Router: Looking for a SOHO / high-ish-end consumer router

[VerumSeeker]

Am looking for a new router. Currently have an ancient Linksys BEFSR41, but my space is getting used more as a SOHO and less as a home-only. Most of my house is wired but there are a few rooms that require wireless so I'd like to go ahead and upgrade to a wireless even though the wireless capability will be rarely used (I suppose guests might be the primary users of the wireless functionality).
- Would like to get the current standard (802.11n) and WPA2.
- Would like at least one 10/100/1000 WAN port (I know that the 1000 on the WAN side is wasted at this point, but do not want to buy another router next year if something suddenly changes on the WAN side) and at least four (4) 10/100/1000 LAN ports (although eight (8) ports would be better).
- Needs to work with an Arris TM601A cable modem and with a Netgear GS108 Gigabit Switch supporting three laptops running Windows XP and Windows 7 as well as four desktops running Windows XP (running mostly 11g cards at this point--upgrading soon).
- Am also planning to add a media server (primarily for videos) in the coming months and want the router to support DLNA. Would like the router to have at least one USB port and support NTFS drives.
- And would like dual-band with good range/speed (but does not have to reach the very last millimeter at the very fastest speed that the standard supports--I do not need bleeding edge--just want something that is good-plus with no drops).
- Don't care how it looks as it will be out of sight in the basement.
- May eventually want support for printer, but that is optional and may not be truly needed.
- Would also like to get something that will accomodate the 3rd party firmware (DD-WRT) that seems to be popular (am not 100% sure on this one, but it seems pervasive in comments from experts).
- Would like to stay under $150, but if that is impossible, feel free to tell me.

Am a tiny bit concerned about buying a Cisco product given recent announcements about their supoport for consumer products, but if this concern is unwarranted, feel free to tell me.

Am not 100% sure what else to look for? I am not a professinal Network Admionistrator, but am also not a computer novice. In summary, NOT looking for the absolute latest-and-greatest-cost-is-no-factor-state-of-the-art unit, but rather one that near the top of the heap and has good-plus stats and a strong track record of stable performance.

Would appreciate your advice and pointers to exhaustive and authoritiative comparative reviews.

 

[Mojonba]

I would suggest a Cisco-Linksys e4200 for $180 if price is no object and you need the fastest throughput at the longest range.

If the $180 is to much I would get a Cisco e3000 (replaced with the e3200). It is an older model but has all the features you need with decent performance.

I wouldn't worry about cisco financial issues or the fact that they may sell the consumer products division as the hardware itself is well designed and recognized in the open source community. The e3000 is DD-wrt/Tomato supported. The e4200 is not supported yet but it may be because of its limited/ supply high cost.

I suggest you visit www.smallnetbuilder.com for reviews.

 

[Specop 007]

We've had good luck with ZyXel products. Not sure of something right off the top of my head that fits your needs though.

 

[amheck]

I'm not sure if the Netgear meets all of OP's requirements, but that's the one (WDNR3700 or 3800) I was kinda thinking about. Although the Cisco looks nice, too.

 

[Freezetron]

My Dlink 4300 finally gave up after 6.5 years of rock solid service, well the AC adapter anyway and I cannot find one that will do 5 volts at 2.5 amps, whata crock Dlink

Research and researched for a replacement and finally picked up a Linksys E3000 at local costco for $120. Other then running real warm under bittorrent loads, its been working good with newest firmware.

I don't have desire or need to flash my routers with different firmware for them to work well, but thats just me.

The E4200 is tempting as it is a bit more of a powerhouse, though I personally have no need for top end wireless, just throughput and max connections

 

[Emulex]

yeh i just got a refurb e4200 with ae1000 usb stick for $119 shipped from cisco refurb. just ask any cisco employee for a 30% off coupon. i'm not sure if i'm going to keep it - it seems to be lacking in dd-wrt support like my WRT600N

 

[Freezetron]

Umm yah, thats been known for awhile.

 

[Emulex]

n/m

 

[Texashiker]

Am a tiny bit concerned about buying a Cisco product given recent announcements about their supoport for consumer products, but if this concern is unwarranted, feel free to tell me.

I just bought a Cisco 540 series wireless router, and I have mixed opinions on it.

For example:

There is no way to turn off the DHCP server, except through command line. Now what idiot decided to leave off a way to disable to DHCP server on a business class wireless router? The designers didn't think a business network would already have a DHCP server running?

There is a dual WAN feature built into the operating system software, but not 2 wan ports?

The WAN port is a little confusing to setup. It has all of these settings that a small business is not going to need for dsl or cable modem.

As far as I am concerned, get a SOHO class netgear device.