Choosing a new wireless router

[TimberTDI]

Hey all,

My current linksys wireless router is on life support. I need to reboot it at least once a day. It's almost five years old and running 24/7. I need advice on buying a new one. When I bought the current one I only had one laptop hooked up, five years later the list of toys got a lot longer.

Here's a list of what it needs to do:

• 4 laptops
• 2 desktops (wired) will probably get knocked down to one
  
• 3 Ipod touches
• 2 Psp
• 2 printers (1 wireless/1 networked)
• 1 NAS Drive
• 1 PS3 (BTW I'm tired of lagging on COD)
• Plus whatever else the next five years bring

Granted not everything is running at once but there is always steady traffic going on in the house.

So any suggestions? Also what's a good networking software to manage all the connections? The current router is a Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX200 WRT54GX2 and the latest firmware was released on 05/01/07.

Thanks,
Steven

 

[juiceguy]

I had an Apple router for 3 years without a hitch, it only lacks in the speed category but by far the most stable router i ever had. the only reason i had to switch is because i got FIOS and they supply there own router.

 

[Reef Reaper]

Upgrade to the N router.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I like the linksys but the D-Link N routers get great reviews from Maximum PC Magazine.



http://www.maximumpc.com/

 

[CrashGibson]

Before buying any new tinker toys I check both the editors n consumer reviews at cnet. I love they have videos of product, compares to others n same catagory n tells not only pros but cons as well. They also will make suggestions to better products at the same price. It would be a good idea to ask the forum there as well. I currently use the linksys gateway which is a modem n router in one.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[Josh]

One thing you probably want to consider is getting a router with 2 radios (not antennas, radios). This way you can run both N and A/B/G without them interfering with each other. If you get a single radio unit and turn on N, it will basically run at G speed with all those G devices you listed. Having dedicated G and N radios will allow your laptop to run at N while the iPods and other miscellaneous stuff runs at the slower G. I know the Apple Airport Extreme does this, not sure about which Linksys, Netgear or Dlink do it, but they should have models that have it.

 

[xvinny631x]

Stay away from netgear! garbage with kool lights lol

 

[reefer-nyc]

Cisco 881/891, wink Josh.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9556/index.html

 

["Shottaz"]

now that s what i call a wireless router reefer-NYC

 

[TimberTDI]

yeah nice router but I prefer to keep the price tag in the 3 digits.


I'm looking at the linksys wrt610

 

[Teddy]

i dont think the linksys wrt610 support printer shared through network

 

[reefman]

Try upgrading all of your PC LAN adapters to gigibit ethernet & install a gigabit ethernet switch to your router to increase internal traffic, and make sure you have proper cables, rates for CAT6 or better. for wireless, make sure all wireless devices r N rated. set all devices on static ip.

 

[Harif87]

yeah nice router but I prefer to keep the price tag in the 3 digits.


I'm looking at the linksys wrt610

I have had the linksys WRT610 router for about a year now and it has been very reliable. Not sure about the printer sharing situation though.

btw what ever you do stay away from any belkin routers...

 

[Josh]

Cisco 881/891, wink Josh.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9556/index.html

I'm thinking about the SA500s, heard anything about them yet?

Basically something that will support incoming L2TP sessions but has a built in N AP. Right now I have my 5505 and a few APs and would like to consolidate.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have the linksys I thing you can share the printer. Not sure though I just print from my PC.

 

[inkblue]

 

[TimberTDI]

Both printers are network printers (one wireless/ one wired).

harif,

How convenient is the is the "built in" NAS drive?

 

[Davidl919]

I like this ambit but it is not dual channel. It supports a variety of configurations for printers. Pretty good for the price and it has full support of DD-Wrt firmware. Here

Linksys 610 is a good Dual Channel they are selling it refurbished direct from manufacturer with Storage link For about $110. Here

 

[cmor1701d]

WRT610N all the way. I got one when my d-link bit the dust. Dual channels so I can stream netflix, SI, etc to both tv's and work on the laptop, and check out the tank-cam.

This thing in conjuction with the wireless bridge is just awesome.

 

[bad coffee]

Airport extreme + Airport express on the other side of your house.

I have it set up with airtunes and the laser printer on the express, and soon the color printer will be on the extreme. I have a mac so all I do is hit print. Setting up a PC was a few steps. But there's a download that should make things easier.

Managing the network is super easy with the software that came with it. Setup, passwords, and manual addressing is a snap.

B