Best Wireless Router For a 100?

[Refreshment]

I always complement the next purchase research with a lil B3D forum thread. Good advice is valuable and always welcomed.

Just like the title expresses whats the recommend (or more feature rich) wireless router for a 100 United States of America Dollars?

Also interested to hear about a companion wireless card or USB adapter for the desktop.

Any draw backs with wireless tech? I heard it has issues with torrents. Is this true?

Hope someone can lend a hand here.

 

[{Sniping}Waste]

I been using a Dlink RIR-655 and been very happy with it. The range is good like usable even going out of the house and down the ally a house down. As for torrents it works great too. It very fast and to test it (Im using Verizon FIOS) I had 3 systems download its max of 20mbits for FIOS and had 4 TV's stream video with FIOS TV on demand that the router has to direct with QoS and not a single drop on and TV or the 3 systems. The routers was dealing with over 90mbits with out any problems.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127215

 

[BRiT]

You should be able to pick up a multitude of solid wireless routers that are alternate firmware friendly (DD-WRT / Tomato) for under $100.

 

[Refreshment]

Glad i got some sugestions, thank you.

You should be able to pick up a multitude of solid wireless routers that are alternate firmware friendly (DD-WRT / Tomato) for under $100.

What do you think of the Dlink RIR-655 that {Sniping}Waste recommended? And why should i use an alternate firmware?

Also, if possible, i would like some input on a good USB Wireless receiver for a desktop.

 

[homerdog]

Linksys WRT54GL + Tomato.

 

[Hienn]

Glad i got some sugestions, thank you.

What do you think of the Dlink RIR-655 that {Sniping}Waste recommended? And why should i use an alternate firmware?

Also, if possible, i would like some input on a good USB Wireless receiver for a desktop.

One of the reasons an alternative firmware is recommended is that it allows the cheaper wireless routers to have many of the abilities that the more expensive routers have, and they tend to be better in general and more stable. The Linksys WRT54GL with the Tomato firmware is a good example. With the stock firmware that router is ok but with the Tomato firmware it becomes a very good (if not excellent) router.

 

[Refreshment]

One of the reasons an alternative firmware is recommended is that it allows the cheaper wireless routers to have many of the abilities that the more expensive routers have, and they tend to be better in general and more stable. The Linksys WRT54GL with the Tomato firmware is a good example. With the stock firmware that router is ok but with the Tomato firmware it becomes a very good (if not excellent) router.

When i did a research for the tomato firmware i just tough it allowed the router to be compatible with Linux. Apreciate the extra info there.

So it appears its between the D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N:
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-65...ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1241959013&sr=1-2

and the Linksys-Cisco WRT54GL Wireless-G:
http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Cisco...ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1241959013&sr=1-3

The Linksys its a lot cheaper but doesn't support the N protocol. I have budgeted for a 100 so any reasons why i shouldnt pick the D-link?

For the Wireless adapter i was thinking maybe:
D-Link DWA-130 Wireless N USB Adapter:
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DWA-13...f=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1241960264&sr=1-15

D-Link Wireless G USB 2.0 Adapter:
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-Wirele...ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1241960264&sr=1-3

D-Link DWA-140 RangeBooster Draft 802.11n Wireless USB:
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DWA-14...f=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1241962064&sr=1-15

What do the experts here think?

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Check out the DD-WRT website and look at what they recommend. Personally, I've been using a cheap Buffalo for the last couple of years with DD-WRT, and it's great. It had okay functionality with the stock firmware, but DD-WRT gave it capabilities only seen on routers costing four times the price.

 

[{Sniping}Waste]

I have both routers and the dlink is a lot more powerful then the WRT54GL. The D-Link DIR-655 uses a stream processor and its very powerful compared to the WRT54GL.
Here's a website that test routers and the DIR-655 is near the top and the other routers that beat it are using a higher clock speed stream processor (same processor but clocked higher).
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_chart/Itemid,189/

 

[Hienn]

To be honest, I haven't really looked much at wireless routers for a long time (I'm using a WRT54G with Thibor15c firmware). The WRT54GL is a dependable router, but the D-Link DIR-655 sounds like a really good deal from the little research I've done.

 

[Refreshment]

Check out the DD-WRT website and look at what they recommend. Personally, I've been using a cheap Buffalo for the last couple of years with DD-WRT, and it's great. It had okay functionality with the stock firmware, but DD-WRT gave it capabilities only seen on routers costing four times the price.

Thanks for the link. The Dlink 655 is not listed, as for the rest of the routers in the list, non of them is wireless N.

I have both routers and the dlink is a lot more powerful then the WRT54GL. The D-Link DIR-655 uses a stream processor and its very powerful compared to the WRT54GL.
Here's a website that test routers and the DIR-655 is near the top and the other routers that beat it are using a higher clock speed stream processor (same processor but clocked higher).
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_chart/Itemid,189/

Can you recommend a wireless adapter?

I like to check the opinion of the end users and for the ones i listed in my previous post well, there are lots of opposite statements. The D-Link DWA-140 RangeBooster Draft 802.11n seems to be the top dog (as far as user experience goes) but it cost 50 dollars, as much as the linksys router... heh

I don't know if ill be tweaking these things.... I dont even know how hard is to flash a router.

But who knows, maybe i should hold up a little to see if something more definitive comes along

 

[Bludd]

If you are going to be torrenting, the DIR655 will let you pump more connections than the WRT54 routers.

Also it is N-spec.

 

[{Sniping}Waste]

I only use the wireless for notebooks so I can't help you on a wireless card or usb. I'm sure theres others hear that can help out there.

 

[UniversalTruth]

Guys, may you tell me which one would you prefer:

TP-Link TL-WDR4300 N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router

Belkin N + Router Surf N300

Canyon Wireless 802.11n AP Router +4 Port Switch 300Mbps

i-tec Wifi (N) 2 + Router 300Mbps

LINKSYS Wireless-N Home Router /WRT120N/

TP-LINK TL-WR842ND 300Mbps Multi-Function Wireless N Router

TP-LINK TL-WR841N 300Mbps Wireless N Router

Especially I am interested in your opinion about first 3 routers, but nevertheless, you can recommend whatever you prefer.

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

I like the Asus RT-N66U. The AC version is out if you want draft AC support, but it is twice the price.

 

[UniversalTruth]

Well, that Asus RT-N66U costs 146€ which is a little bit on the expensive side.
What about this, it looks amazing

Blockbuster Asus RT-N56U Gigabit Wireless Dualband LAN N Route

I want something like 75-90 € in the worst case, with preferable original choice below 40 €.

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Well, that Asus RT-N66U costs 146€ which is a little bit on the expensive side.

It's about €120 on Amazon

What about this, it looks amazing

Blockbuster Asus RT-N56U Gigabit Wireless Dualband LAN N Route




I want something like 75-90 € in the worst case, with preferable original choice below 40 €.

The N56U is an older version with internal antennas. You'll have to check the specs, but IIRC, it got pretty good reviews at the time. I can't remember if it's dual frequency.

The other thing you need to check is that it's got enough processor/memory for the speeds you want to use. I recently upgraded to the RT-N66U because my old Buffalo couldn't manage more than 40mbit and was choking my full speed. You probably also want something that's IPv6 compatible at this point.