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Recomendation for an Access Point

V

videobruce

Golden Member
I'm looking for a Access Point to use in a nearby building off of a existing wireless router. My needs/wish list is as follows;

1. Removeable antenna(s),
2. At least a 'G' or possibly a 'N' depending on price,
3. Metal case would be a plus,
4. Wall mountable,
5. Cost under $70,
6. Speed holding up under weaker signal conditions (as much as possible),
7. Decent support and user friendly config. menu.

Questions;

A. Are diversty (dual) antennas really better?
B. Is the price difference between 'G' and 'N' type AP's worth the price difference?

What I didn't like was those Linksys blue and black routers and AP's that have a dozen different variations and version numbers that only confuses which one to get.
 
I doubt that you would find Metal for under $70.

I did not buy one recently but this one is one of the best choices and use to come with a wall bracket.

However given most of your parameters I would buy this and use it as an Access point.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833162134

If you need extra features take a look at optional 3rd party free firmware, 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.
 
I knew that at least one wireless router had 3rd party firmware available called "Tomato", but I didn't realize it was 'open source'. What I also didn't know there is 2nd source for 3rd party firmware.

What are the differences between these two different sources and why is 'flashing' using this DD-WRT risky? I also see the DD-WRT firmware is not 'free'.
 
DD-WRT has more features (see the two links in my previous post).

In case of the Buffalo, flashing with Tomato is much easier.

Why? Ask the DD-WRT programmers.

Some of the DD-WRT versions (especially the ones that work with business level Wireless) are not free. AFAIK the Buffalo version is free.
 
To add to Jack's post, there are also many customized Tomato versions that contain VPN's, overclocking (yes, overclock your router), USB support, etc.

Sample mods.
 
Originally posted by: Emulex
dd-wrt is not bad. but most routers are underpowered and too low on ram.
Click to expand...

not to mention people think they need dd-wrt when most don't use a single one of the extra features.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot

not to mention people think they need dd-wrt when most don't use a single one of the extra features.
Click to expand...

It varies.

As an example if one does not need the features for his Buffalo Router, DD-WRT or Tomato do not do any thing for him/her.

But features or not, the Asus and the Linksys WRT work Better with the 3rd party firmware.

Routers are is actually small propriety computers, and the firmware acts as its OS.

DD-WRT and Tomato are sort of Better "OS" as compare to some of the vendors put into their hardware.
 
not to mention people think they need dd-wrt when most don't use a single one of the extra features.
Click to expand...

Looking over that list, I would say 90% of those features I have little knowledge of and probably would not use.
 
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