What would be the number one router to get?

[LW07]

Alright, I currently have this crappy belkin router:

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCa...cess?Product_Id=372043


And I've come to realize that when I have that thing hooked up, my internet slows down considerably compared to when I have my modem hooked straight up to the computer.

For example: a youtube video will load up much faster when i have my modem hooked up directly to the PC compared to when i hook up that router.

Not to mention online gaming on my PS3 is pretty laggy, and I blame the router.

What would be the best router to get?

 

[Brainonska511]

Asus WL-520GU is a good choice. Plus, it's compatible with Tomato or DD-WRT if you want the additional features found in a 3rd-party firmware.

 

[LW07]

How is that Asus router compared to the D-link DGL 4100/4300 and 4500 gamer routers?

 

[Brainonska511]

I wouldn't know.

 

[kevnich2]

Those "gaming" routers are mainly just a higher priced router that has a higher price tag and is put out for marketing, that's all it is. If you get DDWRT firmware (don't know about tomato) it will run the same as those so called gaming routers but without the $200 price tag

 

[JackMDS]

Some of the gamer Routers also brag with Giga capable Switch.

In most of these Router the switch is bellow avarge and fot the cost difference a good Giga Switch and plug it to a good Router.

 

[Tarrant64]

It's got some other features though that not 'all' routers have and tries to make the use of them easier. "Gamefuel" for example. I have a DGL-4300 wireless and it's not too bad. Has worked well for the past 3-4 years, however I've seen the benchmarks for some other routers and it's not really at the top of the field. It was good when trying to prioritize games though, etc.

So, they're good, but only get one if you got the cash to burn and don't care about top performance. Otherwise money can really be spent elsewhere. I don't think the DGL-4300 is DD-WRT/Tomato compatible.

 

[ccbadd]

some also have the Ubicon processor with StreamEngine that does improve gaming performance through a hardware and software QOS implementation. The QOS on these processors perform much better then DD-WRT in my experience.

 

[LW07]

so overall what router should i get for top performance?

 

[JackMDS]

AFIAC.

1. Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833162134

Buffalo firmware is Good, so though it is DD-WRT cabale there is No point in Flashing unless you need a feature that is Not in the stock firmware.


2. Asus WL-520GU

This is $45 after Rebate, Free ship. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023

Should be flashed for regular work too.


http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation

If needed.

Qos, http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Quality_of_Service

Bridge Configuration, http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge

-----------------------------
Note 1. None of the Entry Level Router stand well very heavy P2P downloads.

Taking into consideration the big saving on "Questionable Downloads" One can spend few hundreds $$$ on a "real" Wireless Router/AP.

Note 2. The above is my personal solution to the "travesty" of Entry Level Wireless Router.

The solution is in part a product of my environment and other user specific variables.

If One wants ?Best?, One should invest in professional Wireless Hardware the kind that is made by Proxim, Cisco, and others at a cost that is x10 or more than the Entry Level Gizmos.

 

[LW07]

So i guess i just get that buffalo router and I'm good to go from the start? No flashing or anything?

And I've never heard of buffalo, are they good?

I just want a router that won't slow the whole internet down and need to be shut down after just watching youtube videos.

 

[Madwand1]

Have you tried updating the firmware and contacting Belkin?

 

[LW07]

yeah, i've tried updating the firmware.

might just go and get a linksys WRT54GL or something and if it doesn't do the job then take it back.

Linksys is a good brand, right?

 

[LuckyTaxi]

I can vouch for the buffalo tech, they are awesome routers. I never had an issue with them. I took the plunge and installed "tomato" on it, very cool things you can do to it.

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: LW07
So i guess i just get that buffalo router and I'm good to go from the start? No flashing or anything?

And I've never heard of buffalo, are they good?

I just want a router that won't slow the whole internet down and need to be shut down after just watching youtube videos.

Buffalo router is one that works very well with the stock firmware but also works great with the upgraded DDWRT or tomato firmware. If you don't need the extra features of DDWRT or tomato, no real reason to flash it to DDWRT. My vote is for the buffalo (have installed about 12 of them and all are still going strong after...3 years now)

 

[LW07]

And the buffalos are better than linksys routers for things like Xbox Live/PSN?

