Reliable wireless N solution instead of E3000?

[imported_browsing]

We have AT&T U-Verse service. It's been good, reliable download speeds and all that but the router that you have to use with it does not allow for wireless N. I bought an e3000 last year to act as a wireless N access point for the network but it's inconsistent at best. It seems like you have to reboot it every other day or so to get it working. Computers will either refuse to connect to it or they will with "limited connectivity" and no internet access. A reboot always fixes it but it defeats the convenience of having it wireless if we have to go reset it all the time. So finally I want to get something else but I'd having a hard time interpreting reviews online. Does anyone have suggestions for a dual band wireless N (or just 5ghz) that would work with the 2wire provided routers that U-Verse uses?

Thanks in advance.

 

[zCypher]

How old is your device from AT&T? When our customers call and I see they have an old gateway, I send them the latest. Call them and see if they will get you a wireless N capable device?

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I have had similar issues with the E3000, although not as frequent. It seems like it needs a reboot once a week, or when high traffic volume is going through. I haven't tried DD-WRT on it yet, although I should. I was considering a roll out of 2 of these for a high traffic 30+ wireless client network.

I hope more users can chime in.

 

[imported_browsing]

I installed tomato firmware last night and had a weird issue where it lost connection to my NAS server mid-transfer. Internet connection remained though, which is a positive development I suppose. I'm going to keep fiddling with this but I would still prefer to have another solution, even if I have to buy something. The gateway is fairly new, from March of this year. As far as I know, U-Verse doesn't offer a gateway that has built in N support so contacting them won't really help. The reply was appreciated though. Any other suggestions would be really appreciated too!

 

[bobdole369]

Confirmed. No known n-capable Uverse modems. Both the 3600 and the 3800 are G only, (and fairly shitty as wifi devices). More annoying is the lack of a bridged mode, requiring that I double NAT to use dd-wrt. I use dd-wrt to keep my own track of the data usage debacle (which btw STILL hasn't been implemented for Uverse users), close to a year now or more right?

 

[JackMDS]

“””Gateway”””” ????

First a First a little basic Tech. Education.

Traditionally there use to be Modems to decipher the Internet feed from the DSL/Cable/POTS signal.

In order to use the signal with multiple Network devices an Entry Level Cable/DSL Router (and later Wireless Cable/DSL Router) was built on a consumer level.

DSL needs (and many still need) PPPOE authentication. Originally, it was done by software and did not work well.

As a result, it became apparent to the DSL provider that it is cheaper to give a combo DSL Modem + Router in the same plastic box and do the PPPOE authentication by “hardware” in the WAN port of the Router (The software PPPOE generated Support Calls that was far more costly than the plastic Gateway boxes).

The FIOS and U-verse Boxes have additional functionality concerning the VOIP aspect of the service but as far as the Wireless Router aspects they are still in "Dark Ages".

The Wireless part of all of these combos is bellow average usually suffice for one or two computers that are in the same room with the Router.

What to do?

If the combo “gateway” allow disabling the Router part it is the best to disable it and use a real good Wireless Cable/DSL Router that gets its feed through the WAN port of the None Routing Gateway.

Otherwise, if the Router part of the gateway cannot be taken out of the picture the user should buy a good Wireless cable/DSL router and use it as a Switch with an Access Point.

Configuration like this.

Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

The most reasonable sub $100 Wireless Cable/DSL Router is currently this.

High Power RF, a/b/g/n, Giga switch, simple USB for External HD as a storage server, and a user choice to install propriety firmware or DD-WRT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162047

 

[evident]

“””Gateway”””” ????

First a First a little basic Tech. Education.

Traditionally there use to be Modems to decipher the Internet feed from the DSL/Cable/POTS signal.

In order to use the signal with multiple Network devices an Entry Level Cable/DSL Router (and later Wireless Cable/DSL Router) was built on a consumer level.

DSL needs (and many still need) PPPOE authentication. Originally, it was done by software and did not work well.

