Please recommend a good Router

[edro]

My Belkin F5D7230-4 ($40 @ Walmart) router would drop wired internet connection when I was downloading at high levels.

I flashed the BIOS and it seemed to fix it.

Now, I have recently started downloading at high levels again, but through wireless, and it is doing the same thing.
After 5-10min. of >250kb/sec, the wireless drops out and I have to reset the router.

Do I just have a junk router?

Also, what is a decently priced NICE wireless router?
I am sick of these cheap ass DLink, Belkin and Netgear routers screwing up all the time.

 

[kevnich2]

If you want a good router that I know won't fail under high loads is an Asus WL-500 G Premium v2. Nicely priced with great hardware. Flash it with DDWRT and it's a truly awesome & reliable router.

 

[edro]

Can anyone recommend a good G router?

These are all $50 and seem to have good reviews (Compared to my router).

Asus WL-520gU + Tomato or DDWRT Firmware
Actually $40 after rebate.

or

Linksys WRT54G2

or

Linksys WRT54G (Old Style)

 

[beyonddc]

I'm running D-Link DIR-615 version C and it seems like a pretty reliable router. There's not yet a dropped connection but I only had it for 2 days. hehe...

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: edro
Can anyone recommend a good G router?

These are all $50 and seem to have good reviews (Compared to my router).

Asus WL-520gU + Tomato or DDWRT Firmware
Actually $40 after rebate.

or

Linksys WRT54G2

or

Linksys WRT54G (Old Style)

I'd stay away from the WRT54G routers, unless you're going to get the WRT54GL, which is what the WRT54G used to be before v5 rolled around and reduced the available memory on the device.

It's mediocre at best these days, a little better than stock if you put the DD-WRT micro firmware on it, but still not as good as the GL version.

I've heard good things on this forum about the Asus WL-520gu router though. It unfortunately looks like it's jumped ~$20 in price in the last 2 months.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: edro

Asus WL-520gU + Tomato or DDWRT Firmware
Actually $40 after rebate.

Great router when coupled with tomato.

Has been as low as $19.99 AR the last few months.

Tomato with USB support.


If you buy this router and use tomato, just make sure that you use a "ND" (New Driver) version of tomato as regular tomato will brick this router.

 

[mc866]

Originally posted by: edro
Can anyone recommend a good G router?

These are all $50 and seem to have good reviews (Compared to my router).

Asus WL-520gU + Tomato or DDWRT Firmware
Actually $40 after rebate.

Just picked this up a week ago, got the DD-WRT installed in no time, up and running as a wireless bridge and streaming SD movies to xbmc installed on my og Xbox. Great router at a reasonable price, DD-WRT makes it even better!

 

[JackMDS]

Asus WL-520GU

This is $40 after Rebate, Free ship. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023


If you need more features Flash it with DD-WRT ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD-WRT ).

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/ind...tallation#Asus_WL520GU

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

-----------------------------

As an indirect side Note.

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 hundereds $$ on a "real" Router.

 

[edro]

I am going to try to install DD-WRT on it first, before I buy a new router.
Hopefully I turn it into a brick, so I have to buy a new one.

Edit: Nevermind. I have a v7000, which is a crappy version which does not support DD-WRT.

 

[kevnich2]

My recommendation is still for the Asus WL-500 G Premium v2. Has 2x more memory than most other SOHO routers and DDWRT capable.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
My recommendation is still for the Asus WL-500 G Premium v2. Has 2x more memory than
most other SOHO routers and DDWRT capable.

In most cases One would Not feel the difference between the two models.

If One needs extra power for special network, indeed the WL-500G v2 worth the extra $40.

Both are DD-WRT capable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320030

 

[edro]

Last night it was working fine again.
I was tempted in to thinking it was fine.
Then an hour later, DROPPED CONNECTION.

I went ahead and ordered the Asus WL-520gU.

Thanks everyone.
I will let you know how it goes.

 

[kevnich2]

For my needs, I definitely notice a difference between my Asus and some of the lower models but I work from home and put a LOT of data through my router.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: beyonddc
I'm running D-Link DIR-615 version C and it seems like a pretty reliable router. There's not yet a dropped connection but I only had it for 2 days. hehe...

