Which Router To Replace My Linksys WRT54G?
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I’ve pretty much had enough. The WRT54G has proven to be a fun router to play with, but I’ve bricked a few of them over the past couple years, and the one I have now is less than optimal. It drops wireless connections fairly regularly. I can try upgrading the Talisman firmware to the latest (I am running 1.0.5 and there have been two releases since), but I’m not convinced it’s a software issue really.
So, the question is: Which wireless router is best for me? I’ll do some research of my own, of course, but I know some of you smart people will let me know what your experiences are.
Here’s a bit off the old Stuff-I-Need list as it relates to the router:
- I use Vonage for phone service. For the past year I have had the Vonage terminal adapter sitting on the Internet, and the wireless router plugs into the TA’s LAN port.
- I’d like to be able to define QoS for a variety of apps, network destinations and service types.
- Security, security, security. It must have a good firewall and the ability to DMZ properly.
- Geekiness, geekiness, geekiness. Plus points for ability to configure and tweak a lot.
Any ideas out there? I’m off to do some research. This will be my Christmas present to myself, if and when I decide to do the replacement. I have a week off from work to catch up on life and things at home, so this is on my list (not at the top, priority-wise, but it’s on there).
Starting point: This Buffalo router looks pretty good.
UPDATE: I tried upgrading to the latest Talisman/SveaSoft firmware, but problems persisted and in fact even got worse. DHCP completely failed and . I removed the router from the network, hooked up to the Vonage TA directly, connected to Linksys.com, and downloaded the latest factory firmware. Once I managed to get that installed, everything seems to be back up and running and looks stable at first glance. But the Linksys firmware, although greatly improved since I last looked at the Linksys factory stuff, doesn’t have the same great options. But I’ll let this run for a while and see if it’s more stable. Fingers crossed. I still want to replace this thing. Thanks for the emails and comments so far. Any more ideas to consider?
5 Comments
Matt Hartley
December 28th, 2006
at 8:22pm
Hey Greg,
Without a doubt - the DGL-430 from D-Link. After bricking router after router (including your Linksys model) I found this http://games.dlink.com/products/?pid=370 offered everything I could ever want: control, security, and mad throughput / network load balancing. ;)
Matt
David
December 28th, 2006
at 8:32pm
For the $, the WRT54GL is the best thing going. I install a couple of routers a month for clients and friends (not just Linksys), and the GL’s just run, even with factory firmware.
Personally, I run a GL at home with DD-WRT doing QoS, with a PAP2T on the LAN terminating my babyTEL number. Nary a problem, and QoS works like a charm - noticable difference than without it (and I have 8Mbps down and 1Mbps up).
I know you were looking for alternative routers to the WRT family, but I’ve just not seen the need. I have clients who do Cisco with end-point VPN’s between locations (1811’s) and they are good and solid, but who wants to get that deep for home use?
Personally, if I had the time to tinker, I’d be looking into something like Astaro. But I’m happy with my GL.
Jim McCarty
December 29th, 2006
at 6:06am
I know it seems rather expensive, but the Cisco ASA (Adaptive Security Appliance) 5505 is an industrial strength firewll that actually plays very nicely in a SOHO environment.
Sid Gilbert
December 29th, 2006
at 1:47pm
I would avoid the Buffalo router. I purchased a Buffalo Airstation Wireless Draft N model that was malfuntioning right out of the box. I have to admit that Buffalo replaced it without too much hassle, but the replacement only gets about half the speed of the other wireless routers in my network. (About 4 others spread across a 4 acre building.) I have had the best luck with the model you are ready to abandon, so take this with a grain of salt if you will.
Tim Dickson
January 1st, 2007
at 12:51pm
Use the WRT ( I use the WRT54GL )
and jump on with Tomato.
It’s a great firmware with everything you’d want in a SOHO.
http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato
check it out!