I'm looking at buying a third wireless router (hopefully this one will actually work) and have set eyes on the Linksys WRT54GL. I'm under the impression this is a competent router, am I right? Also, since the maximum connection speed necessary will be 6Mbps or so, I would like to drop the network connection with it to ensure a stable signal. How would this be done? Thanks in advance
Drop the network connection with it? I dont follow what you are wanting to do. I do know the GL runs Linux and you can get a 3rd party firmware on it which will allow you to tweak the hell out of the signal to suit your needs. Here is some info regarding that. http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1934567,00.asp ~Rich
sammorris,youre wireless router does not need to be set a 6Mbps to get that.if u have a wireless router with 128MBPS.it will automatically adjust to 6MBPS.what isp and routers did u try as some are not compatible with ceratin isp's.take aol and belkin for exmaple.did you also check the type of connecion.eg adsl+2 adsl and dsl?
It's ADSL1 at 6Mbps, and UKOnline ISP, local-loop but a standard router-compatible connection afaik. I heard if you lower the speed a router connects at (from 54Mbps down to your ISP speed) it improves the signal.
Some also say it's a lousy router, though there might be some remedies. http://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=302809&highlight=lousy+router I don't think lowering speed would have much effect on signal stability, except maybe at exreme ranges (read: lowest signal strength). And if it did, that might be a good thing, from a security perspective. Then again, I don't network over really large areas.
I haven't bought it yet! The only reason I chose the WRT54GL is that it's supposed to be good (differing severely from the known-bad WRT54G version 5) I note that article even says in the first page!
if u want a good signal over a long distance just check atheros extended range on the router start up page.
its a special setting available in certain "good" routers such as netgear.it amplifies the signal to its max
did you use an external usb adpater?im guessing so since you built your pc yourself.what do you mean by not working like it not receiving signals? edit - did you have the DG834GT?
No I had the DG814. It was a wired router (I've yet to use wireless, both routers that previously failed have just been using LAN cables). The DG814 would work for a few hours until it got too hot and then just got slower and slower until it wouldn't even load its own control panel (192.168.0.1) needing a 1-2 hour cooldown period. For every 3 hours or so that's unacceptable. The D-Link DSL-G604T I had didn't use to be like that, but did the same after a few months. Different failing (Connect ppp0 and it hung) but nonetheless same effect. I have yet to find a router that nobody has told me is crap, the DG834GT and various others included.
it depends what you use your router for.if youre transferring data all day at max speed of course its gonna get hot.but i just put mines next to the freezer and its fine as for problems ive not had any major ones.
Not having a freezer near a telephone socket I can't do that. I don't transfer tonnes of data all day, but I do transfer a reasonable amount, and even left to idle the netgear still overheated.
PC World (of you're prepared to play their inflated prices) will be a good place to return it if you're not happy with it. What you could do is buy your given choice of router from PC World, try it out and even months later you could refund it and buy the same model online for much cheaper. I know it's a bit naughty but i only recommend this as i've had sooo many problems with routers over so many months and sheer and utter frustration drove me to distraction. I now have two Linksys routers, the WAG54GS and the WRT54G (version 5) and both are awesome in my opinion, super stable. I thoroughly tested the WAG54GS on the river on my just-under-4Meg connection with a couple PC's hooked up and i'm using the WRT54G (as i say it's version 5) in the house that has at least 3 or 4 PC's running for many hours at a time with zero problems. This router has been running absolutely flawlessly since the day i bought it, after 2 Belkin's were failing many many times EVERY day on the exact same connection. ps my Belkin's got frighteningly hot but even putting my Asaka notebook cooler underneath the routers didn't stop the hangs (kept the routers very cool though). The Linksys's hardly get warm; I love wireless, all my PC's are wireless as the house is huge and Victorian and drilling through any of the huge ceilings or walls is a no-no as there's so mch asbestos in the place. I have a load of Linksys WMP54G PCI cards and they're bulletproof (and all around the £20 mark from amazon). Most of my WMP54G's are RT2500 chipset with a couple being RT61; the reason i chose this particular model was because of known Linux compatability and they have more than proven themselves in this regard. The house connection is only 1.5 or 2Meg and i get a great signal off all cards even though the house is so big and and walls so thick. My laptop also has wireless built-in and it's been a brilliant and convenient experience to use wireless (now that my router horrors are over that is). edit- if i do experience problems with the WRT54GS i will replace it with the WRT54GL (one of my routers is 125Mbps, the other is 54Mbps, 54Mbps is more than sufficient for my needs though)
OK thanks for the advice creaky, I shall try for the WRT54GL, interesting your v5 has been solid, I hear of untold issues with those, so despite your fortunate scenario I'll stick to the Linux-based version. Interesting strategy with PC world. If mine was stable, I'd keep it to avoid risking getting a bad one!
