Linksys Wireless-G Routers

[Bonesdad]

or does it provide some real benefits in either speed or range? Thanks!

 

[skyking]

no range improvement, and the only possible speed increase is file transfers between other computers on your home network, and only if you use the same brand of gear for all computers. Hardly anyone transfers large files on a wireless LAN where a wire can be strung.

The internet will not speed up.

 

[JackMDS]

At close range when every thing is configured correctly a regular 802.11g would yield a Bandwidth (Speed) of 18 to 22 Mb/sec.

The Speed Booster would yield 28-32Mb/sec.

So a gimmick? NO!

Is it worthwhile? A personal call!

 

[HKSturboKID]

On a side note, the Linksys Wireless G has only 16mb memory as to the GS has 32mb.

 

[gwag]

Originally posted by: HKSturboKID
On a side note, the Linksys Wireless G has only 16mb memory as to the GS has 32mb.

well maybe a year ago you would be correct but not today.

 

[Madwand1]

Speedboost is not hardware dependent, so can be enabled on non-GS devices with third-party firmware.

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

If you're going to used third-party firmware, then among the current models, you'd be better off with a WRT54GL or a Buffalo.

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: Madwand1
Speedboost is not hardware dependent, so can be enabled on non-GS devices with third-party firmware.

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

If you're going to used third-party firmware, then among the current models, you'd be better off with a WRT54GL or a Buffalo.

So...I can actually pick up a Buffalo router, install the DD-WRT firmware, enable the Afterburner feature and have the functionality, without paying the extra up front? It also looks like my desktop cards must be "Speedbooster" enabled in order to work (like this one). Is that correct?

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
So...I can actually pick up a Buffalo router, install the DD-WRT firmware, enable the Afterburner feature and have the functionality, without paying the extra up front? It also looks like my desktop cards must be "Speedbooster" enabled in order to work (like this one). Is that correct?

Yes to all points.

BTW, here's another "crazy" option -- the Buffalo router's close to the price of the PCI wireless NIC -- you could get another Buffalo wireless router, install DD-WRT on it, and use it as a wireless client (in "Client Bridge" mode). (Assuming you already have a free wired ethernet port.) A couple of advantages -- (1) you could connect multiple devices to the router (2) you could re-position the router for best signal; the PCI NIC would be limited, and its antennae is often likely to be poorly located behind the computer. Disadvantages are size, slightly more cost for a single computer, power, and firmware installation / warranty risk.

The hard part here is installing DD-WRT properly -- be sure to follow the instructions carefully, and don't panic. There's at least another thread on that here, and sadly, also some posts on "bricked" routers.

 

[JackMDS]

As for the Afterburner issue.

Yeah it can switch On with DD-WRT, but unless you have an Afterburner Client Card, you achieve a negative outcome.

BTW. Every one is very busy with DD-WRT (no a bad idea).

However, a big advantage of the Buffalo Routers is that they have Static DHCP (IP reservation) and WDS/Client mode out of the Box.

I.e. for many people it is even not necessary to become ?Flushing Technicians?.

 

[Bonesdad]

Well, my plan is just to use it for a simple resource sharing network at home...3 computers and an occasional visiting laptop sharing one printer and a data storage drive. My house is old (built in '46) and constructed with lathe and plaster. Don't know how well the wireless will work here, so I was looking for every advantage I could get.

I saw the step by step firmware upgrade in Kaido's thread (DIY $150 Home "Super" Network), and it looks pretty straightforward, though of course, you always are taking a chance.

I'm a complete network noob and an even bigger wireless noob, so I'm not sure I understand what you are saying Madwand1...I would just buy a second Buffalo router and use it as a signal boost to the other PC's? I would still need wireless NIC's for those PC's right?


Jack - that's why I provided a link to the buffalo NIC...is it an "Afterburner" NIC?

 

[marulee]

Well, booster should give range between 22~54Mbps, or higher.
It has to be better than the reqular one.
Not a gimmick, if all the performances suitted properly.

802.11G - 54
super G - 108
802.11N - 300+

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
I'm not sure I understand what you are saying Madwand1...I would just buy a second Buffalo router and use it as a signal boost to the other PC's? I would still need wireless NIC's for those PC's right?

No, and this is one of the best features of DD-WRT and similar firmware -- you can use any compatible router as a wireless client. You'd connect to it using a standard Ethernet wired cable to a local computer, set it into "Client Bridge" mode, and voilà, you have a wireless connection to your main wireless router and the rest of your network.

You can also connect more than one compuer on one side of the house to this, and have them all wirelessly bridge to the rest of the network on the other side of the house without additional wireless adapters.

Here's a good diagram:

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

Jack says that the Buffalo will even do this part out of the box, which would be great.

