[OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Robert McLaws — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:19:02 GMT

That's because DLINK is terrible. Try the new Linksys WRT610N, it has dual radios, gigabit ethernet, and a USB storage port as well. I've had it for a week so far, and I love it!

BTW, if you have connection issues, try disabling your Intel adapter's power save mode, set the "roaming" to "conservative", and try changing the channel the radio is broadcasting on. I had problems with that, and sometimes you have to hunt a bit to find a decent channel.

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Tyler Reguly — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:43:06 GMT

I'd have to say that I'm a big fan of my TP-Link router... I had a Linksys router for the longest time but decided it was time to go from b to b/g. I found the TP-Link to be fairly cheap and the interface to be quite nice... as well I've had no problems with it. My HP Desktop, Playstation 3, IBM Laptop and ASUS 3e are are all constantly connected without problems.

TP-Link website: http://www.tp-link.com/

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Steve Riley — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:47:00 GMT

Robert-- I've mucked with every setting on the T61p's NIC except roaming aggressiveness...I'll give that a shot. Power save mode already disabled. I set the reouter to channel 1 because that one seems fairly empty. It automatically selects channel 4 for the second channel, and I think this where the collisions occur.

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

kizzer — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:01:09 GMT

It would be interesting to get a netmon 3.x monitor mode capture during a drop/disassociation...

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Nic Wise — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:38:54 GMT

I have a similar level of networks around here and I have no problems. I have an apple time capsule set to N on 5ghz for the two macs and a dell laptop and the ISP provided router - speedtouch 7 - for G for my iPhone, winmo phone and other devices. Works flawlessly.

I've had most of the consumer router makes over the years. Linksys are usually awful. Same with netgear and dlink. Buffalo are Kent to be ok but I've not tried them.

That said, if I ever need another one, I'm sticking with apple.

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Wayne McGlinn — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:02:02 GMT

Steve, I was in Redmond recently (the DS Masters course) and used my T61P from the Silver Cloud in Redmond. I found issues with my bluetooth mouse, lots of drop outs and problems until I turned the mouse off and used the touchpad. Give it a go mate, see what happens :)

Personally at home I use a Billion router BiPac 7300GA http://www.billion.com/product/wireless/bipac7300g-wireless-adsl2-firewall-router.html with no problems at all.

Wayne McGlinn

Brisbane, Oz

MCT, MCSE etc

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Chuck Mahon — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:24:33 GMT

Steve - have you explored the DD-WRT open source firmware on a home/consumer wi-fi router ?

It has made a world of difference in stability, management (multiple SSID's with different security profiles), RF/Radio management, etc.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/index.php

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

David Heise — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:51:43 GMT

Nope, they all suck...unless you go business class. My mother was recently upgraded to Fiber from DSL and they gave her a 16 port WiFi box...have to look up the make and model but it seemed to rock.

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Anders — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:13:01 GMT

Safe@Office 500W Wireless UTM

is my recommendation.

Thanks for a fantastic blog.

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Michael Dragone — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:28:45 GMT

I use Cisco's line of SOHO ISRs (the 851/871 series), but they're a little, er, overkill for most situations. :)

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Daniele Muscetta — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:27:10 GMT

got the same company laptop as you do ;-)

I have been using a ASUS WL-300g http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=12&l2=41&l3=0&model=60&modelmenu=1

IO only use it as an access point only, not a router (but it can do that) that authenticates with RADIUS to my home active directory, so I get get out with ISA server and THEN... then I have the router, just a simple router provided by the ISP).

I have been using that for years and years now and it is incredibly stable - I keep the machine on for hours and hours, connected over VPN to corp, and it does not drop a packet.

All with something I paid 70euros in 2004...

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Carl@Brightrev — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:56:38 GMT

My data point isn't necessarily relevant since I don't have the interference issues you do, but I've got a DLink DI-634M (802.11b/g) that stays up for months at a time. I've got an XP laptop and a Vista Media Center PC connected via 802.11g that constantly go in out of Sleep mode and I almost never have to reboot the router.

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Aleksander Rødner — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:57:12 GMT

Steve: I realize it's not an N router, but I still love Linksys' WRT54G. Great quality, easy to set up and secure, and it *simply works*

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Lasse Nordvik Wedø — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:50:47 GMT

Steve: I suspect you have several issus similar to mine. First of all, I use an old 3COM, which has been faithful for me and my family for 3-4 yeras now. And the one before that was also a 3com.

A few tips:

- Disable all "boosts" and "nitro" modes. These are in fact non-standards implemented by some vendors, to make their equipment work better. But: In order for this to work properly, all Networking components need to be in compliance.

