Router recommendations

[JackMDS]

The only thing that I can attest to is that I tried few Giga switched on my Clean Network (I.e almost No application that create Network chatter) and I get Big Variation in LAN Transfer between few Entry Level Giga Switches.

In other words every thing exactly the same just unplug 4 computers (same Network same cables) from one Giga switch and plug it to another switch.

Since some of the switches have Jumbo Frames, and some Do Not, I left all the MTUs on 1500.

Thus far the Best yield was from this switch with a sustain yield of 58MB/sec.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833156250

The Worst was a Netgear switch (do not have any more and I do not remember the exact model ) yielding 28MB/sec.

Few others where hovering between 32 to 48 MB/sec.

So following Kevin's notion above.

My main system consist on a $55 Buffalo High Power( DD-WRT Flashed), and the Trendnet switch mentioned above (currently $25 with rebate).

55+25= $80, and I have excellent Wireless + 58MB/sec. Giga Network (and it would work well even when, and if, the Darft_N would become a standard).

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P.S. Take in to consideration that I have a teenager Grandson thus I am Not anymore and the age bracket that need to buy hardware according to Social Desirability considerations, and I have No vested interest in any specific Brand. :thumbsup:

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Thus far the Best yield was from this switch with a sustain yield of 58MB/sec.

[...]
The Worst was a Netgear switch (do not have any more and I do not remember the exact model ) yielding 28MB/sec.

Few others where hovering between 32 to 48 MB/sec.

I don't know how you did your tests, but if I came across any gigabit switch with such poor measured raw networking performance, I'd take it up with the manufacturer for RMA.

I haven't seen a single switch personally which was not capable of at least around 900 Mb/s, or ~112 MB/s sustained. Of course, at that level the rest of the test setup matters a lot, and if your NICs are on a crowded PCI bus for example, you wouldn't reach those results and you'd be measuring your bus more than switch.

The results on this site for example show several gigabit switches performing around the same level in their tests (which were probably bottlenecked by their own setup limitations (*)), and none of them performed as poorly as your best result above:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/30195/51/

(*) I say this because I and many others have measured far better performance with the same hardware, and because they couldn't even saturate gigabit with plain cable.

 

[spidey07]

madwand, you're neglecting flow control and pause frames. I recant my statement about "it shouldn't matter" because it shouldn't. But it does and that's the one screwed up thing about gig ethernet. Those are the things that can screw up performance.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Madwand1

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/30195/51/

Unlike Mr. Tim and other reviewers, my lively hood does not dependent on the Computer Business.

I believe in Functional approach. My dealings are with peer-to-peer Networks that are common to most End Users and refleects actual performance as a regular users would experience when they are using Entry Level Network hardware.

The 58 MB/sec. (B=Byte) Transfer that I get on my main Network it unusually High as compare to what most End users get from their working peer-to-peer Networks.

And as I usually post in such circumstances.

Disclaimer - I have no connection with any Brand that manufactures Network Devices (or any other computer hardware) of any kind, nor any connection computer's hardware vendors. My comments are as a frame of reference based on hardware that I buy with my own money.

 

[Rifter]

Originally posted by: Blayze
I've been very happy using a Linksys WRT54GL with Tomato firmware.

This +1

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Rifterut

Originally posted by: Blayze
I've been very happy using a Linksys WRT54GL with Tomato firmware.

This +1

I am happy that you are happy, but your Happiness does not change the fact that the Buffalo has much better Wireless than the Linksys.

Thus if the OP happans to have different environment than yours, he might be Happy or Not with the Linksys.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: bobdole369
D-Link DIR-628 ended up working just fine for her. Fast easy internetz - we'll see in another week what kind of trouble she gets into.

The DIR-628 is a decent router -- Ubicom internals like the DGL-4300, etc., and better wireless than the DGL-4300 at a lower cost. Given not too great distance / etc., needs, I'd personally choose one over the commonly-recommended standard-g routers.

 

[Rifter]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: Rifterut

Originally posted by: Blayze
I've been very happy using a Linksys WRT54GL with Tomato firmware.

This +1

I am happy that you are happy, but your Happiness does not change the fact that the Buffalo has much better Wireless than the Linksys.

Thus if the OP happans to have different environment than yours, he might be Happy or Not with the Linksys.

True, a friend of mine does have the buffalo and the wireless is a little better/faster(usualy 5-10Mbps) but i only use wireless for net surfing on laptops and gaming on my PS3 and the linksys works fine for those uses If you were doing large file transfers all the time you might want to spend some cash on a N band anyways and not bother with G. I also got the WRT54GL on sale for 1/3 the cost he got the buffalo for and would not consider the buffalo 3 times better, if you really want better wireless you are better off going N anyways.

