What is the best wireless router to get right now?

[RabidBear]

WRT54G vs WRT54GL

If you've got to go with Linksys then do not get WRT54G get the WRT54GL instead. Both the WRT54G and the NetGear routers that I had, had to manually powered down and reset every couple of days. Sometimes, multiple times in a day. I don't recall the exact cause of the problem other than it had something to do with how they handle P2P traffic.

I dumped both of them and went for the WRT54GL, I haven't had a random lock up since and it's been almost a year.

 

[bruf]

I currently have a WRT54G v3 and it's flawless. If you want to go wireless-G, it's the way to go. What about N routers, any thoughts on Linksys offerings?

- WRT350N (my #1 pick right now besides Airport Extreme)
- WRT150N (looks like a good barebone router)
- WRT300N (didn't get good reviews)

?

 

[aanathan345]

I'm considering the new Airport Extreme and the Linksys WRT350N, which has 4-port Gigabit + USB port. I want to use the USB port for an external HDD, both offer this feature but I don't know if both implement it well.

Also, you mention you also share your printers to all computers in your network, how do you do that since you use the USB port for your external HDD?

Thx,

I currently have the WRT350 N and it is great. All you need to do you insert a USB hub to have more available ports. The only place where this router is at a disadvantage versus the Airport Extreme is that you must purchase a print server to print wireless (But is does have a Gigabit Switch, which to me is substantially more useful than wireless printing)

 

[bruf]

I currently have the WRT350 N and it is great. All you need to do you insert a USB hub to have more available ports. The only place where this router is at a disadvantage versus the Airport Extreme is that you must purchase a print server to print wireless (But is does have a Gigabit Switch, which to me is substantially more useful than wireless printing)

Thx for the info. Do you need to wipe all the data from your external HDD prior to plugging it in the router via USB and reformat once networked (via a Linksys util for example) or does it recognize NTFS, FAT32 and HFS+ partitions natively?

I'm looking at this solution because I have Macs & PCs in my network and I want a single network storage for all my computers, I don't want to mess with sharing folders, SMB and all the problems that come with this.

How do you configure it in a heterogeneous network?

Thanks,

 

[aanathan345]

Thx for the info. Do you need to wipe all the data from your external HDD prior to plugging it in the router via USB and reformat once networked (via a Linksys util for example) or does it recognize NTFS, FAT32 and HFS+ partitions natively?

I'm looking at this solution because I have Macs & PCs in my network and I want a single network storage for all my computers, I don't want to mess with sharing folders, SMB and all the problems that come with this.

How do you configure it in a heterogeneous network?

Thanks,

If you have a NTFS or FAT32 drive it will recognize it immediately (and all its contents) without any fuss no need to reformat. HFS is not supported natively but there are ways around this limitation if you are interested just let me know. Once NAS is mapped in windows their shouldn't be any problems. Anything else you need to know feel free to ask.

 

[hammondc]

Do I have to have the Airport Extreme to use the Airport Express units? I was going to get 2 Express units...... 1 for a printer and 1 for an External HD.

TIA!

 

[MacinDoc]

Do I have to have the Airport Extreme to use the Airport Express units? I was going to get 2 Express units...... 1 for a printer and 1 for an External HD.

TIA!

Airport Express units are independent of any other routers - you don't have to have another router to use them. However, I don't think they support external HDs, just printers and audio output.

 

[hammondc]

Airport Express units are independent of any other routers - you don't have to have another router to use them. However, I don't think they support external HDs, just printers and audio output.

Thanks! Didn't know those did not support HDDs. This will be my first Mac and my first experience with wireless. I have alot of learning to do. Especially with wireless. I have been searching and reading like a madman over the past week. There is a LOT more to wireless than I thought. Transferring wireless to the HDD would be sweet, but not a huge deal I suppose. Do you know of any routers that will work as both printer and HDD server?

 

[cjcstl]

HFS is not supported natively but there are ways around this limitation if you are interested just let me know.

I am looking for a way to get the wrt350n v1 to recognize an hfs+ partition to use for time machine. I have searched this and other forums with no luck...Can you help aanathan345?

 

[dgdosen]

I've always found Netgear stuff to be the best, personally.

I'm with you - the Linksys hardware I buy burns out after a year or two. Netgear hardware has lasted.

 

[J&JPolangin]

- WRT150N (looks like a good barebone router)
?

I've had good experience with two of these routers here in Japan where I'm stationed for almost two years now.

By good experience, I mean in buildings that have all cement wall construction from floor to ceiling for earth quake protection on base.

In the same building there is also an AEBS and an AExpress - the base station seems to work well but the AE has to be restarted many times per day...

At home I had a net gear unit that burned out after 12.5 months so no warranty claim - that was replaced by a Linksys 54GS that burned out in 12 days so the "retail" store I bought it from was given an RMA by Link sys since they wouldn't ship to a military address directly and the retail store replaced me with a new 54 gs router that has been running fine ever since for ~2 yrs.

I know for Xmas I'll be getting an AEBS though as I've wanted to network a HDD to all my PC's and one Mac for some time now.

 

[Solemony]

I have the same model as you except it's ver. 7 and its doing really good right now. Maybe you needed a firmware update to fix your problem?...

 

[SirDude]

If you have a NTFS or FAT32 drive it will recognize it immediately (and all its contents) without any fuss no need to reformat. HFS is not supported natively but there are ways around this limitation if you are interested just let me know. Once NAS is mapped in windows their shouldn't be any problems. Anything else you need to know feel free to ask.

I am feeling free to ask right now...

I cant get this thing to set up and work so that I can access it through mac os..

any suggestions?!

 

[yayitsezekiel]

I use a Netgear wireless N router. works amazing

 

[Dr-Ed]

HFS support for WRT3530

If you have a NTFS or FAT32 drive it will recognize it immediately (and all its contents) without any fuss no need to reformat. HFS is not supported natively but there are ways around this limitation if you are interested just let me know. Once NAS is mapped in windows their shouldn't be any problems. Anything else you need to know feel free to ask.

Hi There, can you advise how you set-up the HFS partition for the USB attached disk? I am trying to set-up FAT32/NTFS and HFS for PC and MAC access.

Thanks for your tip!

 

[Golfer00ksu]

HAD the netgear and always had to reset it. Returned it for the extreme and not had one issue to speak of. Well worth the extra $40