WiFi APs that don't need rebooting

[zephxiii]

TP-Link TL-WA901ND is a piece of crap that I have to reboot all the time, and apparently a lot of other people say the same thing in newegg.com reviews.

I have a Rosewill RNX-N4PS at work with a 299 day uptime (doesn't see a whole lot of traffic though). I just ordered one of these for home hoping it will be solid (it will see a lot more traffic).

I have a Rosewill RNX-EasyN4 that has been pretty reliable, maybe needs a reboot once in a while. I wanted bump up to a MIMO 3x antenna model though.

What do you have that has been reliable? And what have you had that has not been reliable. It seems like WiFi APs have generally been flakey

 

[VirtualLarry]

Get a DD-WRT router, they are very reliable.

 

[Engineer]

Get a DD-WRT router, they are very reliable.

Or a good solid Broadcom chipset router that will take both DD-WRT or Tomato (my personal favorite). Up for months at a time with no reboots (had 6 months straight on my Asus WL-520gu).

 

[JackMDS]

Which Wireless Router?

In this day and age (taking into consideration the low prices), your are better off getting a Wireless Router that can do simultaneous AGN, has a Giga switch and is flash-able with DD-WRT.

Why DD-WRT? If needed now or in the future when more Wireless devices are added to the Network, very few Wireless Router can work as a Client Bridge or a Repeater. DD-WRT makes many of the Wireless Router Bridge/Repeater capable.

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

When using Bridge/Repeater mode it is important that the firmware of the source and the client will be compatible. Regardless of the model, if the Network's Wireless devices are DD-WRT flashed they will be compatible.

Least expensive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124388

Very good value - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162047

If you are not Allergic to refurbish this currently the best value in Wireless Routers.

http://homestore.cisco.com/en-us/Ro...-router_stcVVproductId133604734VVviewprod.htm

=============
A a frame of reference.

On a Good AGN Giga capable Network the Buffalo can exceed 10MB/sec.(B=Byte) LAN transfer.

Really shine is the Cisco E4200http://homestore.cisco.com/en-us/Ro...-router_stcVVproductId133604734VVviewprod.htm

On a Good AGN Giga capable Network the Cisco can do around 15MB/sec.(B=Byte) LAN transfer.

 

[gsaldivar]

several tp-link routers are compatible with ddwrt. check their website and flash your router if you can.

 

[ArJuN]

JackMDS, what do you recommend to use as an access point connected to one of the routers you suggested?

 

[JackMDS]

Unless there is a very specific feature needed for the Network there is No point to get an Access Point.

The best solution is to use a Wireless Router as an Access Point with a switch.


If the added Wireless is needed just to cover simple computer/laptop in short distance from the added AP then it does not matter which Wireless Router you use.

This can be a good inexpensive choice, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e=asus_wireless_router-_-33-320-023-_-Product ($33 after MIR).

Otherwise, use one the Wireless Router mentioned in my post above.

 

[MtnMan]

I have had several routers that were a POS, needing constant rebooting (weekly) but after installing DD-WRT on them they were very stable, actually never needing a reboot (power cycle).

The vendor firmware, memory leaks, etc. are clearly the problem, not the hardware.

 

[JackMDS]

I have had several routers that were a POS, needing constant rebooting (weekly) but after installing DD-WRT on them they were very stable, actually never needing a reboot (power cycle).

The vendors firmware, memory leaks, etc. are clearly the problem, not the hardware.

In case of Brand names Wireless Routers, the problems do come most of the time from the Software/Firmware implantation of the Devices.

However what common to the Hardware is the Chipstes, Wireless Radio, and the general design. Please note that only 5 OEMs make the core hardware for all Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n devices, all the Wireless devices are based on them.

Some small off brands, at times manage to get inexpensive lots of the chipsets, they use them to make inexpensive devices to compete in price with the Brands. Many of these devices are "sh**y" on both hardware and software.

 

[MtnMan]

Well in my case it was the linksh!t firmware, for the hardware was rock solid when under the control of DD-WRT.

 

[coolVariable]

Get a DD-WRT router, they are very reliable.

Not always.
E.g: I have a Linksys WRT610n v1.1 running DD-WRT. It will run rock solid for 3-4 months at which point it will become impossible to connect via the 5GHz N network until I factory reset the router. To put it politely: that is FUCKING annoying.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Get a DD-WRT router, they are very reliable.

Ive had memory leak issues with them in the past.

 

[billyb0b]

I'm running a linksys wrt54gl non stop for over 7 years now - tomato firmware. I've only had to reboot it 3 times.