Edit: The Buffalo has speedboost "125 Mb/s" out of the box as well with compatible devices.

 

[JackMDS]

Buffalo calls it 125 High Speed Mode, this is the matching Card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162112

 

[tallman45]

Originally posted by: gwag

Originally posted by: HKSturboKID
On a side note, the Linksys Wireless G has only 16mb memory as to the GS has 32mb.

well maybe a year ago you would be correct but not today.

The flash memory of the GS was drastically reduced from teh same model a few years ago, but that only affects loading of a new OS.

In real world usage the GS does perform better due to having more main memory, print jobs are spooled, dowloaded files are queued while waiting for HDD writes, etc. But this is only a noticeable difference if there are users on the box. If it is just one person then the performance advantage is minimal

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: tallman45
The flash memory of the GS was drastically reduced from teh same model a few years ago, but that only affects loading of a new OS.

In real world usage the GS does perform better due to having more main memory, print jobs are spooled, dowloaded files are queued while waiting for HDD writes, etc. But this is only a noticeable difference if there are users on the box. If it is just one person then the performance advantage is minimal

In comparison to the current plain-G WRT54G, yes. In comparison to the WRT54GL, no -- that has the same amount of RAM and more flash memory than the GS. BTW, the RAM was also reduced on the GS, which would make an older model GS even more attractive by these measures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G

The Buffalo WHR-G54S has the same RAM, flash memory amounts as the current GL, the version 4 GS, and the plain G versions 4 and earlier -- 16, 4

http://www.dd-wrt.com/shop/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: Madwand1

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
I'm not sure I understand what you are saying Madwand1...I would just buy a second Buffalo router and use it as a signal boost to the other PC's? I would still need wireless NIC's for those PC's right?

No, and this is one of the best features of DD-WRT and similar firmware -- you can use any compatible router as a wireless client. You'd connect to it using a standard Ethernet wired cable to a local computer, set it into "Client Bridge" mode, and voilà, you have a wireless connection to your main wireless router and the rest of your network.

You can also connect more than one computer on one side of the house to this, and have them all wirelessly bridge to the rest of the network on the other side of the house without additional wireless adapters.

Here's a good diagram:

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

Jack says that the Buffalo will even do this part out of the box, which would be great.

Edit: The Buffalo has speedboost "125 Mb/s" out of the box as well with compatible devices.

I see... kind of setting up 2 wired networks connected wirelessly by the routers. I'll keep that in mind, but it's probably a bit more than I need to do, to be honest. I have one MFP, the internet and some storage that I share among these comps. If I were working from home, this would be grand. I'll probably just end up getting the router, see if it works at 125 without the DD-WRT and the high speed wireless PCI cards. My own comp (next to the router) will probably just stay plugged with a cat5 cable.

Thanks for all the help again!

 

[Bonesdad]

OK, one more question...

for a desktop system, would This USR adapter work with the buffalo router???

 

[JackMDS]

It should as regular (I am not sure bout the 125Mb/sec, and it is too expensive.

For the price you can get a second Buffalo Router. flush it and use it as a Client Card.

Since the Router would sit above the system you would get better connection, and you even save $4.

 

[Bonesdad]

There is a $20 rebate with that USR card, but I may just do the router route (lol) anyway.

 

[imported_Ugabuga]

I just bought two Buffalo routers, one the normal version for "client bridge" and the other is the HP version as my AP.

I already flashed both of them with DD-Wrt and now am wondering if enabling Afterburner on both would be at all beneficial? If so, how do you enable the feature on the router acting as the bridge with DD-Wrt?

 

[JackMDS]

The High Power is already on Max. as is. The regular can be set to higher power.

However read this first, http://www.ezlan.net/WHR-HP-G54.html

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: Ugabuga
I just bought two Buffalo routers, one the normal version for "client bridge" and the other is the HP version as my AP.

I already flashed both of them with DD-Wrt and now am wondering if enabling Afterburner on both would be at all beneficial? If so, how do you enable the feature on the router acting as the bridge with DD-Wrt?

I saw an option for this in the wireless settings. Perhaps in the "Advanced" wireless settings. It might be called Afterburner or Speedbooster. This wireless settings should apply to all modes, so there should be no difference between the AP and the bridge.

Would it be beneficial? I'd measure it to decide, using a file transfer or a network throughput tester like iperf. Note that wireless performance itself can be erratic due to varying conditions, so what's fast one day might not be fast the next day.

 

[Bonesdad]

I got 2 of the buffalo routers, in 15 min, the whole thing was up and running very cleanly. I had to get a little help from Buffalo to set the router in bridge mode, but it works like a charm. No need for DD-WRT at this point. I notice no difference coming from wired 10/100.