New Router question

[hchan42]

Alright guys, just upgraded my internet today from crappy att DSL, to comcast cable. Supposed to get 25mbps hooked directly to modem (havent tried yet). Confirmed wifi using the old linksys WRT54G topped out at 18 next to the router, and about 13-15mbps in my room. (20feet away?)

Looking to upgrade to a N router. Not sure whether to get a Linksys EA3500 or a Netgear WNDR4300 N750 or maybe even a Netgear WNDR4000 N750.

I've seen the Linksys e3500 cheapest for $131 and the Netgears around $85-$100 on ebay and other online retailers. Would like to stay under $100 if possible, the Netgears are reasonably priced.

I'll doing mainly ps3 online gaming, light pc gaming, netflix streaming (once i order it again), probably the max devices on wifi at once will be 3 computers, with gs3, ipad also using wifi, and ps3 online gaming.

House size is probably large, which is why i'm looking at the routers closest to the top of the line, even if i won't utilize all it's features, I'm concerned about wifi range.

Any input from tech savy and computer guys would be greatly appreciated!!

[Mr.Pickles]

To give you a better answer I would want to know how many walls it will have to go through at the longest distance. Those 54Gs don't have the greatest reach for wifi. And depending on understanding of networks you possibly can get by with changing the wireless channel to something else that is not taken, all depending on weather if there is a free one open. Wireless N can have issues like it did for me with having a lot of crosstalk between it and the g band. I ended up disabling N and setting up APs that ran off of LAN or the power receptacle. Feel free to pm me and I'll shoot my # over because I do network setup for big and small for a living and will just talk to you with options if you want.

I know it's late but I just got off a emergency call that was not one and was unwinding a little before going back to bed.

Sent from the bottom of a pickle barrel.

[hchan42]

^^PM Sent

Farthest point, there would be upstairs, a floor and 2-3 walls to get through. On the same floor would be only 2-3 walls to the farthest point.

[the86d]

If swapping your router, make sure to release DHCP of old before installing new, or you will have to swap back to do so, or call them to have the do the release, or the old lease might still be valid, and you would have to wait it out (24 hours on the new one? depending on provider) otherwise.

I just received a new 802.11N router (from a slow 802.11G) from my provider, and:


Not bad for 25/15...

[stilly]

I would beware of any linksys e-1000/e-2000/e-3000 router.
I purchased an e-1000 for a business (it was only temp until things got settled and working right) and low and behold it died after a year and a half. I just replaced it with a cisco small business router and wireless access point and things are running great.

[bigbearbear]

I would save the money and keep the old router, and only upgrade if it dies. Online gaming does not use a lot of bandwidth, latency (ping time) counts more towards better user experience. Your current Wifi bandwidth should be enough for all your usage requirement.

Its only when you have to do large file transfers, then having more bandwidth would be useful.

Now if you really want to max out the usage of your internet connectivity, try a Powerline ethernet adapter. These type of product uses your home AC power outlet and convert them into Ethernet ports.

I use this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-XAVB5004-Powerline-Network-Adapter/dp/B004PA9PBQ/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1364073454&sr=8-20&keywords=Powerline

I work from home and my servers located on the top floor of my house does backup and transfer files to my storage server located downstairs, over the Powerline adapter. This is done every night without fail. They're highly reliable and you get much better connection than Wifi.

[ambiguous216]

Are u running a docs is 3.0 modem?

[NoSpam]

If swapping your router, make sure to release DHCP of old before installing new, or you will have to swap back to do so, or call them to have the do the release, or the old lease might still be valid, and you would have to wait it out (24 hours on the new one? depending on provider) otherwise.

I just received a new 802.11N router (from a slow 802.11G) from my provider, and:


Not bad for 25/15...

No need to release DHCP, but you will have to power cycle your cable modem before your new router will acquire an IP address from Comcast.

[NoSpam]

I'd recommend getting a router like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833127215

It's half the price of what you're currently looking at, and should perform just as well. And if it doesn't, your best bet would be to get a 2nd one, and use it as a repeater for upstairs. Same cost, better performance.

[johnny_22]

No hardware anti-virus or anti malware?

Surprised that none of the recommendations have the hardware AV or anti-malware built in. When I upgraded my routers, I went with Netgear UTM 10 here at work and at home. Not too many users here at work, but, needs a little more horsepower when you select all of the scanning features.

The UTM 9S would be my recommendation (wireless version of the 10 with a faster processor).

[wisefire]

I always get a router that has the ability to run dd-wrt

[skuehl]

I have verizon FIOS and get about 60Mbps down and 25Mbps up. I have teh Cisco EA6500 and love it. I do VOIP and Video over it. I do a LOT of BitTorrents. LOTS of devices and it performs well. Don't get me wrong there are a few quirks about it.

I know if you do gaming there is a feature that only the top two or three models do. I cant remember the details but basically its a faster level of WiFi that only a special device connects at. you can buy the device and connect your game system to it and it connects WiFi at a higher speed. I have heard it works great. I have a two story house thats 2200 Sq Ft and my WiFi works great.

5 iPhones
10 computers.
4 apple TV's all connected to an iMac that serves up VOD to all of them.
I have had all of them running.
plus on macbook pro pulling video
plus my iMac downloading dozens of shows
while doing a Phone call over VOIP
and a VPN tunnel for a work PC.
and 2 ipads and 5 iphones all
at the same time.

yes I recommend it.

[Brianguy]

http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC66U-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1750-Gigabit-Router/dp/B008ABOJKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366960336&sr=8-1&keywords=asus+rt-ac66u

DD-WRT

[NorCal Einstein]

I always get a router that has the ability to run dd-wrt

+1

Up until last year, I was running Linksys E3000 flashed with DD-WRT. Router was getting old and I started to have some hardware related issues so I replaced it with the ASUS RT-N66U and flashed that with DD-WRT. So far it's been rock solid and great. Once you get use to DD-WRT's interface and flexibility, using anything else is just agonizing.

[gabe123]

As for new router, most router at the same price range are not going to out perform each other. $100 router won't be too far ahead of $25 ones. just buy something with at least 2 external antenna, position it as close to the middle of the house as possible, and on a raise platform, like table. Point the antenna 90 degree to the floor, and you are good to go. It's normal for speed to drop a little , but as long as ping is <150ms for normal internet, and <100ms for game, you has nothing to worry about. If you do have problem, then you will need to do more than just buying a new router.