 

[Cooky]

If your company IT is replacing the AG only WAP's w/ AGN capable ones, see if you can get those enterprise grade WAP's for free, or at a small cost.

The Cisco Aironet's are rock solid.
I've had much success w/ the 1230's & 1240's running autonomous IOS.

 

[JackMDS]

While a need for factory reset is a sign that says "Get rid" of me.

The "silly Macho" posts of my Router is Stable for many months is really contra productive.

Why? One actually gets a better performance from a Router if it rebooted once every week or two.

The Routers are small primitive computers and like every computer their puny memory collects in time small bits of Junk in its memory (aka GIGO). Rebooting clears the memory.

Some Routers actually have an automatic reboot scheduling option that can be configured for this purpose.

 

[spidey07]

While a need for factory reset is a sign that says "Get rid" of me.

The "silly Macho" posts of my Router is Stable for many months is really contra productive.

Why? One actually gets a better performance from a Router if it rebooted once every week or two.

The Routers are small primitive computers and like every computer their puny memory collects in time small bits of Junk in its memory (aka GIGO). Rebooting clears the memory.

Some Routers actually have an automatic reboot scheduling option that can be configured for this purpose.

Just so we're clear, "real" network equipment is hardly ever booted including APs, switches, routers. The only time it is is during a software upgrade (or the extremely rare crash), and even then depending on the platform a reset is not needed and there is no disruption.

If a SOHO router or AP needs to be booted, that's bad software and should be unacceptable.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Or a good solid Broadcom chipset router that will take both DD-WRT or Tomato (my personal favorite). Up for months at a time with no reboots (had 6 months straight on my Asus WL-520gu).

This. DD-WRT does not necessarily mean stability. For example, DD-WRT on Linksys e3000 exhibits terrible wireless reliability.

If reliability is key, pick a router that is known for its reliability and has very mature software support.

I recently rolled out a network upgrade for a high traffic ~30 client network. They had a very strict budget, so I ended up recycling hardware. I went with a Linksys e3000 router as the main router with the wireless disabled. Connected to that were 3 WRT54GS routers functioning as access points. The system works fantastically. It isn't wireless N, but the WRT54GS routers are rock solid. Speed makes those who use lots of bandwidth happy, but 90% of people just want to check their facebook and for that solid reliable wireless G routers get it done. Also, those high bandwidth users typically have wired connections, so they don't give a hoot about the wireless speed, as long as it is good enough to do basic things. All the routers are running DD-WRT.

Sometimes you have to go a bit old school to get the reliability you want.

 

[Engineer]

Why? One actually gets a better performance from a Router if it rebooted once every week or two.

I disagree with this statement. I notice no difference in any of the tomato flashed routers whether on one day or 6 months. They simply work (assuming you have a stable version of tomato - which I usually find and don't upgrade from).

Nor do I consider it "macho" to have a router that does it's job for months on end with NO issues whatsoever.

 

[zephxiii]

Interestingly I ran into a guy in #pfsense who happened to have a couple of these TP-Links and was fully aware of their instability and pretty much noted that the firmware was to blame.

What was awesome is that he had cooked up OpenWRT firmware for it and hooked me up with the file to flash it (which was easy after we figured out the filename was too long). So far it has been working great and I'll see how long of an uptime I can get out of it! What's funny though is that i'm actually getting slightly faster transfer rates out of it now

I am going to keep the TP-link runnig and setup the Rosewill as a 2nd WAP somewhere for backup and extra capacity.

 

[zephxiii]

The "silly Macho" posts of my Router is Stable for many months is really contra productive.

Why? One actually gets a better performance from a Router if it rebooted once every week or two.

The Routers are small primitive computers and like every computer their puny memory collects in time small bits of Junk in its memory (aka GIGO). Rebooting clears the memory.

Some Routers actually have an automatic reboot scheduling option that can be configured for this purpose.

I would disagree with this as well...i don't want things that have to be rebooted...if it is solid it won't need it. And there is nothing "macho" about the uptimes...I look at it as if it can be up for x amount of time with no issues...excellent (as my Rosewill at work is over 300 days now and flawless...how humbling).

I disagree with this statement. I notice no difference in any of the tomato flashed routers whether on one day or 6 months. They simply work (assuming you have a stable version of tomato - which I usually find and don't upgrade from).

Nor do I consider it "macho" to have a router that does it's job for months on end with NO issues whatsoever.

agreed.

 

[alkemyst]

my 4200 is great, the 3000 I had (Cisco/Linksys) not so good.