What is the best consumer Wireless router for the money?

[jamerdean]

I will be building a network for my home that will have 2 pIII comps, a high level P4 class comp and 2 laptops, I need a router that will support high level gaming (world of warcraft) and at least 3 other computers at the same time. want to spend about $100.00 ish

thanks for any advice

jam

 

[kzrssk]

Bump for also wanting opinions on best consumer wireless router out now.

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162168

 

[skyking]

That's not the router Jack

This is

 

[Mucker]

Bang for buck

Use DD-WRT or Tornato

 

[jamerdean]

what is DD_WRT or Tornato????
jam

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3F

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/In...HP-G54.2C_WZR-HP-G54.2C_and_WZR-RS-G54

 

[mad0maxx]

I do not get it... why is that Buffalo router so great? I mean you gotta flash a third party firmware on it to make it great right? But overall why does it make it great versus all other routers in the market? Just curious...

 

[InlineFive]

I think you need a DLink DGL-4300 GaMiNg router for your "high level uber twink computer" and "high level gaming" needs.

 

[mad0maxx]

I had that router and the damn thign kept reseting over and over in my house though in two other houses it worked perfectly fine...

What is funny though I have had numerous linksys products that have never had that problem at all...

 

[xgsound]

Originally posted by: mad0maxx
I do not get it... why is that Buffalo router so great? I mean you gotta flash a third party firmware on it to make it great right? But overall why does it make it great versus all other routers in the market? Just curious...

Both Buffalo models do a lot (including bridge mode) with no alteration. Both models accept a full (they have enough memory) 3rd party firmware update if you desire, and it can be reversed.

The "normal" power is now $25 A/R at Circut City which is (mine was $40 6 months ago and worth it) dirt cheap. The HP model takes a low signal to noise signal and boosts it for $59 for a strong, clean signal. Please notice both models at Newegg has a >70% excellent user rating.


Jim

 

[mad0maxx]

Originally posted by: xgsound

Originally posted by: mad0maxx
I do not get it... why is that Buffalo router so great? I mean you gotta flash a third party firmware on it to make it great right? But overall why does it make it great versus all other routers in the market? Just curious...

Both Buffalo models do a lot (including bridge mode) with no alteration. Both models accept a full (they have enough memory) 3rd party firmware update if you desire, and it can be reversed.

The "normal" power is now $25 A/R at Circut City which is (mine was $40 6 months ago and worth it) dirt cheap. The HP model takes a low signal to noise signal and boosts it for $59 for a strong, clean signal. Please notice both models at Newegg has a >70% excellent user rating.


Jim

So how does the two models you are talking about match up to the higher models that Buffalo offers? I think they are called the nfiniti series or something like that? Why would anyone want to buy the higher level model when the lower level model does the same exact thing disreguarding that it is draft N.

 

[Nnyan]

Another vote for the DGL-4300 I love this router.

 

[Rottie]

if you know how to upload firmware to router the right thing that's good but for me not worth because I uploaded DD-WRT firmware to linksys wrt54g v3.0 very carefully and it works just fine then i made some change to configuation setting and reboot it becomes BRICK. No one want to buy bricked wrt54g router anymore now I don't have any router anymore.
So just be careful when you upload to any router.

 

[Mucker]

Originally posted by: mad0maxx

Originally posted by: xgsound

Originally posted by: mad0maxx
I do not get it... why is that Buffalo router so great? I mean you gotta flash a third party firmware on it to make it great right? But overall why does it make it great versus all other routers in the market? Just curious...

Both Buffalo models do a lot (including bridge mode) with no alteration. Both models accept a full (they have enough memory) 3rd party firmware update if you desire, and it can be reversed.

The "normal" power is now $25 A/R at Circut City which is (mine was $40 6 months ago and worth it) dirt cheap. The HP model takes a low signal to noise signal and boosts it for $59 for a strong, clean signal. Please notice both models at Newegg has a >70% excellent user rating.


Jim

So how does the two models you are talking about match up to the higher models that Buffalo offers? I think they are called the nfiniti series or something like that? Why would anyone want to buy the higher level model when the lower level model does the same exact thing disreguarding that it is draft N.