- I don't know if you hide your SSID. But not all NICs like this (and hiding SSID is also non-standard, and sometimes scew up your connection)

- You mention a lot of other Wlans around you. Change the channel. Find a channel with fewer "competitors".

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Thomas — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:03:23 GMT

Hi Steve

I use to sell these things so I have quit a lot of bad experiences with D-links. Myself I always used Draytek routers and access points. Last year I was in a cheapskate mood and bought myself a Linksys WAG325N. This was really one of the worst devices I ever owned. Every time I tried to secure my wireless with WPA2 its wireless just disappeared after 2 days or so. You needed to reboot the router but this function was not in the software so I had to go there every time. Really annoying.

I now bought a Draytek Vigor 2820G this is a dream device. Draytek is one of the fastest as it comes to delivering firmware’s if there are any problems. Highly customizable. The most functions I’ve ever seen in a router/access point. And no reboots for over a year!

http://www.draytek.com/product/index/adsl2plus_firewall.php

And no I don’t work for Draytek 

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Thomas — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:05:51 GMT

Ooh and by the way I work on a Lenovo T61 too. And I live in a neighberhood where it seems that everyone just discovered wireless :)

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Thomas — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:06:40 GMT

Hi Steve

http://www.draytek.com/product/index/adsl2plus_firewall.php

And no I don’t work for Draytek 

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

stryqx — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:56:17 GMT

Nope, they pretty much all suck due to the use of 2.4GHz. Readily absorbed by water and DoS'ed by microwave ovens.

Having said that, I've been very happy with my Linksys WAP4400N's. They're POE capable which means my mesh is nicely power protected and I get all my network stats back into my SNMP collector.

Though I'll add another comment that turning off Bluetooth increases WiFi stability. Which means my mobile phone uses either WiFi or 3G and my laptop has Bluetooth disabled.

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Illuminate — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:08:19 GMT

Hi Steve,

A couple additions I would like to make: I had the Linksys WRT54GS router and I had to reboot it often. When I changed my firmware to DD-WRT, I have not had to reboot it in months. Plus you get a lot more advanced functionality with DD-WRT.

Also, the two best consumer routers/AP's currently available (at least from all of the research I have done) are the DLINK DIR-655 (a newer, better and far superior generation than your DIR-628) and the Netgear WNR3500 (black version). Let us know via blog post what you decide to go with and if it works better! = )

Keep up the good work.

P.S. I live in the greater Seattle area and hear that Google is opening a big campus in Kirkland. What are your thoughts on that? = )

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Thomas — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:12:46 GMT

Linksys with Tomato or WRT firmware

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

António — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:23:27 GMT

Hi Steve,

I've been using ASUS WL500G Premium (2 USB ports por HDD or CAM or printer) and it rocks solid.

I don't know what a reboot is in more than 6 month's.

I know that there is a WL500W that supports Draft N and where is the link: http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=12&l2=43&l3=0&l4=0&model=1277&modelmenu=1

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

ColonelBlinky — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:09:16 GMT

seems like you need more of a faraday cage around your place :)

there's a good chance the heavy wireless activity nearby is interfering, but so will a lot of other microwave devices, blue tooth, cell phones, and that thing you cook with ;)

You may find no matter what you buy your going to have moments where it's not so good (especially if people nearby are boosting their signal strength inappropriately). I would stick with any of the main stream/popular brands that people have suggested cause there will reasonably good support and firmware updates etc. I have installed all kinds of stuff up for work, family, friends etc with out too much a problem, as for me I have a Linksys wired unit which is 5yrs old now and hasn't missed a beat considering it's been left on for that long. so next year it'll most likely be a linksys again when i go wireless.

what ever you choose see if they can throw in (hopefully for little extra cost) a matching USB wirless device, that way if you do have problems, have and alternate option from yor laptop from the same vendor will help with diagnosing and fixing problems and can reduce finger pointing :)

Cheers

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

congo — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:08:33 GMT

You should try MikroTik RouterBoards. They aren't consumer category (rather service provider), but are relatively cheap, and rock solid. It is modular, so more radios can be stuffed in one case, although no Wireless-N yet.

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Drew — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:03:20 GMT

Steve,

maybe you could try an aluminum reflector (homemade).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqnHz75dmQY

re: [OT rant] Are there any home WiFi routers that DON'T SUCK?

Geek-gal — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:09:39 GMT

I've tried Dlink and Linksys and had issues with both. I finally wised up and got the apple airport extreme. Not one problem. My range is further, it was easy to setup and I really like the features. Glad I spent a little more money for an excellent product!

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB763?mco=NDI3MzM1NQ