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I need to set up a wireless network in my house, and I currently have Comcast high speed cable internet. My new Dell PC has a 802.11 b/g WLAN card (if that matters), and I dont' want to spend more than $75-100 if possible. The guy from Comcast said Linksys routers are the best... does anyone have input on this?
WRT54G is the shiznit. Get it.
The Buffalo WHR-G54S is a super cheap router, really small, and has great signal strength. On top of that, if you load it with DD-WRT, you can enable tons of features not on the default firmware.
I got a Buffalo WHR-G54S from Best Buy for $40, loaded it with DD-WRT in about 20 minutes, and then set up Quality of Service (QoS) so my web surfing gets the highest priority, followed by my Bittorrent traffic. So when I'm at home, I can surf super fast, but then when I'm not at home I can let Bittorrent get highest priority so I can download faster and get my ratio real nice.
There's a bunch of other bells and whistles if you load DD-WRT, too, so check their site: www.dd-wrt.com
whatever you do, stay away from linksys.. I've got nothing but trouble with them and there's a lot of cheaper alternatives (look at Belkin)
I'd go with the latest incarnation of the Linksys SRX or whatever they call their MIMO crap these days.
Just don't expect enterprise level reliability from linksys.
What he says.Quote:
Originally Posted by Summit;
I would also stay away from d-link: IMHO
and for the love of god change the admin password on the router.
or buy a fortinet for 1000 bucks.
either way.
Linksys BEFSR#####/WRT### (whichever floats your boat) + DD-WRT
What the hell is DD-WRT?
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3FQuote:
Originally Posted by smmokan
In English please.
Shall we try this?Quote:
Originally Posted by smmokan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD-WRT
It only works when you read it tho. ;)
Okay. So what advantages, if any, does DD-WRT provide to mere mortals?
Thanks for a link to the same thing. I understood how to use the link, but I didn't understand what the hell DD-WRT is... why does it make a difference?
Also, I have a friend that has the apple wireless router so you can play itunes wirelessly over your receiver. any expirence with this?
yeah. It works great.Quote:
Originally Posted by gg8983
Yeah, my experience too.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtbakerskier
What a timely post. My internet was down most of the weekend due to a shitty Linxsys router. WTF? You can buy mine if you want it! $5.00 it's yours
It's firmware that adds a lot of functionality to the device that's unavailable when it's running oem firmware that comes with it. Among other things, it gives you better security, traffic shaping, firewall and it'll prolly quit crashing as much.Quote:
Originally Posted by smmokan
There IS a chinese knockoff called "lincsys" or something like that thats total shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by dn4989
I've gone through 3 LinKsys routers in probably 7 years now?
I'll try to answer the DD-WRT questions:
DD-WRT is a firmware that you put on your wireless router that replaces the current, factory-installed firmware. Firmware is basically the "operating system" of the router. By default, wireless routers are stripped of a lot of their functionality when they have the factory firmware on it.
Putting DD-WRT on a wireless router is just a new operating system for it, and it opens up tons of additional features that the manufacturer doesn't let users access. The DD-WRT firmware is also very stable compared to the factory default firmware.
In my experience, the advantages of using the DD-WRT firmware over the manufacturer's firmware are significant: first, Linksys routers (specifically, two WRT54Gs) are shitty for uptime. They constantly lock up and have to be unplugged and plugged back in for them to work again for a few weeks until they lock up again.
Second of all, I couldn't get my Nintendo Wii or PDA phone onto my wireless network with the Linksys firmware to save my life. I loaded DD-WRT, and my Wii jumped online in no time, and a little later, I was able to get my PDA online wirelessly too. So it seems the interoperability is greater with a DD-WRT firmware on your router.
Hope that can help...:confused:
^^^ That helps, thanks. Now I need to buy the laptop and I'll be all set.
I just got this one. Its faster than my landline at work. On sale now.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1108125361676
My router progression went like this:
Microsoft MN-700 (rebadged Netgear) -> Linksys WRT54G -> Netgear 614 (something) -> Linksys WRT54G (with DD-WRT) -> Buffalo WHR-G54S (with DD-WRT)
The MN-700 just randomly stopped.
The first Linksys had the Linksys firmware, which I kept up to date, and still, it would lock up. The best solution I could find from Linksys was that it was flooding out the max TCP connections.
The Netgear was the worst piece of hardware I have ever owned. Random lock-ups, weird loss of configurations, just nutty shit. It also seemed to slow down my cable model connection.
The Linksys WRT54G with DD-WRT works well. I just didn't like the signal strength and lack of memory. I wanted to load DD-WRT with VPN server support, so I went to...
The Buffalo WHR-G54S gave me *the best* signal strength, plus it had more memory so I could load DD-WRT with VPN server support. Now I can VPN into my home network and mount shared drives on my computer like I was working at home.
Tomato is another one of the firmware replacements like DD-WRT too. Each has some strengths to them depending on what is important for features.
You have to remember that the firmware that comes with the router is done at the factory and then the manufacturer also from time to time will come out with newer versions that improve stability or fix a problem. They usually do not add features to the basic list of capabilities though like the 2 downloaded ones do.
If you are afraid of any computer, updates then the flashing of the firmware may not be for you. If you flash the router with this and it does not work, then you may not be able to return it to the manufacturer (just a warning to those non-computer types)
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tomato_Firmware
Why do they have to make it so damn confusing?
It is only confusing if you let it get that way. Most normal mortals need know almost nothing of protocols, firmware, etc. (other than maybe to run standard updates). Just get one of the Apple units + turn on the software firewall on each machine you have. Simple. Reliable. Worth any premium you might pay.Quote:
Originally Posted by smmokan
It's called the Apple Airport Express. I've been using this for about 2 years now and it works great. I've had no issues with it at all. It's got all the features I need: WPA2, port forwarding, mac filtering...all the standard stuff. It's really small and doesn't take up much space. The range seems to be pretty good, I can use my laptop outside of my house and still get decent signal strength. The coolest feature is probably being able to stream iTunes through your home audio receiver.Quote:
Originally Posted by gg8983
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...nplm=M9470LL/A
I know a lot of people who have used Best Buys Geek Squad and are very happy. And for 100bucks you could get the router and it installed and encryption set up for your laptop and have a # to call if it all goes to hell.
But, its not hard to do by yourself...
Personally, ive never had a problem with linksys.
Sorry guys - this is the first time I saw this thread! Don't know how I missed it. Anyways, I'm guessing you've been waiting for me to post, and I'm sad to say I sold my router a while ago. Sorry I don't have better news to report.
look a halo postingQuote:
Originally Posted by spindrift
Anyone looking for the Buffalo wireless router there are some rebates through Circuit City this weekend... I coud not touch the price after rebates even trying to get the same one at wholesale.
I have a wireless G linksys router and I'm not liking it. My laptop gets one bar of signal strength in the adjacent room, and if it shifts on my lap it sometimes loses the connection.
I have a Netgear router under my desk. I bought a few years ago because It cost next to nothing after rebates. Never had a problem. I don't use any of the router functions or other built in crap on it though.