That is the point.........

A $30 router that behaves like a high end end router. The key is the Broadcom chip inside. DD-WRT unlocks it's full potential providing excellent bang for buck.

I couldn't be happier with mine...

 

[xgsound]

mad0maxx : The cheap Buffalo does (minimal wireless requirement) everything I need, and for $25 it's an even better deal. Draft N is said to have better range with like equipment, but it's draft. There is no standard yet. Once N is finalized, I expect all draftN devices to become orphans. I would only consider it when they've finalized it unless I had a specific need for the range that can't be achieved with the cheaper HPg version and a repeater/ access point.


Jim

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Rottie
if you know how to upload firmware to router the right thing that's good but for me not worth because I uploaded DD-WRT firmware to linksys wrt54g v3.0 very carefully and it works just fine then i made some change to configuation setting and reboot it becomes BRICK. No one want to buy bricked wrt54g router anymore now I don't have any router anymore.
So just be careful when you upload to any router.

There HAS to be a recovery for it to find and load an image, no?

Normally it works by holding some button for a specific period of time, setting up a TFTP server with an exact address and exact file name and the device loads that image.

 

[JackMDS]

I think that the Buffalo situation right now is a good example to the silly perception of ?Linksys good, D-Link so so, Netgear sux, etc., and Vice Versa.

There is No one Brand that is better as a Brand than the others. There is models in each Brand that might be better than comparable models of other Brand..

The preN line of Buffalo (like the rest of the pre-N) is expensive hardware that deliver very little, and should be avoided together with all the others pre-N devices. The sole purpose of the pre-N is to churn up market and sales until the ?self interested parties? would be able agree on the final 802.11n standard.

Mark my words, in about 6-8 months when the real 802.11n hardware would be available this (and other) forums would be flooded with posters ?shading tears? and anger about their ?duds? pre-N.

On the other hand the two 8021.11g Buffalo Routers that are mentioned all over this thread are inexpensive, very stable, out of the box rich with features, and can be made richer with DD-WRT.

In contrast the Linksys WRT54G sux out of the box but can be made better with DD-WRT.

The $59 High Power Router provides comparable or better coverage than most pre-N, it can do WDS and Client modes (none of the pre-N can).

I can find few more thing but ?nough said it is a free market and each one can buy whatever he likes and complain later for free too.

 

[jamerdean]

I appreciate all of the help ppl, thanks. it's given me some good info on the routers

jam

 

[JohnDoe2]

Originally posted by: Rottie
if you know how to upload firmware to router the right thing that's good but for me not worth because I uploaded DD-WRT firmware to linksys wrt54g v3.0 very carefully and it works just fine then i made some change to configuation setting and reboot it becomes BRICK. No one want to buy bricked wrt54g router anymore now I don't have any router anymore.
So just be careful when you upload to any router.

Tomato seems to be a little safer. DD-WRT uses some "unusual" NVRAM methods so it is more prone to accidents.

I'm using Tomato now, after flashing over Sveasoft Alchemy 1.0, and it has significantly improved the performance of my wrt54g. No more lockups, or stalling that I had with Sveasoft or the vanilla Linksys firmware.

http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato

 

[mad0maxx]

I see your point where you can take the low priced router and flash it with a third party firmware and make it like a high end router I just do not like the thought if bricking my router... like someone said... it is for some but not for all ;-) But thanks for explaining it for me

 

[Mucker]

This is the procedure I used to flash to DD-WRT on my WHR-G54S. Followed this post to a tee and it went very well.

Originally posted by: PuvMan

Did mine tonight, works great, no bricks (goodbye Linksys!). Here is my procedure for the $39 Buffalo WHR-G54S, adapted from the Wiki: (step-by-step, looks more complicated than it is)

1. Download the standard generic firmware: (dd-wrt.v23_generic.bin)

a. Go here: DD-WRT Download Area
b. Click on "dd-wrt.v23 SP2"
c. Click on "standard"
d. Click on "dd-wrt.v23_generic.bin" to download (3.3mb)
e. Save to C:
* v23 SP2 will not always be the most current version; just update the folder and filenames to reflect whichever is newest (v23 SP3, v24, etc.). Also, do NOT use anything prior to SP1 on a Buffalo router!

