Wired Router Suggestions for Home Use.

[PlastikSpork]

Recently I changed my Westell 7500 DSL Modem/Router combo to bridge mode. I added my old WRT54G with DD-WRT in between my Westell and Gigabit Switch. The reason I did this is because of the lack of functions on the Westell, for example no WOL, Dynamic DNS and Keep Alive capability. I do have a Linksys E3000 upstairs but I do not want to move it downstairs and use it as a router because I use it as a wireless AP.

Since the WRT54G is getting a little old I am looking for a wired router to take it's place that has all of the capabilities that DD-WRT has to offer or even a wired router that I can put DD-WRT on. What do you guys think of a used Cisco small business router off of eBay?

 

[Arcanedeath]

I would suggest a newer broadcom based router that supports DD-WRT / Tomato something like the Linksys E4200, Asus Rt-N16, or Asus Rt-N66 depending on what you are looking for.

I personally use an Asus Rt-N16 with Toastman's Tomato USB mod and it's bullet proof and has pretty graphs

 

[PlastikSpork]

I would suggest a newer broadcom based router that supports DD-WRT / Tomato something like the Linksys E4200, Asus Rt-N16, or Asus Rt-N66 depending on what you are looking for.

I personally use an Asus Rt-N16 with Toastman's Tomato USB mod and it's bullet proof and has pretty graphs

I'm looking for a wired router... the Asus Rt-N16 is a wireless router... I already have a Linksys E3000 with DD-WRT upstairs functioning as an access point. If I move the Linksys downstairs into the closet with my other equipment (switch and modem) and use it as a router my actual wireless throughput on the router goes from 130/140 Mbps to 25-40 Mbps because of the lower signal strength and interference.

So just to clarify this is my setup:

DSL Modem-->Router-->Gigabit Switch-->Cat5e run to upstairs-->LinksysE3000 WAP

I am looking to replace the wired router in between the modem and the switch.

 

[JackMDS]

There is NO new wire Routers for a while.

Price of Wireless routers are the same as wired Routers.

If the WRT54 works well leave to do the Job.

Otherwise, get yourself an inexpensive Wireless Router and switch off the wireless.

Example, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320023

 

[iloveATech]

As Jack says, I haven't heard of a non-wireless router for quite some time

Any gigabit router will do then. I don't care about wireless either, and I use an old DIR-655. Works great and was super cheap

If you want the option of wireless id go Linksys E4200

good luck

 

[Arcanedeath]

There is NO new wire Routers for a while.

Price of Wireless routers are the same as wired Routers.

If the WRT54 works well leave to do the Job.

Otherwise, get yourself an inexpensive Wireless Router and switch off the wireless.

Example, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320023

As Jack says there are not really any good wired only routers (consumer grade anyways) anymore and You just get a wireless router and shut of the wireless, since you have a gigabit network all my suggestions supported gigabit but if you just want cheap and to stick with DD-WRT Jack's suggestion is fine, my suggestions are just more future proof and won't bottneck on the Wan to Lan speed as fast.

 

[PlastikSpork]

There is NO new wire Routers for a while.

Price of Wireless routers are the same as wired Routers.

If the WRT54 works well leave to do the Job.

Otherwise, get yourself an inexpensive Wireless Router and switch off the wireless.

Example, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320023

Last time I checked (like 3 min ago), Cisco still makes wired routers.... Going back to my original question on my initial post "What do you guys think of a used Cisco small business router off of eBay?" RV082 or something like that.

 

[JackMDS]

Yeah they still physically make some of them but Unlike Wireless Router they are simply the same models from yesteryear.

The RV082 is a specialty Router with Dual WAN, if you need dual WAN it is a good solution.

Otherwise. there nothing in your post that suggest a reason Not to use that the WRT54G.

Old, New, Feeling Good in spending money, are part of human behavior repertoire but they are Not technological variables.

 

[alkemyst]

Makes no sense for most to go with a separate/non-wireless router.

I have known people to drop a few grand on a 2811 or similar and swear they have a faster connection....

 

[JackMDS]

Makes no sense for most to go with a separate/non-wireless router.

I have known people to drop a few grand on a 2811 or similar and swear they have a faster connection....

+1

I know few guys like this too, only I call it "make believe faster" since they can not prove it by technical measures.

But hey, Good feelings worth some money too. -

 

[alkemyst]

+1

I know few guys like this too, only I call it "make believe faster" since they can not prove it by technical measures.

But hey, Good feelings worth some money too. -

plus having a radiant space heater / 140db white noise generator in your home

 

[Arcanedeath]

Last time I checked (like 3 min ago), Cisco still makes wired routers.... Going back to my original question on my initial post "What do you guys think of a used Cisco small business router off of eBay?" RV082 or something like that.

Here is a photo of my setup

I can run that whole setup with no trouble with the Asus router. I only have a 30 / 5 cable connection but support multiple users according to my traffic logs we use an average of 360GB's a month down and 80GB a month up and I've never had to reboot or reset the router except for firmware updates.

The wired routers are either specialized, older models, or business class or some combo of the above generally not using the wireless makes the router run cooler and last longer so just getting something with gigabit and broadcom based so you can put DD-WRT or Tomato on it should serve your purpose, all 3 of the suggestions I made can do that while they may be overkill you could always looking into getting something cheaper like your E3000 or a referbished one.

I'd suggest looking into www.smallnetbuilder.com and looking at the Wan to Lan charts to see what meets your needs and still supports open source firmware.

 

[JackMDS]

I'd suggest looking into www.smallnetbuilder.com and looking at the Wan to Lan charts to see what meets your needs and still supports open source firmware.

These WAN to LAN charts has to be looked at with a Huge grain of salt.

They do not apply to most End-users, yet many think that they will get faster Internet if they judge by these benchmarks.

 

[PlastikSpork]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The reason I want to get rid of the WRT54G is because the GUI Web configuration/setup page occasionally will not load. I tried upgrading to the newest DD-WRT firmware and that didn't help. So based on your suggestions I took my E3000 and placed it downstairs and I am now using it as the router. I went onto ebay and found a E3200 for $50 that I will then use as my WAP.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The reason I want to get rid of the WRT54G is because the GUI Web configuration/setup page occasionally will not load.

Do you torrent? When the router's NAT table runs out of available connections, sometimes it will not even load the router's management pages. I've had that happen before.

 

[PlastikSpork]

Do you torrent? When the router's NAT table runs out of available connections, sometimes it will not even load the router's management pages. I've had that happen before.

On occasion, but I didn't download anything from torrents in over a week and never downloaded anything with WRT54G the entire time it was plugged in. utorrent was running in the background without anything being downloaded.

Either way, after moving my Linksys E3000 downstairs and started using it as my router I've hadn't had any issues. Much happier with it then using the Westell as a router. I love the WOL feature.