Updating router. Need suggestions.

[Coldkilla]

I have a Linksys WRT54GS router that is around 5+ years old. We have two computers, an Xbox360 that plays Netflix and online games, two laptops, two Wifi iPods, and an internet connected Blu-ray player with Youtube. Both computers are often engaged in long hours of heavy online gaming.

I was wondering if purchasing a new router would be beneficial. If so, could yall name any suggestions?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Are there problems running with the current router? If so, then upgrade. Otherwise, be happy everything is running.

You could upgrade to a WNR2000, and install DD-WRT if yours is "v2". Newegg had them recertified for $20 + ship last month, but the price has increased to $32.

There is also an Asus RT-10+ or something like that that is an N router that supports DD-WRT, that one is around $25 new.

 

[Coldkilla]

The router is v6.

The speed of the internet slows down throughout the day sometimes. About once a day the internet connection drops entirely for about 30 seconds. Multiple speed tests have shown our 10mb/s connection drop to 0.41mb/s. Connecting to the modem shows little to no drop off.

Aside from that, what (if any) are the benefits to upgrading from a WRT54GS v6 to something else?

 

[Emulex]

i'd separate your process to modem(Cable/dsl) -> router-> switch -> AP

i am happy with the buffalo 2.4ghz airstation (WZR) $62 - rocking the stock buffalo firmware for 300mbps of 802.11n - solid lock @ 300 all day long. they have a 3 antenna model now that does 450mbps but i have no clients - more antennas can improve the signal regardless.

output of power without hacking is 843mw - the wrt54gs is probably 80mw?

$15 gigabit 8 port switch behind your current router
some cat5e/cat6 to position airstation to a great location
$62/84 airstation 2.4ghz (using stock buffalo firmware) for 300/450 802.11n.

solid setup. copying from one windows pc to another over wifi (300megabit usb adapter) is about 16.5megabytes/sec @ 300 connection . I suspect i could hit 25 with the 450megabit one but those usb sticks cost a little more than $12 (wusb600n-refurb)