That's the same hardware as the Trendnet 652 router that I reviewed in another thread. It's possible to cross-flash the D-Link firmware onto the Trendnet.

 

[boomhower]

I am going to vote for the WRT54GL but with Tomato rather than DD-WRT. I could never get QoS to work on DD-WRT but works like a charm with in Tomato. Otherwise both worked very well.

 

[kjackson09]

I have the D-Link DIR-655 wireless N router.

I have never had issues with this router. It connects wirelessly no problem to my Wii/PS3/Xbox360, laptops and various PCs in the house.

The signal strength is amazing too. I used to have the Linksys Wireless G router and could barely get signal, the D-Link gives me full signal in those locations now.

Hope this helps.

 

[recoil80]

I'd buy an Asus.
I've been using my WL 500B for years, is just great!
I have an USB port and a paralel port, so I'm able to print from any computer on the network and I can plug in a memory stick to use FTP or to run the programs I cross-compile.
Many routers have linux on them, but not many have usb and paralel port...
Asus WL 500B is 802.11b only, of course now I'd buy the 802.11g version

 

[taltamir]

NO home router provides good reliability, they all simply run too hot.
You want reliability you buy a cisco router for an arm and a leg...

What you need though is the next best thing... a SWITCH... get this one and plug it to ANY router, the router will be SIGNIFICANTLY less loaded, it should go from "really hot" to the touch to "room temp" when you use it with a switch. And in fact the switch WILL be faster for local transfers too... even if they are both rated the same.
ex: the dlink DIR655 vs the using the DGS-2208

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833127082
this is a very good value switch and is highly recommended.

 

[Eug]

Interestingly, my $20 refurb 2wire 2700HG-B combo DSL modem/wireless 802.11g router goes down only about once every couple of months. Or maybe once a month if worked heavily. It only gets lightly warm to the touch.

I also bought a bunch of TrendNET TEW-432BRP wireless 802.11g routers also for $20 each on closeout. However, I'm using the above DSL modem to route. I've turned off the TEW-432BRP's routing features and just use them as switches and access points (to provide wireless from a hardwired network). Those TrendNETs usually go for a few months before needing a reboot.

I've gone through a whole bunch of other brands and models before I finally settled on my current setup.

 

[taltamir]

you are buying a REFURB for its long lasting durability?

 

[chris2112617]

I am thinking of buying this router Asus WL-520gU. is it worth buy the service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan 1yrs 9.99 or 2yrs 14.99

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: chris2112617
I am thinking of buying this router Asus WL-520gU. is it worth buy the service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan 1yrs 9.99 or 2yrs 14.99

No (in my opinion). Considering that I picked up one of these for less than $19 after cashback/rebates, I would definitely say no. Most likely, if it's going to fail, it will fail within the first 30 days. If it doesn't fail within 30 days, it will fail well outside of two years (at least in my experience).

 

[chris2112617]

ok thanx Engineer.

 

[taltamir]

it will be completely obsolete by then...

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: taltamir
you are buying a REFURB for its long lasting durability?

Yup. The 2wire 2700HG-B combo DSL modem/wireless 802.11g router cannot be purchased at retail, so I got it as a refurb. Not only is it a great deal, it's uber stable, at least compared to the multiple routers I've purchased in the past at full retail. ie. This $20 refurb DSL wireless router has been far better than the $50 non-DSL routers I've bought in the past.

Perhaps this is no surprise, as AT&T was using this as their main DSL router for residential customers for years. It's not feature rich, but easy to configure, and has way better than average stability for a home router. It also locked onto noisy DSL connections much better than much of the competition at the time, according to reports.

I'm not saying the 2wire is an awesome unit. I'm just saying it's good compared to the multitude of crap models out there in the home market. I just don't see how any company can consider a router that requires a reboot every few days acceptable, but there's an awful lot of those routers out there. I would like my 2wire to stay up 24/7, 365 days of the year. It doesn't, but I can accept it going down a few times a year. I've learned to accept that after using other name brand routers that would go down several times a month (or even several time a week) under heavy load.