Recommendations: Linksys WRT54G or Netgear WGR614?

[monkeyboy311]

Linksys WRT54G router is $49 after MIR
and
Netgear WGR614 is $29.99 after MIR

I know that Linksys can do WPA PSK encryption, but I cant find anything on Netgears site about it for the WGR614, only the next model up.

Any recommendations?

 

[airfoil]

They're both excellent buys.

This Netgear offers WPA protection as well - WGR614 you may have missed it.

 

[InlineFive]

The WRT54G offers WPA protection also, and it adds a bonus of being able to use AES encryption.

Both are good buys really, some say the WRT54Gs antenna is weaker but it works fine for me.

 

[monkeyboy311]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
The WRT54G offers WPA protection also, and it adds a bonus of being able to use AES encryption.

Both are good buys really, some say the WRT54Gs antenna is weaker but it works fine for me.

really? I thought the antenna would be better since they have (2) as opposed to (1) on the Netgear.

I also read the Linksys antenna is detachable. Is this a key feature to get on a router? Would I ever need to replace it?

 

[silverpig]

I can't speak for the Netgear, but I have the Linksys and like it a lot. You can get 3rd party firmware that adds a lot of features and you can increase the transmission power out of it a lot. Detachable antennas make it easy to upgrade them if you really want to increase your range. Some people claim to be able to surf the net over a block away from their houses with upgraded antennae and custom firmware.

I've got some custom firmware on mine and upped the transmission power, but haven't tested the range yet.

 

[Green Man]

I have a Netgear WGR614, and I am disappointed that I got this one instead of the Linksys. Finally, there is now support for WPA using windows 2000, it had been only available for XP for a long time. I am having problems staying connected using WPA-SPK, and I think it is interference issues, so it would be a huge benefit if I could put a higher gain antenna on, but I can't. Also, as I understand it, Linksys has released the source code for the firmware on the WRT54G, so now there are hacked BIOSes offering things like increased power to the antenna.

Overall, I wish I had done my homework beforehand. I would have bought the Linksys.

 

[airfoil]

Originally posted by: monkeyboy311

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
The WRT54G offers WPA protection also, and it adds a bonus of being able to use AES encryption.

Both are good buys really, some say the WRT54Gs antenna is weaker but it works fine for me.

really? I thought the antenna would be better since they have (2) as opposed to (1) on the Netgear.

I also read the Linksys antenna is detachable. Is this a key feature to get on a router? Would I ever need to replace it?

If it really did matter that much, I suspect all manufacturers would have put in 2 antennas.

Why would you need to detach an antenna?

 

[bocamojo]

I have the NetGear WGT624 and it rocks! I replaced my old Linksys BEFW11S4 and it totally surpassed all my expectations. I get 108Mbps connection speeds with my laptop pretty much anywhere in the house. The range is at least 4 times as good as my old Linksys. I had even replaced the Linksys antennas with the 25 dollar extended range version, and the NetGear still puts it to shame as far as range and reliability of connection. Also, the NetGear has a stateful inspection firewall + NAT firewall, which is better than the NAT only firewall I had on my Linksys. The reason I had to replace my Linksys in the first place was a failed firmware flash, so I wouldn't rely too heavily on doing that very often as a means of improving performance, because it can turn out bad once in awhile. I know... Also, price wise, this version is a little more expensive than what you're looking at, but not that much. I bought both the router and the matching pc card from Staples for 90 dollars after rebates, so not a bad deal at all. I am happy that I made the switch from Linksys to NetGear.

Here's a link relating to NetGear's SPI, or stateful packet inspection, capabilities:

http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/N100404.asp

The NetGear WGT624 is 49 bucks at amazon.com after 20 dollar mail in rebate:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de...0000C0XS0/103-5955475-1392629?v=glance

P.S. Also, I have WPA-PSK encryption running on my NetGear 624 and my laptop's WG511T card with no problems. Even with enycryption setup, I can still connect at 108Mpbs, which is nice. For the money, this is one great wireless router.