[Axion]

Im looking to overhaul both my internet connection and internal routing systems.

1 decision, 2 choices:

1. Cable/DSL modem + Router:
Been looking at the Netgear Rangemax 240, but having been out of the loop on hardware for 3 years now I don't really know whats best, it seemed to appear to be quite good - and a few sites seemed to think it was good too. Id be going for a 4-10mb line.

2. Remain on ADSL but upgrade my isp to one that isnt awful. Got a Netgear DG834GT. Is generally quite good, but does annoy me sometimes too - could partly be due to my isp though. Have a choice to go to a ADSL 1 @ 4/8mb or go to ADSL 2 and get a 24mb line, however limited wireless routers for ADSL 2 so would have to use the supplied unit.

P.S. due to my current ISP I'm having huge trouble getting my MAC code to actually leave them!

My main query is whats the best Wireless Router (if I go the cable route) - so NO built-in modem!

[nvidiaOCmaster]

Linksys wireless-G.

[Krome]

I've used several Netgear WGT624[SC] Super-G Routers. They certainly get the job done, and are fairly inexpensive. I've always paired it with Netgear Super-G Cards [PCI/Notebook], and setup is a snap via the M$ Zero Configuration Utility.

[Axion]

anymore opinions?

surely more than TWO people have wireless routers/opinions!

[Sucka]

Linksys WRT54GS for me.

[dicecca112]

same with me great router

[wrangler88]

i work where i set up all differnt types of routers weekly, i used to be a diehard linksys fan, but within the last few months it seems their quality has gone down, if u want crazy broadcast distance go with the netgear rangemax 204, just make sure u dont have an intel 3945 abg card because as of last time it wasnt supported and will make the router reboot over and over again, my favorite all time router is the belkin N rotuer, weather or not u use the N is up to you, i have the N desktop card and notebook card and it is faster than normal G not by much but u can sorta tel the differnce, very easy to setup , just make sure when u encrypt it you use WPA instead of wep, for some reason when u use wep it works for a few hours then u gotta reboot the router, ive been connected for 5 days now and not one connection issure or had to reboot, it doesnt have the range of the rangemax 240 but it is still a very nice router, i would stay away from the linksys N router it seems to have less range than linksys's normal G router, or just go with the normal netgear rangemax router for around 100 bucks very nice router also...

[mortimer]

I went with this Belkin. A mistake. Loses connectivity every hour or two. Requires rebooting it and the Arris modem that Comcast uses.

[Axion]

well ive decided on the cable broadband route so i do need a new router - i dont think i can use my current one - a Netgear DG834GT (it doesnt have an ethernet in) - anyone know if i could somehow?

1. Netgear WGT624 108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router
2. Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G SpeedBooster Broadband Router/4-Port Switch
3. Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Router/4-Port Switch
4. Wireless-G WHR-HP-G54 MIMO Performance* Router & Access Point

I'm thinking of hardiwiring the 2 desktops in the house and using wireless only for the laptops - the upstairs comp currently uses wireless, but wireless is just annoying

Any of these routers got problems with: p2p, lan/wlan simult, dropping connection - i dont really need huge range, just good speed/reliability.

[four4875]

i believe the wrt54gs is the same as the trt54g rev 1.4 and before, and uses a linux based firmware, and theres tons of third party firmwares out there to add functionality.

[Sucka]

I'll just speak on behalf of the WRT54GS, but it has been a great router for me. That thing will stay online for days without a single dropped connection to my hardlined PC's or either of the 2 wireless notebooks. Signal strenght is good. I use HyperWRT firmware and i can't say enough about my router. I've been connected to several routers in my days via wireless and i can honestly say this one has been the best for me. Maybe i got a good one, but this is just my opinion on it.

[Axion]

ive heard the new revision of the WRT54GS (v5 or 6) are really really bad
- half ram or something...

and that the GL is much better

is this true?

[ati]

Yes it is. Basically there used to be only one wrt54g that came in versions up to 4v. The crap 54g is v5 and probbaly anything else after and the GL is basically 4v that is sold as another 54g model because linksys knows there is a market out there for people who like to mod them.

[dicecca112]

Originally Posted by mortimer

I went with this Belkin. A mistake. Loses connectivity every hour or two. Requires rebooting it and the Arris modem that Comcast uses.

yeah I had a belkin too and it was crap with my comcast, switched to the GS like Sucka and everything has been perfect

[rainless]

It all depends on what you want to do with your router.

Me personally I would recommend versatility. If you look at Toms Hardware guide the Netgear you mentioned has the best routing capabilities... but it's not all that versatile.

I started out with a D-Link 524 or 590 or whatever their 500 series router is, which I promptly exchanged for a Linksys WRT54G. It runs at 200mhz and has 16mb of RAM. Best of all you can upgrade the firmware at www.sveasoft.com

Everything over 4 sucks except for the GL. So if you get one make sure you get a GL.

However I would recommend, if it is available in the states or wherever you are, the ASUS WL-500g Deluxe. It comes with USB PORTS so you can do all KINDS of magical stuf... (and it also works with sveasoft firmware)

[Axion]

Sorry for sounding stupid - but how does having USB ports on my router help me? Easier networking of printers and other USB peripherals?

Anyway I'm in the UK - and can get the GL for £47.

How are its wired networking capabilities? As I plan to use both wireless/wired simultaneously

[gorilly]

Originally Posted by Axion

Sorry for sounding stupid - but how does having USB ports on my router help me? Easier networking of printers and other USB peripherals?

Anyway I'm in the UK - and can get the GL for £47.

How are its wired networking capabilities? As I plan to use both wireless/wired simultaneously

if you are in the uk prob cheapest place you can buy from is either

www.ebuyer.co.uk
www.dabs.com

[klingens]

sveasoft is a very bad choice for a modded firmware: 20$ per year. use HyperWRT or such instead

[Axion]

Originally Posted by gorilly

if you are in the uk prob cheapest place you can buy from is either

www.ebuyer.co.uk
www.dabs.com

Off-Topic: www.overclockers.co.uk is often better, not for price, but for selection.

For instance eBuyer is great if they have the product, but u cant check the revision number or anything like that.

Overclockers UK is smaller, and more tailor-made. They have the GL, they actually give more information on their products and thus are often a very good source of equipment in the UK.

I basically buy everything from either ocuk or eBuyer.

[rainless]

Originally Posted by Axion

Sorry for sounding stupid - but how does having USB ports on my router help me? Easier networking of printers and other USB peripherals?

Ummm... no. You can connect a USB HARD DRIVE to it. This means that you'll have permanent network access to all the information on that drive. You could use it as a media server. You could use it to transfer files when your computer is off. With the right firmware you could even use it as an FTP/Webserver and host a web page off of the thing. There's an absolutely unlimited amount of things you could do with it. Printer he says...

Originally Posted by Axion

How are its wired networking capabilities? As I plan to use both wireless/wired simultaneously

It's wired networking capabilities should be on par with or slightly superior to the Linksys products since they basically use the same Broadcomm chip.

And to the person who dissed SVEASOFT, somehow 20 dollars a year doesn't seem like that much money to me. It's less than 2 dollars a month. I am not a rich man, but even I can pull that off.