As a result, it became apparent to the DSL provider that it is cheaper to give a combo DSL Modem + Router in the same plastic box and do the PPPOE authentication by “hardware” in the WAN port of the Router (The software PPPOE generated Support Calls that was far more costly than the plastic Gateway boxes).

The FIOS and U-verse Boxes have additional functionality concerning the VOIP aspect of the service but as far as the Wireless Router aspects they are still in "Dark Ages".

The Wireless part of all of these combos is bellow average usually suffice for one or two computers that are in the same room with the Router.

What to do?

If the combo “gateway” allow disabling the Router part it is the best to disable it and use a real good Wireless Cable/DSL Router that gets its feed through the WAN port of the None Routing Gateway.

Otherwise, if the Router part of the gateway cannot be taken out of the picture the user should buy a good Wireless cable/DSL router and use it as a Switch with an Access Point.

Configuration like this.

Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

The most reasonable sub $100 Wireless Cable/DSL Router is currently this.

High Power RF, a/b/g/n, Giga switch, simple USB for External HD as a storage server, and a user choice to install propriety firmware or DD-WRT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162047

I currently have FIOS, and this is the one thing I need to address. My home network is terrible right now because of the crappy actiontec router that comes with the service. If i get a second router, would there be any drawbacks with that configuration?

 

[imported_browsing]

“””Gateway”””” ????

First a First a little basic Tech. Education.

Traditionally there use to be Modems to decipher the Internet feed from the DSL/Cable/POTS signal.

In order to use the signal with multiple Network devices an Entry Level Cable/DSL Router (and later Wireless Cable/DSL Router) was built on a consumer level.

DSL needs (and many still need) PPPOE authentication. Originally, it was done by software and did not work well.

As a result, it became apparent to the DSL provider that it is cheaper to give a combo DSL Modem + Router in the same plastic box and do the PPPOE authentication by “hardware” in the WAN port of the Router (The software PPPOE generated Support Calls that was far more costly than the plastic Gateway boxes).

The FIOS and U-verse Boxes have additional functionality concerning the VOIP aspect of the service but as far as the Wireless Router aspects they are still in "Dark Ages".

The Wireless part of all of these combos is bellow average usually suffice for one or two computers that are in the same room with the Router.

What to do?

If the combo “gateway” allow disabling the Router part it is the best to disable it and use a real good Wireless Cable/DSL Router that gets its feed through the WAN port of the None Routing Gateway.

Otherwise, if the Router part of the gateway cannot be taken out of the picture the user should buy a good Wireless cable/DSL router and use it as a Switch with an Access Point.

Configuration like this.

Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

The most reasonable sub $100 Wireless Cable/DSL Router is currently this.

High Power RF, a/b/g/n, Giga switch, simple USB for External HD as a storage server, and a user choice to install propriety firmware or DD-WRT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162047

Not using the gateway they provide isn't an option because of the VOIP as well as that the various U-Verse set top boxes that we have all sync up through some special routing that the gateway provides. That newegg link is the sort of thing that I'm looking for. Either a reliable router to place redundantly behind the gateway or an actual wireless N access point. I know a lot of people just use a router but I was hoping that someone might actually have a suggestion for an access point.

 

[JackMDS]

APs, as Funny as it may Sound are more expensive than Routers.

If it is psychologically so ""crucial"" to have an AP only, the Buffalo linked to has a switch that makes it AP only.

 

[Vincent]

Your E3000 may be overheating. Try putting some feet under it to improve airflow.

 

[dclive]

I've been happy with my E3000. I have it set to 2 bands, 2.4 and 5 (5 is SOOOO much faster!), and I've been pleased with it.

I never have rebooted it. Are you sure the issue isn't elsewhere?

I'm running 1.0.4 firmware.

 

[jpeyton]

My E3000 is also bulletproof. I can't remember the last time I've reset it.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162047

The newegg user reviews really make me second guess this router. I'm also looking for a high reliability router with good range.

 

[MtnMan]

I got an E4200 about 3 months ago and it has been rock solid, including access to the external drive attached to the router's USB port.

Not sure I would pony up the retail $179, but if you can find one at a deal (mine was a returned unit to Sam's and seriously marked down).