Wireless router help
January 12, 2010 11:08 AM Subscribe
I need a new wireless router. Help!
I'm not computer savy, so all the details and comparison shopping is lost on me. I need someone just to point to a router and say here, buy this.
Details: I have an old (2006) Linksys WRT54-G. It works fine for my roommate, with an HP computer but completely inconsistent with me, with a MacBook (flashes on and off, dropping connection)- we've updated firmware, tried it other places, checked my airport..no luck. I think it is just easiest to buy a new router.
We live in a small 2 BR apartment, and have the lowest internet package from our provider. We mostly are just surfing internet, watching some Hulu, reading mefi...nothing fancy. I use my university's VPN on my computer some to do work from home. My price range is ideally $50-75 or less. Doesn't have to be all the bells and whistles, just needs to be more reliable than my current one.
What should we buy (the more specific model, the better)? What else should I be thinking about when buying?
I'm not computer savy, so all the details and comparison shopping is lost on me. I need someone just to point to a router and say here, buy this.
Details: I have an old (2006) Linksys WRT54-G. It works fine for my roommate, with an HP computer but completely inconsistent with me, with a MacBook (flashes on and off, dropping connection)- we've updated firmware, tried it other places, checked my airport..no luck. I think it is just easiest to buy a new router.
We live in a small 2 BR apartment, and have the lowest internet package from our provider. We mostly are just surfing internet, watching some Hulu, reading mefi...nothing fancy. I use my university's VPN on my computer some to do work from home. My price range is ideally $50-75 or less. Doesn't have to be all the bells and whistles, just needs to be more reliable than my current one.
What should we buy (the more specific model, the better)? What else should I be thinking about when buying?
DD-WRT is awesome. Seconding. The install may look a little daunting at first (what's firmware?) but it's really not too bad.
posted by craven_morhead at 11:22 AM on January 12, 2010
posted by craven_morhead at 11:22 AM on January 12, 2010
Response by poster: I have taken it in to talk to a genius - it has no problem on other networks, so they claim it is the router, not my MacBook.
posted by quodlibet at 11:23 AM on January 12, 2010
posted by quodlibet at 11:23 AM on January 12, 2010
Are you using WPA with TKIP encryption on your WRT54G? Use AES instead. Switching to AES fixed network drops with an older WRT54G and older MacBook for me. Apparently it's an incompatibility with the Atheros wireless chipset in the MacBook.
posted by zsazsa at 11:27 AM on January 12, 2010
posted by zsazsa at 11:27 AM on January 12, 2010
Response by poster: I am using WPA with TKIP. I'm a little reluctant to change the wireless security settings because the last time I did that, it ended up renaming itself and automatically becoming unsecured, everytime I tried it for like two weeks, until one day it magically worked.
posted by quodlibet at 11:29 AM on January 12, 2010
posted by quodlibet at 11:29 AM on January 12, 2010
I would suggest Tomato rather than DD-WRT but yeah, put some other firmware on it and see if that doesn't fix the issue.
posted by kindall at 11:32 AM on January 12, 2010
posted by kindall at 11:32 AM on January 12, 2010
Nthing Tomato or DD-WRT. Tomato preferably, but it doesn't work on every router. I'd only upgrade if you need N.
And you really don't need to be a genius. Here's a simple enough guide from Lifehacker.
And if Tomato isn't an option, the DD-WRT micro install isn't much more difficult. MEssage me and I'll give you a hand. Even if you don't solve your problem, you'll be able to use your old router as a bridge or a repeater with better range than before.
I've never had issues with my DD-WRT or stock WRT54G and MacBook Pro. You are up to date on your Mac's updates, right? And switch to WPA 2. It's more secure and more compatible with your Mac. Win-win.
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:43 AM on January 12, 2010
And you really don't need to be a genius. Here's a simple enough guide from Lifehacker.
And if Tomato isn't an option, the DD-WRT micro install isn't much more difficult. MEssage me and I'll give you a hand. Even if you don't solve your problem, you'll be able to use your old router as a bridge or a repeater with better range than before.
