Choosing the best router

[dboulay]

Hey guys,
I just want to know what to what should I look for when choosing a good quality wireless router.
I'm a student and I like to play LAN games with my friends, the only problem is that port-forwarding has NOT worked in the past. It's configured correctly and passes a port-forward test, but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't work. I've heard of some 'gaming' routers out there, do they really make a difference?

[computoman]

my youngest brother plays all the games over the internet and otherwise, He also teaches advanced computers. His is the brains of the family. He uses a linksys with dd-wrt installed on it. I forget which exact model he has. He loves it.

[dboulay]

that's interesting. The only really big problem I have right now is with Lan-party type ordeals. There are too many conflicts (ie, we can't connect to the same server to play a game) people will drop etc. I may consider getting a hackable router and installing a different firmware if there is no easy solution.

[md2389]

Linksys WRT54GL (note the L on the end)

Its basically a re-release of the WRT54G v4 router after they recieved MANY complaints about the v5 and later routers being crippled. From what I gather, Tomato runs rather well on it.

[fritze]

I have the Linksys WRT54GL with the DD-WRT firmware.

I have tried the Tomato and the OpenWRT firmware as well.

I liked the Tomato the best but DD-WRT worked best in my setup, so far its been very stable.

In the last year or so I have used a DLink and Netgear and now Linksys.

I started this list using the DLink gaming router and loved it for many years but alas it finally developed packet loss issues. I then tried the Netgear but had alot of issues with it, after talking to some Gurus their opinion was that the Netgears are pretty but ventilated poorly.

It was suggested to get one of the Linksys routers that use a Linux operating system because open source firmware OS'es were highly customizeable. It was stated that with these new OS'es that this router can perform like a much more expensive router.

This router is the Linksys WRT54GL.

Linksys WRT54GL @ Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190)

$60.99 plus $7.45 S&H, there is a $10.00 mail in rebate.

There is a Wiki about this router with alot of info.

Linksys WRT54GL Wiki. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G)

Fritze Out.

[proftheory]

that's interesting. The only really big problem I have right now is with Lan-party type ordeals. There are too many conflicts (ie, we can't connect to the same server to play a game) people will drop etc. I may consider getting a hackable router and installing a different firmware if there is no easy solution.


The problem may be that they can't deal with more then one player coming from a single IP. Remember on the LAN side you all have unique private IPs but on the internet side your sharing a single public IP.

[xfuuey]

I agree with most of the people above. The WRT54GL Linksys router is a good buy. Especially if you were to put 3rd party open source firmware on it. You won't be disappointed, IMO.

[davmoo]

I run an older version of the WRT54G (no "L")...version 2.2 of the hardware. And I also vote heartilly for the WRT54G/DD-WRT combination. Its never let me down, nor has it ever stopped me from doing things I want to do.

[unhap]

I have the Linksys WRT54GL with the DD-WRT firmware.

I have tried the Tomato and the OpenWRT firmware as well.

I liked the Tomato the best but DD-WRT worked best in my setup, so far its been very stable.

In the last year or so I have used a DLink and Netgear and now Linksys.

I started this list using the DLink gaming router and loved it for many years but alas it finally developed packet loss issues. I then tried the Netgear but had alot of issues with it, after talking to some Gurus their opinion was that the Netgears are pretty but ventilated poorly.

It was suggested to get one of the Linksys routers that use a Linux operating system because open source firmware OS'es were highly customizeable. It was stated that with these new OS'es that this router can perform like a much more expensive router.

This router is the Linksys WRT54GL.

Linksys WRT54GL @ Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190)

$60.99 plus $7.45 S&H, there is a $10.00 mail in rebate.

There is a Wiki about this router with alot of info.

Linksys WRT54GL Wiki. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G)

Fritze Out.

I just bought the WRT54GL a while ago and put dd-wrt on it and it works great. The only thing to note is that theres absolutely no way you're getting that rebate out of linksys...i honestly dont know how a business can blatently deny a perfectly submitted rebate, but *shrug* (i saw this same comment in the section on newegg and ignored it, but believe me...they really do just say no)

[tokenuser]

FWIW - Any of the Linksys routers are good. The advantage of the WRT54GL (I have the WRT54GS) is that it was released ready for the alternate firmware installs.

BUT ... it is 802.11g spec. With speedboost, that might get you 108mbps out of it, but that requires compatible wireless cards in your machines.

If highspeed wifi is important to you (and lets face it, 802.11g is facing end of life right now), consider one of the 802.11n models that Linksys offer.

Of course, this is a moot point if all the machines are hard wired (and if you are gaming, they should be).

[fritze]

Tokenuser,
Awesome point, N Draft will be the new standard in Wifi, so a N Draft router coupled with N Draft cards or adapters on the wireless comps would be the best solution with Wifi. N Draft isn't yet "finalised", but from what I have read the devices out now will be very close.

All my gaming or working comps are hard wired, but I have been dabbling in the Wifi tech on my old laptop, one of my desktops and my DS Lite. Very good advice to hard wire when reliable fast throughput is crucial.

My wifes work computer cannot lose connection, its mission critical, and when it does boy my arse is in trouble. If I lose any packets in the middle of a Fragfest or Dogfight, OH Boy it better be something OTHER than my equipment, lol.

My old Beloved D-Link DGL 4300 gaming router hand 1000 gigabit and I had it paired with DGE-530T 1000 gigabit NIC cards, man I loved that router about as much as a man could love a router, LOL.

The thing that hasn't been explained (succintly anyway) about this router we have been discussing is the main thing that makes it, the WRT54GL, so special, .

Most routers have proprietary software that run them, when Linksys made this one either by design or by accident they used open source software, Linux, to write its operating software. Thats what makes it so special, third party software can be used run this router and make it more "full featured", god bless the penguins.

Thats what the "L" stands for in the end of its name, Linux.

Fritze Out.