the best router

can someone tell me which wireless router is best but a fairly low price

 

linksys, is def the way to go

 

i heard that d-link was!
i have a d-link 504 but know i want to get a new one because it aint wireless.
but i need a router less £100!
thanks

 

k
thanks!
can you tell me a good model?

 

Take a look for a WRT54G. Make sure it is not V5 (version 5). try to find a V3. With these, you can install your own firmware and really tweak the hell out of the router and boost its performance quite a bit. If you dont want to buy a used one (cant get anything but V5 in stores now), take a look at the WRT54GL.

Quick lesson. V1-V4 run linux for an OS. V5 uses....damn cant remember now. Anyway, people have found a way to install a 3rd party custom firmware on the linux OS routers. The WRT54GL, which is still available in some stores, is just a renamed V4 WRT54G. The L on the end is for Linux.

My $.02 worth.

~Rich

 

thanks.
but my friend said why dont i just get a wireless access point because i just need it so i can have wireless on my network.
do u think that would b better?
if so can u recomend a model?

 

If you just want to add wireless to an existing LAN, then an AP (access point) would be fine.

Option 1.
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...803676&pagename=Linksys/Common/VisitorWrapper

Option 2.
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...849913&pagename=Linksys/Common/VisitorWrapper

Option 1 is your basic run of the mill Linisys AP. Nothing really fancy here. Option 2 allows for SRX enabled devices to connect (SRX=more speed, pretty much.)

You should be able to get at least the first one in any retail electronics store. Not sure if the second one would be available in a store.


Is this the info you were looking for?

By the way. I am assuming here that you already have a router. Typically, you should use products from the same company to build your network infrastructure. Makes things easier, and they usually work together straight out of the box.

~Rich

 

i got a d-link router so can u reccomend a one from the same brand?
thanks for all the info by the way!

 

There are a few more options for D-link. To make things simple, this is the one I am going to recommend.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=326

Its a basic AP that is going to do exactly what you want.

If you have a D-Link wireless card with Extreme G capabilities, you can move up to another AP that will double your data transfer speeds. If its only going to be used for internet, this speed increase will have no impact.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=6

D-Link also has the Tri-mode APs. They work with a/b/g. 802.11a is not very common, so I doubt you have a use for it.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=304

So, basically, I would go with the first one. Cheapest one of the three, and it will do exactly what you want it to do.

For the best results, try to mount the AP somewhere higher in the house, like the second floor(if you have one). If not, try to keep it away from anything obstructing the antennas. Even electrical wires in the wall will affect the signal quality, so it may be a bit of trial and error placing the AP for best coverage in the house. Also, note that these operate on the 2.4Ghz freq. Same as a cordless phone. You may/can/will get interference from a cordless, so pay attention for the first couple of days. Loose connection when the phone rings? May want to consider downgrading to a 900Mhz phone.

Hpe this helps. Good luck.

~Rich

 

@DoubleDwn: What is wrong with the version 5 of that model? I have the 1.1 and want to upgrade. My son has the version 3, and it is much better than mine for the wireless part.

 

^^ He's right. The V5 runs openVX, not Linux. To upgrade to a 3rd party firmware, you need to solder a JTAG cable to the board inside the router, and send it from a PC. Very complicated stuff. The previous versions were all Linux based, and Linksys let the source code out for the firmware (because they were confident that people could not rebuild the kernel and get past their "only legit firmware can be installed" security thing).

The previous versions allow you to find a precompiled kernel built specifically for the WRT54G, and upload it to the router through the standard firmware update methods. These "hacked" firmwares have shown a 300% increase is output from the routers. In my book, thats HUGE!! Keep the V1.1, and get a 3rd party firmware. From what I hear, http://www.sveasoft.com/ is the best one out. There are a LOT of firmwares to choose from though. Google and ye shall find! Lots of cool info and hacks out there for these earlier routers.

Have fun!!

~Rich