Recommend a New Router

[AMDZen]

I currently use an old Linksys 4-port router. I found out after moving into my new home, with roommates that I think this router kind of sucks. At first we were having huge connection problems while gaming online, mostly just with CS:S. I went back to an older firmware, like 2-3 years old now and its working better - but I still think its time to get a new one. The other problem we still have with this one is with Port Forwarding. Me and one of my roommates use BitTorrent a lot. For new anime, and all kinds of other stuff. I'm connected on the first port of the router, and he is on the 3rd. We both use Azureus and I always have green torrents, and he always has yellow. Azureus says thats a NAT/Firewall problem, except I know that I have forwarded the same port for both of our IPs. Works fine and still downloads for him, but that is just a weird issue that I was never able to fix. I don't even think this router has NAT or a firewall.

I probably want an 8-port router. We only have 4 computers in the house right now, but have the need for another every once in a while so I figure I should plan ahead. But if you feel that the best router out there is a 4-port, don't hesitate to recommend that one. Currently the best one I can find looks to be the NETGEAR FVS318.

It has a Firewall and supports 2 different kinds of packet filtering, at least from what I understand. And it seems to get good reviews. I'm not entirely sure how important a firewall will be, and I don't think I will have any need for the VPN capability as I'm not really sure what that is. So if you can think of valid reasons why gamers would need VPN then please let me know. Also, regarding the Security and the Firewall, I don't think my current router has any protection so that is a plus to me. But I don't want it to effect performance too much so if it does then please let me know. Lastly on the Security front, I remember reading somewhere that NETGEAR actually included a back door in some of their routers, and I think I saw this on TechTV a long time ago as well. It might have been D-Link. Basically there was another way to get into the router remotely and there was always the same password that was put in from the factory. Was this fixed with firmware?? Or does anyone have more info on this.

I'm also worried because a lot of the specs I've seen this router only has a 10 Mbps WAN port. Thats fine for now since I only get 6 Mbps with Comcast, but that would probably be a problem in a couple years. At least I hope it would be, with FIOS rolling out and everything. Can anyone confirm if its limited to 10 Mbps?? Because I think that would be a contributing factor.

I'm not sure about buying another Linksys because of the weird issues I seem to have with this one. First, why would they have new firmware that only creates problems and doesn't fix them?? Seems pretty stupid, so any way unless you can recommend another Linksys and are familiar with them, and also know that those were issues only with their old hardware, I'll probably stay away from them.

Other then that, what kind of recommendations can you folks here make for me?? I'm sorry for the long post, but I've been doing a lot of research on the net and I'm just not able to find a single router that doesn't have at least a few people saying bad things about. Thanks for your time, I know its a long post.

 

[AMDZen]

Surely someone has some input to add?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: AMDZen
I currently use an old Linksys 4-port router. I found out after moving into my new home, with roommates that I think this router kind of sucks. At first we were having huge connection problems while gaming online, mostly just with CS:S. I went back to an older firmware, like 2-3 years old now and its working better - but I still think its time to get a new one. The other problem we still have with this one is with Port Forwarding. Me and one of my roommates use BitTorrent a lot. For new anime, and all kinds of other stuff. I'm connected on the first port of the router, and he is on the 3rd. We both use Azureus and I always have green torrents, and he always has yellow. Azureus says thats a NAT/Firewall problem, except I know that I have forwarded the same port for both of our IPs. Works fine and still downloads for him, but that is just a weird issue that I was never able to fix. I don't even think this router has NAT or a firewall.

Use different ports. The option is available in Azahoweveryouspellit. That's what my brother and I do.

I probably want an 8-port router. We only have 4 computers in the house right now, but have the need for another every once in a while so I figure I should plan ahead. But if you feel that the best router out there is a 4-port, don't hesitate to recommend that one. Currently the best one I can find looks to be the NETGEAR FVS318.

It doesn't matter, you can expand with a switch.

I'm also worried because a lot of the specs I've seen this router only has a 10 Mbps WAN port. Thats fine for now since I only get 6 Mbps with Comcast, but that would probably be a problem in a couple years. At least I hope it would be, with FIOS rolling out and everything. Can anyone confirm if its limited to 10 Mbps?? Because I think that would be a contributing factor.

Unless things have changed recently, most of them have 10mbit ports on the outside.

The firewall issue is kind of moot. The one you have uses NAT and that should keep most of the baddies out.

Pretty much all SOHO NAT devices are about the same.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Use an old system and install smoothwall on it.

 

[AMDZen]

OK so with the old system idea. Would I just use 2 NIC cards, one WAN (connected to the modem) and one LAN (connected to a switch)? And then from the switch to all the PCs?

I kind of like that idea, unfortunetely, I don't have many old parts that I could use. I would also want to find the smallest possible case for the PC since it would simply be the mobo, proc and 2 nic cards. Also I would only need a floppy on this comp right? What about logging everything with Smoothwall? Is it set up to forward logs on the LAN? And lastly, will it do that with windows machnies (forward logs). I have linux on my secondary machine, but all my roommates use windows.

 

[imported_Kensai]

My router is a system with onboard LAN and 5 nics for a 5 port router. I normally use either Smoothwall or ClarkConnect. I like having a CD-ROM in the system for emergencies.

 

[n0cmonkey]

You should have a hard drive. Clarkconnect and smoothwall are huge monstrosities. Use a switch, it's a better idea than a bunch of NICs. The logs would probably be kept on the system, unless you setup a remote syslog server.

One of those SOHO NAT boxes would be cheaper, use less electricity, be smaller, and you could get one with wireless for future upgradability.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
You should have a hard drive. Clarkconnect and smoothwall are huge monstrosities. Use a switch, it's a better idea than a bunch of NICs. The logs would probably be kept on the system, unless you setup a remote syslog server.

One of those SOHO NAT boxes would be cheaper, use less electricity, be smaller, and you could get one with wireless for future upgradability.

Easier way to do it.