"sim dual band" are two freq's that are transmitted at the same time from the AEBS so your G and N devices get their own full strength bandwidth signals all the time.
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Wireless Router: Which is best?
- Thread starter sirjpbear
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"sim dual band" are two freq's that are transmitted at the same time from the AEBS so your G and N devices get their own full strength bandwidth signals all the time.
sometimes these little black ants get out of control in the summer. they just seem to love routers and build a nest in them. lost a couple tat way.
We were going through several routers this year they all kept having problems. found it was the cable modem got a new one and all was fine.
Count me with the crowd that says not to expect much out of your router. If you set it up, connect a single computer to it and it never causes any problems, that's no surprise. But try having multiple wired and wireless connections, mixing both Windows and Mac machines that come and go from the network and see what happens. Under those circumstances, I haven't had a router that was reliable and neither have most people I know.
That said, I'm not a network admin, haven't had the level of experience that some have. So I don't doubt that there's something out there that has reasonable speeds over household or small office distances and can hold up under changing connections.
If there's something that people really like under these terms, I'd like to know about it, too. The aforementioned review for the D-Link DIR-655 seems like it could be a match.
That said, I'm not a network admin, haven't had the level of experience that some have. So I don't doubt that there's something out there that has reasonable speeds over household or small office distances and can hold up under changing connections.
If there's something that people really like under these terms, I'd like to know about it, too. The aforementioned review for the D-Link DIR-655 seems like it could be a match.
I got a linksys wrt-54L and an airport extreme base. Both were used to connect a mix of 1 macbook, 2 win laptops, 2 pc, 1 printserver, 1 voip router.
The wrt54L:
+Very versatile through 3rd party linux firmware. You can set up pretty much everything you can imagine.
+QOS
+Insanely stable. At the moment mine has an uptime of over 120days.
+Price
-54mbit max theoretical speed
-No gigabit lan
-No usb connectors. So no disk/printer sharing
Airport:
+USB. Disks and printers sharing
+Strong signal(similar to the linksys)
+N draft. 300mbit or so theoretical speed (dream on
)
+Gigabit lan
+Dual band - guest mode
-Price
-Settings are a bit minimalistic. No QOS
I kept both since they complete each other sort of
The wrt54L:
+Very versatile through 3rd party linux firmware. You can set up pretty much everything you can imagine.
+QOS
+Insanely stable. At the moment mine has an uptime of over 120days.
+Price
-54mbit max theoretical speed
-No gigabit lan
-No usb connectors. So no disk/printer sharing
Airport:
+USB. Disks and printers sharing
+Strong signal(similar to the linksys)
+N draft. 300mbit or so theoretical speed (dream on
)+Gigabit lan
+Dual band - guest mode
-Price
-Settings are a bit minimalistic. No QOS
I kept both since they complete each other sort of
I'm a hardcore Mac enthusiast, but I have to admit I've never gotten my Airport Extreme "space ship" wireless router to work as well as my Linksys WRT54G. I'm truly surprised that it plays with Macs as well as it does.
I have a DIR-655, it's a great router but it won't do 300mbps N unless you run it on 40MHz only, meaning no B/G clients in that mode. Otherwise, it does 160mbps N, and the chances are good you wouldn't be able to get 300 anyway.
The airport extreme and time capsule are great dual mode routers that can run N on 5.8ghz, and then you're all set!
Of course, they're also really expensive - I just saw a mention on fatwallet for a $70 DIR-655 while the airport extreme is $200.
The airport extreme and time capsule are great dual mode routers that can run N on 5.8ghz, and then you're all set!
Of course, they're also really expensive - I just saw a mention on fatwallet for a $70 DIR-655 while the airport extreme is $200.
I've had about half a dozen wireless routers over the years and the best have been Apple's AEBS and Time Capsule (I'm actually using both). Very easy to set up and very reliable. Also I don't care for all the tacky flashy lights the other ones have, but that's obviously subjective. Before these I had a Netgear that dropped its wireless connection every few minutes from Day 1, a couple of Linksys (one good, one bad), and a couple of D-Links (one good, one bad). The biggest problem with the bad routers isn't so much that they're bad because you can always get your money back. It's the hours you spend trying to make them work before you finally realize that you're wasting your time and give up on them.
I have used SMC routers for some years until my cable company made me a deal for an AVM Fitzbox!Fon 7270 for 50€ in a package deal with flat internet and flat telefon. The 7270 is a full blown base station for 5 wireless DECT telefone sets. It can act as a ADSL modem or receive an IP connection from a cable modem. It supports ISDN Telefones and Faxes as well as analog telefon and fax all over SIP connections via the internet or by POTS and ISDN. It has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, wireless N, USB 2.0 connection for printers and mass storage. All the newest hardware and software features are supported including seamless firmware updates by the push of a keyboard button. This is by far the best solution for every bit of communication I use in my home. It is a small sleek unit with one power supply. It replaced 6 different boxes and power supplies I had before. I also have an Apple TC but the 7270 is head and shoulders over it.