I've never had issues with my DD-WRT or stock WRT54G and MacBook Pro. You are up to date on your Mac's updates, right? And switch to WPA 2. It's more secure and more compatible with your Mac. Win-win.
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:43 AM on January 12, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the DD-WRT advice, hadn't heard of it. I'm going to give it a try in the next hour or so. Fingers crossed, I'll let you know how it goes.
posted by quodlibet at 11:58 AM on January 12, 2010
posted by quodlibet at 11:58 AM on January 12, 2010
Nthing the DD-WRT. I flashed my WRT54-GL using an online guide and found it to be a much more stable and configurable router than with the OEM firmware. It is a little daunting when reading the warnings about possibly "bricking" your router, but the process really is simple. Just remember to run a network cable directly to flash your router (don't attempt to do it wirelessly). The software is free and worth trying before purchasing a router.
Note: Needing extra range, I eventually I purchased a Netgear RangeMax WNDR3700 dual band wireless-N, and now use the WRT-54 as a repeater. DD-WRT gives you all kinds of configuration options once installed. Can't say enough good things about the Netgear - if you eventually decide to purchase.
posted by flyingrock at 12:13 PM on January 12, 2010
Note: Needing extra range, I eventually I purchased a Netgear RangeMax WNDR3700 dual band wireless-N, and now use the WRT-54 as a repeater. DD-WRT gives you all kinds of configuration options once installed. Can't say enough good things about the Netgear - if you eventually decide to purchase.
posted by flyingrock at 12:13 PM on January 12, 2010
Tomato is a little more user-friendly IMO, may want to give it a go first.
posted by jckll at 12:17 PM on January 12, 2010
posted by jckll at 12:17 PM on January 12, 2010
Response by poster: So, according to the DD-WRT website I have a "neutered" router (v 5) that is basically useless and according to them "if you have one of these neutered models, you'd still be much better off selling it and getting something else."
So - back to my original question - what router should I buy?
posted by quodlibet at 1:22 PM on January 12, 2010
So - back to my original question - what router should I buy?
posted by quodlibet at 1:22 PM on January 12, 2010
If you want to reflash, you'll have to get the WRT54GL.
posted by meowzilla at 2:03 PM on January 12, 2010
posted by meowzilla at 2:03 PM on January 12, 2010
.I'm a little reluctant to change the wireless security settings because the last time I did that, it ended up renaming itself and automatically becoming unsecured, everytime I tried it for like two weeks, until one day it magically worked.
Then just throw it away. If its this seriously borked its not worth keeping. Evern DD-WRT wouldnt help this situation. I would be very reluctant to flash the firmware on a dying POS.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:09 PM on January 12, 2010
Then just throw it away. If its this seriously borked its not worth keeping. Evern DD-WRT wouldnt help this situation. I would be very reluctant to flash the firmware on a dying POS.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:09 PM on January 12, 2010
Also: On your new machine do WPA+AES or WPA2. WPA+TKIP is effectively broken and was created to be bandaid for circa 2003 routers.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:11 PM on January 12, 2010
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:11 PM on January 12, 2010
I have the Buffalo router that is hyped by the Tomato userbase and it is outstanding. After a few hours of setting up and tweaking, it has been running at high speed for months with no resets or other issues. And there are about 20 other routers competing for airspace in my apartment building.
posted by jckll at 2:20 PM on January 12, 2010
posted by jckll at 2:20 PM on January 12, 2010
Response by poster: Which one is the Buffalo router? The WHR-HP-G54?
posted by quodlibet at 6:13 PM on January 12, 2010
posted by quodlibet at 6:13 PM on January 12, 2010
The Buffalo WHR-G54S is the one I have, but it's older. I originally got it before Buffalo had to pull its wireless products from the market, using it as a client to my D-Link DGL-4300 with Tomato. After my last move, the D-Link finally flaked out, and I pressed the Buffalo into service as our main wireless router. It has performed flawlessly, possibly better than the D-Link.
PS -- Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo.
posted by kindall at 10:21 PM on January 12, 2010
PS -- Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo.
posted by kindall at 10:21 PM on January 12, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 11:20 AM on January 12, 2010 [2 favorites]