Which router to buy?

[Ant]

Hi.

It looks like over three years old Linksys WRT54GL (already tried latest
firmwares and reset back to default factory settings) is getting closer
to its death since I just had a long lag/disconnection on LAN (couldn't
ping my router either) earlier. I should start looking and buying a new
one to replace it before it is totally dead/broken.

Since Christmas has ended, there should be some after Christmas sales.
On http://www.salescircular.com/ca/computer/wrlsnp.shtml ... I saw some
cheap prices, but are those worth getting for a small two floor house
with hardwired giga speeds, secured wireless, and supports EASY to do
third party firmwares? I could get another Netgear R6300 router like I
did for my clients, but $169.99 is still high and who knows long that
will last like my previous Linksys routers. :/

Thank you in advance. :)
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[GlowingBlueMist]

On 12/27/2012 12:49 AM, Ant wrote:
> Hi.
>
> It looks like over three years old Linksys WRT54GL (already tried latest
> firmwares and reset back to default factory settings) is getting closer
> to its death since I just had a long lag/disconnection on LAN (couldn't
> ping my router either) earlier. I should start looking and buying a new
> one to replace it before it is totally dead/broken.
>
> Since Christmas has ended, there should be some after Christmas sales.
> On http://www.salescircular.com/ca/computer/wrlsnp.shtml ... I saw some
> cheap prices, but are those worth getting for a small two floor house
> with hardwired giga speeds, secured wireless, and supports EASY to do
> third party firmwares? I could get another Netgear R6300 router like I
> did for my clients, but $169.99 is still high and who knows long that
> will last like my previous Linksys routers. :/
>
> Thank you in advance. :)

I have had good luck so far with a couple of Belkin Share Max 300's so far.

They are available for around $20.

Here is a link with one place selling them for $20. with free shipping.

http://slickdeals.net/f/4761062-Belkin-Share-Max-N300-Gigabit-Wireless-N-Router-w-Two-USB-Ports-F7D7301-20

The router is supported by both DD-WRT and Tomato firmwares. USB
versions of Tomato is preferred as the router has two USB ports that can
be attached to a printer and or external USB hard drives.

The router is only a single channel transmitter but unless you
absolutely want/need dual radio outputs this will do what you want.

And back to your existing Linksys, if you have another external power
supply you can try it might be worth the attempt. If the wall wart is
going flaky the router can act like you describe.

[Ant]

On 12/27/2012 8:53 AM PT, GlowingBlueMist typed:

> On 12/27/2012 12:49 AM, Ant wrote:
>> Hi.
>>
>> It looks like over three years old Linksys WRT54GL (already tried latest
>> firmwares and reset back to default factory settings) is getting closer
>> to its death since I just had a long lag/disconnection on LAN (couldn't
>> ping my router either) earlier. I should start looking and buying a new
>> one to replace it before it is totally dead/broken.
>>
>> Since Christmas has ended, there should be some after Christmas sales.
>> On http://www.salescircular.com/ca/computer/wrlsnp.shtml ... I saw some
>> cheap prices, but are those worth getting for a small two floor house
>> with hardwired giga speeds, secured wireless, and supports EASY to do
>> third party firmwares? I could get another Netgear R6300 router like I
>> did for my clients, but $169.99 is still high and who knows long that
>> will last like my previous Linksys routers. :/
>>
>> Thank you in advance. :)
>
> I have had good luck so far with a couple of Belkin Share Max 300's so far.
>
> They are available for around $20.
>
> Here is a link with one place selling them for $20. with free shipping.
>
> http://slickdeals.net/f/4761062-Belkin-Share-Max-N300-Gigabit-Wireless-N-Router-w-Two-USB-Ports-F7D7301-20

Wow. Cheap for a new one? Hmm,
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Share-N300-Wireless-Router/product-reviews/B004B1Z6EE/
doesn't seem to love it though.

> The router is supported by both DD-WRT and Tomato firmwares. USB
> versions of Tomato is preferred as the router has two USB ports that can
> be attached to a printer and or external USB hard drives.
>
> The router is only a single channel transmitter but unless you
> absolutely want/need dual radio outputs this will do what you want.
>
> And back to your existing Linksys, if you have another external power
> supply you can try it might be worth the attempt. If the wall wart is
> going flaky the router can act like you describe.

Interesting. I will have to find one that matches it.
--
"Stir up an ant's nest." --unknown

[GlowingBlueMist]

I agree with many of the complaints but for the most part they were with
the stock firmware, and the early version at that. For me the stock
Belkin firmware, first version issued, did not like to use my external
USB drives to make a NAS. Loaded in the USB version of Tomato and was
able to get things working. True it is a slimmed down version of a NAS
but for the price and since I am the only user for it it does what I need.

I have been using either Tomato or DD-WRT on mine with no problems other
than those caused by my inexperience with some parts of DD-WRT.

I find the Wiki Tutorials

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Tutorials

and the forums to be of great assistance in keeping me on the right path
when doing something like bridging two of them over the internet using
OpenVPN. Having both set for the same subnet with one issuing DHCP
address 2-100 and the other set to give out 101 to 200 and
servers/printers all using fixed IP's above 200. It took the tutorials
to correctly set the firewalls to block the two boxes from both trying
to issue IP address values to the same users. The two sites in question
have business class cable modem connections and the VPN has been stable
once I ironed out the bugs. Either site can access the file servers at
either location and both are used to back-up the other over the VPN
during the evening hours when they are closed.

For DD-WRT you do have to load the preliminary small version of the
DD-WRT firmware, the one that has the same model number as part of the
firmware name. It should load using just the default firmwares upgrade
menu with out the need for TFTP or other methods of firmware
transferring. Be sure to default the box to "factory" settings before
starting the firmware upgrade. Follow that up with the final DD-WRT
version of the firmware you want to run and you should be on your way.

The two USB port model numbers, F7D3301 and F7D7301 are the same box
internally. Use the same initial firmware for either.

The one USB port version F7D3302 and F7D7302 are the same box
internally. Again, use the same initial firmware for either box.

Why they issue two different model numbers for the same hardware I have
never figured out. Possibly an old marketing gimmick that allows them
to charge a higher price for one model over the other as in Business
customers versus Home use.

Here is a link to the Belkin/DD-WRT compatibility models as well as many
other brands if you scroll up or down the list. Nice being able to
identify what voltage/current ratings various routers need when I have
to purchase a new wall wart for one of them or pick up a surplus box
somewhere that no longer has one. It also helps to be able to check out
the memory size and such of the various models when making a decision on
what to purchase.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices#Belkin

[alexd]

Ant (for it is he) wrote:

> Wow. Cheap for a new one? Hmm,
> http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Share-N300-Wireless-Router/product-
reviews/B004B1Z6EE/
> doesn't seem to love it though.

Note that none of the bad reviews are from DD-WRT users. In other words, the
hardware is willing, but the stock firmware is weak.

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