Since Apple upgraded the Time Capsule, I was thinking of trying to score a 500GB model to work as my primary router for cheaper then normal retail (just under $200).
However, I have a few concerns.
I currently run a Linksys WRT54G with tomato firmware.
It is regularly managing:
-my XBox 360 (phyically connected, I had a pre-existing physical ethernet connection running from upstairs into the basement from back in our houses pre-wireless days)
-My MacBook Pro
-2 or 3 wireless PC laptops
-1 wired desktop located near the modem and router itself
-1 Hackentosh'd OS X laptop
(luckily, we never use all these devices at once, haha)
I like that with my Tomato firmware, I can set-up QoS for my XBox and I love having the ability to disconnect users from the network if a family member decides to steal bandwidth when I'm playing games.
Now, I have heard that the Time Capsule does not have QoS, so how do I ensure no one throttles my bandwidth? Can I eject specific devices from the network? Will port forwarding help?
Otherwise, I might leave the current set-up in place, or buy a wireless n linksys and plug an external HDD into it. I know I might be able to wirelessly back-up to it, but I wouldnt be able to enter time machine from it.
However, I have a few concerns.
I currently run a Linksys WRT54G with tomato firmware.
It is regularly managing:
-my XBox 360 (phyically connected, I had a pre-existing physical ethernet connection running from upstairs into the basement from back in our houses pre-wireless days)
-My MacBook Pro
-2 or 3 wireless PC laptops
-1 wired desktop located near the modem and router itself
-1 Hackentosh'd OS X laptop
(luckily, we never use all these devices at once, haha)
I like that with my Tomato firmware, I can set-up QoS for my XBox and I love having the ability to disconnect users from the network if a family member decides to steal bandwidth when I'm playing games.
Now, I have heard that the Time Capsule does not have QoS, so how do I ensure no one throttles my bandwidth? Can I eject specific devices from the network? Will port forwarding help?
Otherwise, I might leave the current set-up in place, or buy a wireless n linksys and plug an external HDD into it. I know I might be able to wirelessly back-up to it, but I wouldnt be able to enter time machine from it.
There mention of the Linksys WRT54GS/GL here, along with the various newer routers. I'm interested in the GL for the third party firmware options, price and the reputed reliability. What won't I get with that that I would get with something like the D-Link DIR-655? I realize the D-Link has L support.
Generally, I'm using a 3 year old Windows desktop and a 2 year old MBP with the occasional other laptop that appears here and there. We'll probably add another machine to the mix before too long, too. So I don't think I have anything that uses the L standard right now, though that could change, I suppose.
More than anything, I want stability when machines come and go from the net, particularly via wireless, which tends to cause my current router to need rebooting.
Generally, I'm using a 3 year old Windows desktop and a 2 year old MBP with the occasional other laptop that appears here and there. We'll probably add another machine to the mix before too long, too. So I don't think I have anything that uses the L standard right now, though that could change, I suppose.
More than anything, I want stability when machines come and go from the net, particularly via wireless, which tends to cause my current router to need rebooting.
1. DIR-655 has gigabit ethernet. WRT54GL has 10/100Base-T. This is a huge plus if you ever need to transfer large amounts of data between computers!!
2. DIR-655 CPU is 275MHz. WRT54GL is 200MHz. I think this helps the DIR-655 maintain far more connections without freezing and requiring a restart. Even with DD-WRT, Tomato, or whatever custom firmware can not compensate for the lack of raw power.
3. DIR-655 supports 802.11b/g/n. WRT54GL supports 802.11b/g. 802.11n is a big plus if you transfer files between computers on the LAN or if you use something like usenet were you will see that 802.11g gets fully saturated quite easily.
4. DIR-655 has a USB port which features SharePort that can be used on Windows computers. (I have never used this feature.)
In terms of stability, I have set up four DIR-655s in different locations and none of them ever require a restart. This includes one location where my friend's kids use P2P extremely often. It is absolutely rock solid.
My experience with custom router firmware dates back several years. I used to experiment with them because I was looking to make my old WRT54G (before the GL was available) router more stable. I haven't had to deal with that since moving a D-Link DGL-4300 and later to a DIR-655. They do what they are supposed to without need for tweaking. Unless there's a specific feature of the custom firmware that you require, I'd just as rather avoid them.
I've messed with many different consumer level routers. In my opinion, the current generation of D-Link routers are top notch. Netgear firmware is rally bad (there was one instance where I could not even enable DMZ). Linksys has really fallen behind. They even tried to slip the horrible WRT54G (v5) by unsuspecting customers. Belkin has always made garbage. My experience with Apple's routers are very limited. But one of my friends did try one and went back to a DIR-655 citing lower throughput.
