I'm looking to replace the router for my wireless internet on the account that I have frequent connection drops and I often get kicked/dropped out of matches while playing various online games (TF2, MW2, Uncharted 2)
The router I currently have is a 2Wire 2701HG-B, which I've heard is quite bad (granted at the time we didn't know, which was about 3 years ago)
I know from experience that before buying a technological upgrade it's usually a good idea to do some research first, so I started looking through some at various shopping sites and reading the reviews.
The reviews, however, are quite useless. It's generally split down the middle with half the reviews being 1 star, the other half being 5 star, from people who give the product too much credit or from idiots who can't till which end is the end you plug in and can't figure it out.
So that brings me here, a tech savvy friend of mine suggested a Linksys brand router ([url]http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Linksys+-+Wireless-G+Broadband+Router+with+4-Port+Ethernet+Switch/8741365.p?skuId=8741365&id=1202648529130[/url] this one to be specific, which is the one I'm currently looking at) telling me how well his runs. The net connection that I have currently is DSL, with my download speed capping at around 600-700kb/s (which is apparently the highest DSL will offer, so I'm told) so I'm not in need of a crazy fast router, just something more up to date.
If any of you has some recommendations of routers they use or have used, or could give me warnings on which to avoid, that would be very much appreciated.
[b]Tl;dr[/b], I need a new router, I need recommendations.
I recommend linksys aswell as brand, however i do not know what router of them to buy since i am not that well know in that area.
I use a Sitecom 300N-XR :
[url]http://www.sitecom.com/Wireless-Gigabit-Router-300N-XR/WL-306/p/659[/url]
I have never had a problem with it and still works like a charm.
Also, how much are you willing to spend?
Linksys are fine, as long as you are prepared to take security seriously. Some 'hackers' on YT started showing people how easy it was to get past the WEP since the default password was linksys. You should be able to configure the routers security settings so it shouldn't be an issue.
Do you require 802.11n? If not, get a WRT54GL (not WRT54G2) and install Tomato or DD-WRT on it.
I'm going to be suggesting this until they discontinue those routers.
[QUOTE=G@merGeek;19377034]Linksys are fine, as long as you are prepared to take security seriously. Some 'hackers' on YT started showing people how easy it was to get past the WEP since the default password was linksys. You should be able to configure the routers security settings so it shouldn't be an issue.[/QUOTE]
And most other routers don't have WEP on at all by default. At least Linksys is trying.
[QUOTE=Specter;19382910]And most other routers don't have WEP on at all by default. At least Linksys is trying.[/QUOTE]
In the UK this is not the case. Most ISP's shipping routers make WEP default, often opting for WPA-TKIP as an alternative.
I got a DIR-615 for $40 on Boxing day.
It was worth it, I literally had a 10x speed increase from my laptop via wifi when compared with my old D-Link Wireless G (Forgot the model)
[QUOTE=G@merGeek;19383632]In the UK this is not the case. Most ISP's shipping routers make WEP default, often opting for WPA-TKIP as an alternative.[/QUOTE]
Those pieces of crap don't count. They don't even support routing outside of just a regular modem and router configuration.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;19382412]Do you require 802.11n? If not, get a WRT54GL (not WRT54G2) and install Tomato or DD-WRT on it.
I'm going to be suggesting this until they discontinue those routers.[/QUOTE]
Seconded.
Rockin' a WRT54G ver. 2
WRT54Gs, then install DD-WRT custom firmware on it...
[QUOTE=Zeke129;19382412]Do you require 802.11n? If not, get a WRT54GL (not WRT54G2) and install Tomato or DD-WRT on it.
I'm going to be suggesting this until they discontinue those routers.[/QUOTE]
My friend suggested that one, however looking it up on the Best Buy website took me to the one I linked in my previous post, meaning they don't sell them at Best Buy I guess. Currently I have no credit or debit card so finding these in a store is ideal, and the one I posted above is apparently the upgraded version of the WRT54GL.
And, oddly enough, the 2Wire router we've been using has had WEP as its default encryption, I didn't realize this was a rarity, interesting.
I'm not sure why Zeke129 suggested not to get a WRT54G2, but there is nothing wrong with that router. I currently have one running DD-WRT (configured currently to bridge mode, connecting my girlfriend's 360 and my media PC to the internet), and it works great.
For my main router I use a Netgear WNDR3700, but that's probably a bit overkill for you.
[QUOTE=YodaEXE;19388970]I'm not sure why Zeke129 suggested not to get a WRT54G2, but there is nothing wrong with that router. I currently have one running DD-WRT (configured currently to bridge mode, connecting my girlfriend's 360 and my media PC to the internet), and it works great.
[/QUOTE]
Because, as far as I know, Tomato doesn't work on it yet. I prefer Tomato to DD-WRT, so it's just a matter of personal preference.
It seems routers a bit more complicated then I had initially realized, I didn't know you could even install custom firmware or the likes on a router, so I suppose I don't really have a preference on the software that comes with it. How difficult is it to install such software, will it have the risk of harming the router at all?
Installing custom firmware is fairly simple, there are detailed guides for both [url=http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tomato_%28firmware%29/Installation_and_Configuration]Tomato[/url] and [url=http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation]DD-WRT[/url] available. Mind you flashing the firmware on anything can sometimes be risky I have never heard of anyone bricking their router that properly followed the instructions, it's usually when they try to flash it over wireless or there was a sudden power failure.
You might want to think about what kinds of features you want in a custom firmware too and if you think you'll actually need them. Don't get me wrong I've been running Tomato/MLPPP on my WRT54GL since I got it and it's been the most solid piece of hardware I've owned, never needed to intentionally restart it at all and I really like some of the features it offers. But custom firmware is only available on certain series of routers and if you read over the Tomato and DD-WRT pages and you don't think you'll use any of the features you might as well stick with the stock firmware. If you think you're interested in what custom firmware has to offer and you don't think you'll need wireless N you can't go wrong with a WRT54GL sporting Tomato or DD-WRT. I have yet to hear about anyone that's been disappointed after installing custom firmware on their router.
The router problem is solved, turns out we had a Linksys WRT54G stashed around when we got the original Xbox to set up with Live, thinking we'd need it.
Unfortunately we have no modem, as we discovered that the router we use doubles as its own modem, therefore eliminating our need to purchase one (at the time.)
We did try to use that router as a modem while hooking the other router up to it, however this yielded no results. If the 2Wire router has a "modem only" option it might fix the problem, however I know of no such thing.
Thank you for the help guys. Problem is solved.
[QUOTE=villa;19387445]And, oddly enough, the 2Wire router we've been using has had WEP as its default encryption, I didn't realize this was a rarity, interesting.[/QUOTE]
You should change that ASAP then. The default WEP key on those are a 10 digit serial number and are easily broken in about 15-20 minutes. I know people who haven't paid for internet in years due to the 2wire routers.
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