Best Wireless ADSL2 Router with QOS

February 22, 2007 11:57 AM

Best Wireless ADSL2 Router with QOS

I want to control the bandwidth that I'm sharing wirelessly with another computer.

I use NetLimiter on my pc, and very easily I can control the the amount of bandwidth each program is using. Image of what I do here: http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=111vu5.jpg

I would like to be able to do the same with the PC I'm sharing with ie give them 10% or 512/128 in bandwidth.

Also, as I'm sharing wirelessly, I would like to know if anyone else is using my network. I'm presently using WPA-PSK. But it would be nice to see if anyone else is trying to use my broadband.

thanks

posted by BillyRayMae to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

I don't know of any affordable (home) routers that allow you to actually allocate Internet bandwidth to various machines on the LAN. Most of the ones with QoS are simply prioritizing outbound packets based on some criterion, so that if the pipe is full, the packet with the higher priority gets out first. If that sounds like it would work well enough for your needs, I'm happy with the D-Link DGL-4300. (They have a new model with 802.11n now, which might be worth looking at.)

I would like to know if anyone else is using my network. I'm presently using WPA-PSK.

Then (assuming you didn't pick an obvious password) nobody else is using your network.
posted by kindall at 12:22 PM on February 22, 2007

A WRT-54GL with the DD-WRT firmware will do QoS. It will limit bandwidth based on the client, or the type of traffic. It has 4 or 5 levels of QoS, from "Bulk" up to an un-QoSed setting for things that need to be as close to real-time as possible. It seems to work pretty well, although it's not a PacketShaper -- if your clients aren't cooperative, it's still possible for them to disguise 'Bulk' traffic (e.g. P2P) as something else and avoid the QoS-ing.

DD-WRT also does other fun things, like true OSPF/RIP routing, bridging (with or without routing, NAT, or firewalling), even SIP stuff.

Just make sure you get a real WRT-54GL, and not the crippled pieces of junk they're pushing at Best Buy under the WRT-54G or GS marque.
posted by Kadin2048 at 2:05 PM on February 22, 2007

The QOS feature in the DGL-4300 gets mixed reviews. It seems if you pussyfoot around with the upload/download, it can improve responsiveness somewhat, but if you really hammer it, the feature is overwhelmed.

The reasoning I've read is consistent with kindall's comment. I think that either a WRT-54GL, or a dedicating linux system filling the role of router, is the way to go.

Personally, I just added some scheduling rules to throttle other activity at peak gaming hours.
posted by Chuckles at 9:47 PM on February 22, 2007

Err.. That might read as if it is inconsistent, but it really isn't. As kindall said, if the limitations seem acceptable, then try the D-link unit. To me, it didn't seem good enough. My internet service is very slow, and a relatively slow download of 100kb/s is enough to be in the "really hammering" category.
posted by Chuckles at 9:57 PM on February 22, 2007

It helps with the D-Link if you prioritize outbound traffic to destination ports 80, etc. as well as DNS so that your ACKs for Web requests and downloads get out in a timely fashion even if your outbound pipe is full.

It basically eliminated my VOIP breakups without requiring me to put my VOIP box in front of the router, too (which I didn't want to do because it was way slower than my Internet connection).

The D-Link device does not prioritize inbound traffic at all, only outbound.

I may have to try the DD-WRT firmware, it looks cheap enough to get a router and play with it.
posted by kindall at 10:03 PM on February 22, 2007