 

[nataku00]

I guess I shouldn't chime in saying that I haven't had any issues with my Netgear WGR614 router for two wired computers and wireless for 1-2 laptops and a couple of gaming systems.

 

[BDawg]

If I already have a WHR-G125 and am satisfied with its wireless coverage, is there any reason I would buy a WHR-HP-G54?

They both have the same RAM. The 125 has a Broadcom 5354@240MHz while the G54 has a Broadcom 5352@200MHz. The only other difference I can tell is the G54 looks to have a better antenna setup.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: BDawg
If I already have a WHR-G125 and am satisfied with its wireless coverage, is there any reason I would buy a WHR-HP-G54?

If you are satisfy with the Wireless save your money for other things.

 

[Andr0med]

Hi Jack,

I'm ready to buy a wireless router. Which one these three would you buy.....I know you like the Asus but just wanted to make sure considering the prices:
1. ASUS WL-520gU $35
2. LINKSYS WRT54GL $50
3. LINKSYS WRT120N $53
I'm planning on loading DD-WRT so no stock firmware. I can't seem to find info on their CPUs and RAM capacity (this is quite relevant since new firmwares are getting bigger). Thanks in advance!

 

[Harvey]

I recently set up an ASUS WL-520gU for some friends, and it ROCKS! Better yet, it's on sale at Newegg for $35 after a $10 mail in rebate.

Installing the software on the desktop was easy and flawless. Once it was installed, setting up a laptop wireless connection required only bringing the laptop close to the machine and pushing a button on the router. Performance has been flawless for over a month.

If you want to get tweaky and try other firmware, it supports DD-WRT and Tomato. Kewl beans! :thumbsup:

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Andr0med
Hi Jack,

I'm ready to buy a wireless router. Which one these three would you buy.....I know you like the Asus but just wanted to make sure considering the prices:
1. ASUS WL-520gU $35
2. LINKSYS WRT54GL $50
3. LINKSYS WRT120N $53
I'm planning on loading DD-WRT so no stock firmware. I can't seem to find info on their CPUs and RAM capacity (this is quite relevant since new firmwares are getting bigger). Thanks in advance!

Well my choice would be this.

Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833162134

Its Wireless is better than that one on your list.

As far as Draft_N goes. Unless you have very good reason for a specific use for it I'll skip all of them.

P.S. If you are very tight with the $$ then stick with $35 Asus.

 

[Andr0med]

Thanks Harvey, you've sold me! I pulled the trigger and I should have it by tomorrow
Hi Jack...but the price was too tempting...it comes to $30 after rebate!!! coupon code:
EMCLTMT76

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: Andr0med

Thanks Harvey, you've sold me! I pulled the trigger and I should have it by tomorrow

YW.

FWIW, my friend is using the stock firmware with no problems or limitations. However, he's not geeky tweaky about it. He just wants it to work, period, with no drop outs or apparent lag.

Start here for info about using DD-WRT with this router.

I originally bought this router under the Newegg's deal for $19.99 after rebate, last December (fourth item on the page). Shortly after that, my ISP gave me a wireless router/DSL modem so I gave my Asus unit to my friend for what I paid and set it up for him. That's why I can easily recommend this router at $35.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: Absolution75
I can't imagine people would saturate a gigabit line constantly, but my post was directed towards the fact that when transferring large files across the network, gigabit will be noticeably faster. I can't count how many times I've transferred steam's game files across the network to people who have recently bought said game(s). 4GB of TF2's files will take seconds rather than minutes.

Maybe I just transfer files across the network more than average. . . I do agree having a stable network is the number one priority, but you don't really pay a premium for gigabit enabled routers anymore.

I recommend a D-Link 4300 to basically anyone. I've literally never had connection problems with it, no disconnects in games, port forwarding/triggering actually works. No bizarre ethernet problems with speed negotiation. It even has QOS on upstream.

Connection Up Time : 63 day(s), 10:57:16 - This would probably be higher; I'd have to guess there was a short power outage at my house or my cable company did a modem firmware upgrade.

Doesn't fully support Jumbo frames .... you're better off getting one of the less expenisve routers already listed in this thread and combining it with a dedicated 8 port gig switch.

Btw, I have a 4300 ....

 

[VisionxOrb]

Buffalo's amplified N router WZR-HP-G300NH is finally out also.