A wireless router that doesn't suck?

[robin]

If you have a wireless router that drops connections or has other random intermittent problems (and it's not interference or a firmware problem), anecdotal evidence on various networking forums seems to suggest that putting them on an power conditioner will help tremendously. Apparently most consumer models have flaky power supplies.

Other than that, make sure the router has the latest firmware and your wireless card/chip has the latest drivers.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

See I thought all this intermittancy that I experienced on my wireless was some sort of techno-impotence of mine, but if teh g33k has the same issues....

Fortunately, I have a 6-node wired network in place at home, I just use the wireless for when any of us are wandering with laptops.

~ H

In g mode you can play around trying to find a channel that's subject to less interference, but it is hit and miss. I haven't played around with it much at work. We have some new cisco gear that I will install when I have time before I quit, and I suspect that will be much better than the consumer stuff (I would guess it probably puts out a stronger signal and is perhaps more sensitive), but if you read any networking forum, wireless problems always constitute a large % of threads. I would never recommend it as a primary solution, even as speeds increase.

 

[username79]

D-link DIR-655. The best out there right now. Fast and very reliable. http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-655...4755429&sr=1-3

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by robin

If you have a wireless router that drops connections or has other random intermittent problems (and it's not interference or a firmware problem), anecdotal evidence on various networking forums seems to suggest that putting them on an power conditioner will help tremendously. Apparently most consumer models have flaky power supplies. Other than that, make sure the router has the latest firmware and your wireless card/chip has the latest drivers.
Yah, all my stuff is on backups, so it should be conditioned power. Being in the sticks I have a lights-dim transient voltage dropoff a few times a month and a half-dozen full failures a month and I don't like to have to miss my appointed SF surfing....

Originally Posted by GQgeek

In g mode you can play around trying to find a channel that's subject to less interference, but it is hit and miss. I haven't played around with it much at work. We have some new cisco gear that I will install when I have time before I quit, and I suspect that will be much better than the consumer stuff (I would guess it probably puts out a stronger signal and is perhaps more sensitive), but if you read any networking forum, wireless problems always constitute a large % of threads. I would never recommend it as a primary solution, even as speeds increase.
Yeah, have tried switching channels, I tried everything, but some days it's just bad, others it's great and I didn't change anything in between! Seems to be expected and common, then.... ~H

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

Yah, all my stuff is on backups, so it should be conditioned power. Being in the sticks I have a lights-dim transient voltage dropoff a few times a month and a half-dozen full failures a month and I don't like to have to miss my appointed SF surfing....



Yeah, have tried switching channels, I tried everything, but some days it's just bad, others it's great and I didn't change anything in between! Seems to be expected and common, then....

~H

Yep. You've got DIY skills so run some cable.

 

[TowleY]

Originally Posted by B1FF

I have a laptop connected to it wirelessly from another room, doing heavy P2P to the internet and a lot of internal data transfer. I have a wired gigabit ethernet switch that connects to the Linksys router, which in turn has two servers with two gig ports apiece, a Slingbox, an XBox, and a printer connected to it.

P2P kills it quickly, but even just FTPing a large file from my laptop to one of the wired machines will do it eventually. Only a power cycle will bring things back to life. I've tried two different models, and more than one example of each.

Are you running mission control at your house your somerthing? You prolly have too much stuff hooked up to it.

 

[Silverback]

Originally Posted by B1FF

Why? I'm addicted to watching the latest movies and listening to lots of music!
And not paying for it. Awesome deal if you can get it! (Well for you, not the people you steal it from)

 

[ArliHawk`]

We use Buffalo, and it seems to work okay. But it is only used for internet and email.

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

Yep. You've got DIY skills so run some cable.
Yeah I have six jacks scattered about -- the wireless is for sitting on the porch, in the john, down at the barn, that sort of thing. ~ H

 

[otc]

We use a Buffalo (G125 or somethign like that) with dd-wrt and it works GREAT. Unfortunately, they are not allowed to sell them in united states anymore...really hoping it does not die since it would be very hard to replace.

I think the best option is finding a wireless-g router that runs DD-WRT or Tomato and reflashing the firmware. A lot of these consumer routers have decent hardware but horrendous software that causes nasty dropouts, especially with heavy p2p. Reflashing with DD-WRT or Tomato firmwares is pretty easy and will solve a lot of your problems.

 

[doublebucklemonk]

Originally Posted by otc

We use a Buffalo (G125 or somethign like that) with dd-wrt and it works GREAT. Unfortunately, they are not allowed to sell them in united states anymore...really hoping it does not die since it would be very hard to replace.

I think the best option is finding a wireless-g router that runs DD-WRT or Tomato and reflashing the firmware. A lot of these consumer routers have decent hardware but horrendous software that causes nasty dropouts, especially with heavy p2p. Reflashing with DD-WRT or Tomato firmwares is pretty easy and will solve a lot of your problems.

Here's an article on the new Netgear Open Source Router that can use Tomato or DD-WRT.
http://hackaday.com/2008/06/29/netge...source-router/

And here's an article on how to hack your Linksys with Tomato.
http://lifehacker.com/344765/turn-yo...er-with-tomato

 

[B1FF]

Originally Posted by Silverback

And not paying for it. Awesome deal if you can get it! (Well for you, not the people you steal it from)

No, it's a fantastic system: the people I download it from get to keep their copy as well. No stealing necessary.

 

[Silverback]

Originally Posted by B1FF

No, it's a fantastic system: the people I download it from get to keep their copy as well. No stealing necessary.
It is stealing no matter how much you try to justify it.

 

[B1FF]

Originally Posted by Silverback

It is stealing no matter how much you try to justify it.

I wouldn't care to justify it.

I'm just pointing out that that word does not mean what you think it means.

(I stole that phrase from a movie I downloaded.)

 

[Silverback]

Originally Posted by B1FF

I wouldn't care to justify it.

I'm just pointing out that that word does not mean what you think it means.

(I stole that phrase from a movie I downloaded.)
Cool. When people no longer profit from art then there will be no new art. Go you!