Again, much of this is just my opinion. YMMV.
personally I have had great success (mainly in the ease of the software) with Airports Expresses and Extremes
Great integration, easy way to learn networking (as I have done) and good wireless performance
Great integration, easy way to learn networking (as I have done) and good wireless performance
Just wondering: I'm assuming this feature does not work on the Mac (?)--or, if it does, then w00t. If not, does anyone know of any non-Airport routers that allow printer or storage sharing (like the AEBS) that play well with OS X?
Oooo, I did some Google-ing, and it looks like you might be able to get it working on OS X with a bit of work: http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=148273. Better than nothing, I suppose. And there is an unofficial rumor that D-Link is working on an OS X version of a SharePort app.
Alas, Airport is clearly your best bet (or should I say, my best bet...as I am looking for a router
).
Oooo, I did some Google-ing, and it looks like you might be able to get it working on OS X with a bit of work: http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=148273. Better than nothing, I suppose. And there is an unofficial rumor that D-Link is working on an OS X version of a SharePort app.
Alas, Airport is clearly your best bet (or should I say, my best bet...as I am looking for a router
Thanks for the info. May come in handy one day!
Thanks for all the detail, pastrychef. This is a big help. I had been thinking that my MBP didn't even support 802.11n, but it does. I think the DIR-655 is where I'm headed. Hopefully, there will be good Shareport support for OS X before too long.
I take it that the DIR-655 allows for wireless security settings like restricting access to a defined set of MAC addresses, etc. Is this true?
I take it that the DIR-655 allows for wireless security settings like restricting access to a defined set of MAC addresses, etc. Is this true?
airport extreme because it is covered under apple care if you have apple care for one of your macs. it is worth the extra price because it is ridiculously easy to set up, never crashes, can produce 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz frequencies, supports a guest network, has multiple ethernet outputs, and simply looks awesome.
My pleasure, maigado. However, I may have spoken too soon... After leaving my post, I did a bit of reading and found that D-Link upgraded the firmware on the DIR-655 and they are problematic. From what I read, firmware 1.10 and 1.11 are fine (I am on 1.11 and never upgraded. My belief is that if it isn't broken, don't fix it). Anything beyond 1.11 is unstable. Unfortunately, upgrading to 1.3x (1.31 is the latest) prevents users from downgrading to older firmware! I don't know what firmware is being shipped with current DIR-655s, but I would assume it's the latest versions...
In regards to MAC address filtering, as far as I know, all routers allow for this.
Uh-oh. That's not such good news.
I may wait a bit. This is not an emergency situation, though it can quickly become one when other computers are added to the mix and my Netgear WGT624 starts to cough.
I'll see what I can read about this firmware issue.
I may wait a bit. This is not an emergency situation, though it can quickly become one when other computers are added to the mix and my Netgear WGT624 starts to cough.
I'll see what I can read about this firmware issue.
I got a like-new Airport Extreme 802.11N base station on Craigslist for $60 and I am truly appalled at how simple and painless the setup was.
I've used Linksys routers for years and thought they were relatively simple and user-friendly, but setting up one of those is like brain surgery compared to the smooth simplicity of the AEBS. Amazing how Apple does it. It's so darned easy to do you feel like you couldn't possibly have gotten it right, but it works!
I've used Linksys routers for years and thought they were relatively simple and user-friendly, but setting up one of those is like brain surgery compared to the smooth simplicity of the AEBS. Amazing how Apple does it. It's so darned easy to do you feel like you couldn't possibly have gotten it right, but it works!
netgear?
I'm an iMac newbie (very new). I decided to change a 5 yr old d-link that was working fine to a fairly new netgear router. Once configured, the netgear connected fine but was very very slow on sites that required a username and password (such as yahoo mail). I looked at all the settings I could find but ended up switching back to the d-link. Once again, the d-link works fine. Have you ever heard of this?
I'd like to use the netgear because it give me a much stronger signal for using my laptop around the house.
I'm an iMac newbie (very new). I decided to change a 5 yr old d-link that was working fine to a fairly new netgear router. Once configured, the netgear connected fine but was very very slow on sites that required a username and password (such as yahoo mail). I looked at all the settings I could find but ended up switching back to the d-link. Once again, the d-link works fine. Have you ever heard of this?
I'd like to use the netgear because it give me a much stronger signal for using my laptop around the house.
Since it deals with username-and-password sites, a good guess might be that you are having problems with HTTPS traffic. This could be a port issue (HTTPS runs by default over...port 443, I think?, as opposed to regular HTTP's default of 80), so maybe your router is having issues with this. Do you have any special firewall or port settings configured on your router?
Alternatively, this could be a software issue, as well, if you have on on your computer.