Best DD-WRT compatible router

[boomhower]

After a while with Apple routers I've had to go back DD-WRT. Currently with a Linksys E4200 V1. While it works fine the range sucks and performance isn't that great in general. It must work well with DD-WRT with no major issues.

 

[Drummerdude]

I've used a bunch of wrt54g's, and always had really good experience with them. Personally, I try to use the version 8's, only because they're a bit better build quality than the version 3, and I've had the best success with the version 8's, but yeah, the wrt54g is a great router. Otherwise, there's lotttssss of information on dd-wrt's website about which routers work best for each person. Remember, dd-wrt was made to handle a great variety of needs, and lots of people have spent lots of time and money finding which router works best for which need. Take for instance, I use my dd-wrt's primarily for bridging and repeaters, and the 54g's work best, in my experience, for that. Others use dd-wrt for creating mesh networks, with the mesh version of dd-wrt, and routers that have been tested to work best in those situations.

 

[JackMDS]

If there was a BEST, every body will know and there would not be a need for forums.

If you want a unit that is a little better than the E4200 for reasonable price.

http://www.amazon.com/RT-N66U-Dual-B.../dp/B006QB1RPY

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Asus_RT-N66U

 

[Drummerdude]

Also, just to add a preconfigured device to the list, I've also seen some very solid performance from the buffalo n300. It looks like garbage ( http://www.amazon.com/BUFFALO-AirSta...buffalo+dd-wrt ) but man, does it perform.

 

[boomhower]

I've used a bunch of wrt54g's, and always had really good experience with them. Personally, I try to use the version 8's, only because they're a bit better build quality than the version 3, and I've had the best success with the version 8's, but yeah, the wrt54g is a great router. Otherwise, there's lotttssss of information on dd-wrt's website about which routers work best for each person. Remember, dd-wrt was made to handle a great variety of needs, and lots of people have spent lots of time and money finding which router works best for which need. Take for instance, I use my dd-wrt's primarily for bridging and repeaters, and the 54g's work best, in my experience, for that. Others use dd-wrt for creating mesh networks, with the mesh version of dd-wrt, and routers that have been tested to work best in those situations.

That's a big step back from what I have. I've used those in the past and they were great routers, just past their prime for a primary home router.

If there was a BEST, every body will know and there would not be a need for forums.

If you want a unit that is a little better than the E4200 for reasonable price.

http://www.amazon.com/RT-N66U-Dual-B.../dp/B006QB1RPY

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Asus_RT-N66U

Agreed best can be subjective. I need range and throughput. Transferring to my media player is about 2-4 as long as it was with the Airport Extreme with the E4200. Range is also drastically reduced so that's what I am aiming to improve. I had been looking at the N66 and figured it was going to be the choice but wanted to see if anything else was out there I should consider. I've been a Linksys guy since, well the 54G, but seems most of their newer ones aren't DD-WRT compatible.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If there was a BEST, every body will know and there would not be a need for forums.

If you want a unit that is a little better than the E4200 for reasonable price.

http://www.amazon.com/RT-N66U-Dual-B.../dp/B006QB1RPY

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Asus_RT-N66U

I have the 802.11ac version of that router. (RT-AC66U) and it's a solid piece of hardware, so I'll second that.

 

[s44]

DD-WRT is a mess I wouldn't recommend to anyone at this point. And the 4200v1 has great range.

Put Victek's Tomato (forum thread) on it. Crank the power to 60+ if necessary.

If you need more juice you really should get a standalone AP.

 

[boomhower]

I have the 802.11ac version of that router. (RT-AC66U) and it's a solid piece of hardware, so I'll second that.

I'd like the AC version but DD-WRT isn't there yet and I'm not upgraded my MBP to an AC for a couple years so looks like I'm going with the N66 unless something else pops up.

 

[Rinaun]

I just replaced my 4200v1 with an asus 66u; for wireless applications the speed difference is pretty noticeable. I'd highly recommend the asus 66-68 and the stock firmware over using DD-WRT with any other router.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'd like the AC version but DD-WRT isn't there yet and I'm not upgraded my MBP to an AC for a couple years so looks like I'm going with the N66 unless something else pops up.

You could replace the airport card with a newer (compatible) one. They're just mPCI-E, iirc.

 

[s44]

I just replaced my 4200v1 with an asus 66u; for wireless applications the speed difference is pretty noticeable. I'd highly recommend the asus 66-68 and the stock firmware over using DD-WRT with any other router.

Which 66u? People have mentioned both the N and AC versions. The Asus stock firmware is based on OpenWRT and is about the only decent one. For tweaks it's not as versatile as Merlin or Tomato though.

 

[JackMDS]

The 802.ac has some minor increase in LAN transfer Speed (Which does not merit the big price difference over the a/b/g/n version).

If one is engaged in huge Wireless transfers of files through his Network computers it might be that ac would save few minutes a day in such transfers.

 

[Lat]

Both the NETGEAR R7000 & ASUS RT-AC68U are the latest and the greatest AC routers ("best") and have great dev support for DD-WRT.

I'm currently running the R7000 without any issues on DD-WRT, and easily doubled the throughput I had compared to my old N300 router.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...1900-first-look-netgear-r7000-a-asus-rt-ac68u

 

[ccbadd]

Which 66u? People have mentioned both the N and AC versions. The Asus stock firmware is based on OpenWRT and is about the only decent one. For tweaks it's not as versatile as Merlin or Tomato though.

Asuswrt is based on TomatoUSB, not Openwrt. Merlin on an Asus router is SOOO much more stable than DD-WRT.

 

[boomhower]

Looks like the N66U is the winner. I'll do AC later on down the road when I have some AC devices to use.

 

[crashtestdummy]

The 802.ac has some minor increase in LAN transfer Speed (Which does not merit the big price difference over the a/b/g/n version).

If one is engaged in huge Wireless transfers of files through his Network computers it might be that ac would save few minutes a day in such transfers.

The bigger reason to go with AC is if you live in a WiFi-congested area, like an urban apartment complex. There are likely a lot fewer routers around you running on 5GHz than at 2.4GHz.

 

[riahc3]

I have great range on a couple of TP-Link routers I have.

Stock pretty much sucks but DD-WRT is another story.

Also check your channels....you might be colliding with another network and causing interference will lower you range.

 

[JackMDS]

The bigger reason to go with AC is if you live in a WiFi-congested area, like an urban apartment complex. There are likely a lot fewer routers around you running on 5GHz than at 2.4GHz.

Yap, that right Dual Band but it has nothing to do with ac per-se. The a/b/g/n Wireless Router do Dual Band as well.

A/B/G/N Wireless Router, the A means Dual Band that does 5GHZ too.

AC is extends the MIMO working of the A/G/N from 4 streams to 8. Which is "Cramming" more bandwidth onto the same signal as N. It generating slightly more Bandwidth and has nothing to do with Dual band per-se.

As a result in many circumstances there is No reason to pay for AC a premium price over the A/G/N Dual band.

The AC should not cost more than $5 over the A/G/N. However in the higher End Consumer market it goes for $50-$80 more.

 

[boomhower]

Congestion isn't an issue, three other networks in the area. It's just the E4200 either doesn't have the juice or is dying out, at any rate doesn't have near the coverage the Airport Extreme does.