G and B are going to go away. G and B should be fine for all kinds of use. I would be very surprised if G became the bottleneck of someones internet connection. I recently bought a WRT54GL without blinking an eye, and I expect it to serve me well for many years to come. And newegg is the cheapest place you can get.