 

[Arcanedeath]

If you are gaming I'll 2nd the rec for something w/ an Ubicom Streamengine chip, the DGL 4300 has one as does the DIR 655, 825 & the DGL 4500, (all dlink) other brands make routers w/ Ubicom chips, but from my POV for consumer grade stuff they're the best at QOS and priotorizing gaming

sorry my spelling is awful

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: LW07
And the buffalos are better than linksys routers for things like Xbox Live/PSN?

I think they are. Stock linksys firmware just plain sucks. I've got quite a few people who do xbox live and things like that without any problem. The only thing I've noticed that can slow down a good SOHO router are things with a very high level of connections such as P2P or torrenting but I haven't seen a single SOHO router which can handle a high # of these and still stay fast

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: LW07
And the buffalos are better than linksys routers for things like Xbox Live/PSN?

[/quote]

The Wireless Radio performance is like a Ferrari compared to te Linksys Gremlin Radio.

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: LW07
And the buffalos are better than linksys routers for things like Xbox Live/PSN?

The Wireless Radio performance is like a Ferrari compared to te Linksys Gremlin Radio.[/quote]

All thanks to the built-in 250mw amplifier. This makes for a much cleaner, stronger signal. Which for this reason alone, you don't need to actually increase the output of the wifi in the device management console, no need for it at all.

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: kevnich2

Originally posted by: LW07
And the buffalos are better than linksys routers for things like Xbox Live/PSN?

I think they are. Stock linksys firmware just plain sucks. I've got quite a few people who do xbox live and things like that without any problem. The only thing I've noticed that can slow down a good SOHO router are things with a very high level of connections such as P2P or torrenting but I haven't seen a single SOHO router which can handle a high # of these and still stay fast

And even with DDWRT, linksys routers would suck? I asked on another forum about a router for Xbox live and they all said to get a linksys.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: LW07

Originally posted by: kevnich2

Originally posted by: LW07
And the buffalos are better than linksys routers for things like Xbox Live/PSN?

I think they are. Stock linksys firmware just plain sucks. I've got quite a few people who do xbox live and things like that without any problem. The only thing I've noticed that can slow down a good SOHO router are things with a very high level of connections such as P2P or torrenting but I haven't seen a single SOHO router which can handle a high # of these and still stay fast

And even with DDWRT, linksys routers would suck? I asked on another forum about a router for Xbox live and they all said to get a linksys.

It depends on the router. I had a Linksys WRT54G v8.2 with dd-wrt on it and it was pretty mediocre for 5 people using it. No heavy p2p traffic, just meh.

The WRT54GL is a better router than the 54G, but it's more expensive and for that price, you might as well get the Asus or Buffalo router (which are both better than the GL).

 

[ccbadd]

I would recommend the ZyXel X-550 or X-550N. Both do QOS very well with factory firmware, with the X-550 using the Ubicom processor. I have used many of these (X-550) for family members who are not very techie and never get calls because of router issues. It gets great coverage and never needs a reboot.

 

[boomhower]

Best QoS I have used is with Tomato on the WRT54GL. It worked much better than DD-WRT did. If I was buying now I would give strong consideration to the Asus as well.

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: boomhower
Best QoS I have used is with Tomato on the WRT54GL. It worked much better than DD-WRT did. If I was buying now I would give strong consideration to the Asus as well.

Yes, I do think the QOS function on tomato is better than DDWRT. I would probably put the WHR-HP-G54 > Asus WL-500 G Premium v2 > WRT54GL Asus does have 2x more memory on it than the WRT54GL and the Buffalo but the buffalo's wireless is better than any of them due to it's built-in amplifier. All depends on your needs, for the most basic the WRT54GL would do but why not just spend your money on either the Asus or Buffalo which will be better depending on your requirements (better memory or better wireless). Also, the buffalo stock firmware is actually pretty good in of itself as well, just another thing to maybe look at.