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New router advice

LifesABeta

LifesABeta

Senior member
Hello all,

I have been looking for a new router to couple with my Verizon Actiontec GT704WGB. This Actiontec is a modem/router combo. But the routing aspect of it of course sucks, so what I plan to do is run it as a modem only - bridging it with a new router.

I mainly game and the internet is shared amongst 2 laptops via wireless and 2 PC's via ethernet. When I am playing a game and somebody is browsing the internet or starts downloading something this results in lag spikes and high ping.

What I am looking for is a low cost(below $50) but a quality router that can distribute the bandwidth without doing a crapping job, the biggest factor would be QoS, whether it comes with it or if I could get custom firmware with, like DD-WRT or tomato. I want a cheap and effective router for the average consumer that can support the best QoS for $50.

Recommendations are very much welcome of course thanks.
 
Originally posted by: JackMDS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023
Click to expand...

I wonder what the difference (other than lack of USB ports) between that one and this one is... ($24.99 with FREE shipping for this one)...

<link removed>


EDIT: Whoa....looks like the Asus router that I linked only has 2MB flash so it would only hold DD-WRT micro versions and no Tomato. Dropping it from the list!!!

And I highly recommend the Asus router (listed by Jack) with Tomato as it runs very well.

Newegg also has the high powered Buffalo router for $59.99 with free shipping and no rebate right now. Also runs DD-WRT and Tomato.

Click me!
 
hmmm. Very tempting to buy right now, both have free 3 day shipping and the ASUS comes to about $49 after tax and the Buffalo $65. Would the $16 extra for the Buffalo be worth it?

Also are the routers already mentioned so far are what it really really boils down to for that price range? Let's change my $50 limit to $60(that's it, cant go higher. lol).

 

EDIT: Whoa....looks like the Asus router that I linked only has 2MB flash so it would only hold DD-WRT micro versions and no Tomato. Dropping it from the list!!!

Originally posted by: LifesABeta
hmmm. Very tempting to buy right now, both have free 3 day shipping and the ASUS comes to about $49 after tax and the Buffalo $65. Would the $16 extra for the Buffalo be worth it?

Also are the routers already mentioned so far are what it really really boils down to for that price range? Let's change my $50 limit to $60(that's it, cant go higher. lol).
Click to expand...

You can get 6% back on Newegg right now through Bing (cashback.bing.com and click through the Newegg store link). That will help some.

As for the Buffalo, it has a much higher powered wireless transmitter so it will extend the range of of wireless over the Asus. You can turn the Asus up using Tomato (DD-WRT?), but I think you can do the same with the Buffalo and I think the Buffalo will still outperform the Asus.

The Asus router that Jack linked has been as low as $19.99 after rebate in the last year and as low as $29.99 during the last month (after rebate). I'll look for the difference in the one that Jack linked and the one that I linked.
 
I just signed up for bing cashback, thanks for reminding me about that!

Well, aside from the higher powered wireless transmitter, would you say that the buffalo can do a better job of QoS with tomato or DD-WRT than the ASUS with tomato or DD-WRT? Sorry for all the stupid questions, I just want to get the right router on my first shot.
 
Unless you need the extra transmit power, I can't see much difference. Actually, the Asus has just a slightly newer Broadcom chip that runs faster (according to DD-WRT chart) than the Buffalo. As for QOS, etc, that is more of the firmware (Tomato) and how you set it up than the router, in this case.

I own the Asus router above and it has worked fine for many months. I'm always playing with it with "modded" firmwares though just playing. No issues with it (or the WRT54G version 2 that's been running for years).
 
thanks for the quick reply. On that note, I think i'll save a few bucks and get the ASUS then. I shouldn't have a problem with the transmit power from the ASUS as the current Actiontec i'm using is a B/G range also and probably exponentially more crappier than the ASUS in overrall quality and wireless connectivity is not a problem.
 
Okay guys, i'm back.. I did a little bit more research and have and willing to spend a little bit more money. I am looking currently looking at...

2 that were recommended to me

ASUS WL520-GU
Buffalo WHR-HP-G54

and my own pick

ASUS WL500GP most likely a version 2

Now the 520gu is the cheapest out of the three and both the ASUS 520 and WL500GP have a newer broadcom chip than the buffalo and the 2 ASUS router's chips run faster too 200mhz vs 240mhz. The ASUS WL500GP also has more flash memory and ram, 8 MB flash and 32 MB ram vs the 520GU's and Buffalo's 4 MB flash/16 MB RAM. Now i've been told by Engineer that the Buffalo has the better transmit power against the ASUS 520gu, but what about against the WL500GP?

as for pricing the 520gu Jack linked me to on newegg has them just under $50 with tax and shipping, the WL500GP just under $77 (and right now newegg offers a free wireless N notebook card with it). here's the kicker now, the Buffalo... I found a local seller, selling his Buffalo for brand new, sealed in box for $50 flat. Everywhere i've searched on the internet you cannot find it for this price.

The biggest factor now affecting my decision are

Are the 4 MB FLASH/ 16 MB RAM memory still good enough to hold a full version of tomato or DD-WRT?

and is the ASUS WL500GP actually worth spending $77 dollars just for QoS and gaming over the other 2?


 
Very helpful info. Is it really worth it to flash the firmware to a 3rd party? I currently have a Linksys wrt54g and notice slower download speeds when using wireless. I may just switch to the Asus based on the built in print server, but what will I gain from using the DD-WRT firmware?
 
In short, control. Every setting you could possibly imagine.

Typical ones that I use are wireless transmit power, QoS, bandwidth monitoring, wireless connection signal strength and S/N ratio, I turned one of my WRT54G routers into a bridge, and I run commands on it.
 
i'd pick the 128mb ram (or greater models) if you BT or have alot of connections 🙂

64mb just doesn't cut it with the memory leaks in dd-wrt
 
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