2. Configure your computer: (I used Windows XP)

a. Disable wireless connection (if you have one)
b. Close anti-virus and firewall applications
c. Plug in network cable (to connect to the router later)
d. Open TCP/IP Network settings (Network Neighborhood > View Network Connections > Local Area Connection > Internet Protocol (TCP/IP))
e. Select "use the following IP address" and set the IP address to "192.168.11.2", Subnet mask to "255.255.255.0" and leave the Default gateway blank

3. Configure your router:

a. Reset to factory defaults (if you just bought it you are good to go)
b. Unplug power cable
c. Plug in network cable from PC to a LAN port (not WAN)

4. Flash firmware:

a. Open the Command Prompt (Start > Run > "cmd" to open)
b. Go to the C:\ by typing "cd c:\"
c. Type this in BUT don't press enter yet: "tftp -i 192.168.11.1 PUT dd-wrt.v23_generic.bin"
d. Hit enter and then plug in the power cable to the router This needs to be done nearly simultaneously to work. If it doesn't work the first time, keep trying until it does.
e. The LAN port will start flashing (the green LED by the Ethernet cable)
f. Wait a minute or two for the file to transfer. If you are successful, you will get a message like "Transfer successful: 3502080 bytes in 5 seconds, 700416 bytes/s". If it is not successful, you will get a message saying "Timeout occurred". If this happens you probably plugged in the router's power cable too quickly. There is a small window when the router accepts files to be transferred and you have to hit it just right.

5. Reset the system:

a. Go back into your TCP/IP settings on your PC and set it to "Obtain IP address automatically" instead of "Use the following IP address"
b. Reset the router by unplugging it and plugging it back in
c. Log into the router by pointing your browser to 192.168.1.1
d. Immediately change the password (default username is "root" and password is "admin")

That's it, now enjoy! Basically you are just transferring the new firmware to the router. Easy as pie.

 

[yuppiejr]

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I think you need a DLink DGL-4300 GaMiNg router for your "high level uber twink computer" and "high level gaming" needs.

... another vote for the DGL-4300, Frys.com has this for $73.99 SHIPPED right now - an insane price for a router this good.

Item number is 4315795:

http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4315795?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

You're getting 4-port gigabit versus 10/100 with the Buffalo, game optimized QoS and one of the largest numbers of supported concurrent connections (180 versus 64 with the Broadcom based Buffalo/Linksys units) for faster Torrents/fileshares AND no need to goof around with flashing your router's firmware...

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Rottie
if you know how to upload firmware to router the right thing that's good but for me not worth because I uploaded DD-WRT firmware to linksys wrt54g v3.0 very carefully and it works just fine then i made some change to configuation setting and reboot it becomes BRICK. No one want to buy bricked wrt54g router anymore now I don't have any router anymore.
So just be careful when you upload to any router.

There HAS to be a recovery for it to find and load an image, no?

Normally it works by holding some button for a specific period of time, setting up a TFTP server with an exact address and exact file name and the device loads that image.

I have tried that before I have google search and try several method of unbrick no luck...can you fix it for me? no?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: yuppiejr

You're getting 4-port gigabit versus 10/100 with the Buffalo, game optimized QoS and one of the largest numbers of supported concurrent connections (180 versus 64 with the Broadcom based Buffalo/Linksys units) for faster Torrents/fileshares AND no need to goof around with flashing your router's firmware...

Yeah 4 port Giga with No Jumbo Frame.

180 connections instead of 64 is Very Functional, I have 64 people connecting to my home Network and I really miss the feature.

And the Wireless is below mediocre like it is with most 108 Chipsets.

And No WDS or Client mode.

However you have the security in paying more cause you avoid the Flashing.

To be fair I am not saying that the D-Link is not the adequate solution for some people, but fairness means balancing the reality as is.