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wireless router recommendations?

E

eLiu

Diamond Member
Hi all,
I need to pick up a wireless router for my apartment. There will be 3 people living there, and 6-8 computers, at least 3 of which we will want to connect with a wire. The internet will be provided by comcast (cable). Also, is wireless-N worth it when no one currently has an N card?

Budget: ~$60 (100 max)
OSs: WinXP, Vista, Ubuntu Linux
Other req's: must play nice with an ethernet switch

Also, I saw a Linksys-Cisco WRT54GL router that advertises compatibility with linux. Do you really need something special for linux?? That seems suspect to me. Other than that, I've seen many people with the basic WRT54G model, but the WRT54G2 seems to get better reviews. I don't really know anything about the other mfrs though (besides avoid netgear).

-Eric

moved from Off Topic
moderator allisolm
 
How much will you be transferring between computers within the apartment? Because N won't do anything for your Internet speed when G is already faster than your Internet connection.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
How much will you be transferring between computers within the apartment? Because N won't do anything for your Internet speed when G is already faster than your Internet connection.
Click to expand...

A lot. One computer will be a file-server which will house a lot of big files (i.e. video). But currently no one has a wireless-N card because the dorm we were in was wireless-B. Doesn't mean we can't get them in the future though.
 
I just bought a WRT54G v8.2 and installed DD-WRT (v24, micro) on it. No one has a wireless N card in my apartment, and even if they do, we are not sharing files over the network.

Are any of you guys going to be buying a wireless N card? If not, don't bother and just get a cheaper G router and install a 3rd-party firmware (Tomato or DD-WRT) on it for more filtering, QoS, (etc) options than the stock firmwares provide.
 
Originally posted by: eLiu
Originally posted by: mugs
How much will you be transferring between computers within the apartment? Because N won't do anything for your Internet speed when G is already faster than your Internet connection.
Click to expand...

A lot. One computer will be a file-server which will house a lot of big files (i.e. video). But currently no one has a wireless-N card because the dorm we were in was wireless-B. Doesn't mean we can't get them in the future though.
Click to expand...

If you're streaming that video, you probably don't need N. Perhaps if you're streaming HD video, I really don't know what you need for that. But G is adequate for SD video.

If you're frequently moving stuff between PCs and timeliness is important, N may be worthwhile.
 
Originally posted by: eLiu But currently no one has a wireless-N card because the dorm we were in was wireless-B. Doesn't mean we can't get them in the future though.
Click to expand...

There is Not Wireless-N there is Draft-N.

So you get it now when you do not need it/

Then, in the future when you do need it, might be that the real N would be out, and your Draft would have some Drafty problems.

 
Ok sounds good.

Is there any reason to get the WRT54G2 over the WRT54G? The reviews for the former seem somewhat better, but I don't have any experience.

Also, sorry about the wrong forum. I have several AT tabs open and didn't check, lol.
 
Originally posted by: eLiu
Ok sounds good.

Is there any reason to get the WRT54G2 over the WRT54G? The reviews for the former seem somewhat better, but I don't have any experience.

Also, sorry about the wrong forum. I have several AT tabs open and didn't check, lol.
Click to expand...

Not really any benefit going to the G2 router. I'd choose between the WRT54G or the GL edition. The GL is better for having more onboard memory and allows you to use the full version of DD-WRT instead of just the micro version as you would be forced to use on the WRT54G (though, the micro edition is more than enough for my needs as it still has a tremendous amount of adjustable features of stock firmware).
 
Does the Zyxel 550 need to be flashed as well? If so, I don't see it on the dd-wrt page... is zyxel an alias for another mfr?

Edit: If Zyxel doesn't require flashing, is the stock firmware as full-featured as dd-wrt?

Edit 2: holy crap there are a TON of "power supply failed" reviews on newegg. Nowhere close to that many on amazon, lol. Is the apparently faulty power supply enough reason to get the WRT54GL over the 550?
 
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