Best wireless N router?

[Netizen1]

Head's up guys. I just pulled the trigger on the Linksys WRT160N-RM refurbished router. Doesnt have gigabit ethernet switching ability, but at $26, me eh arguing.

I'll see how it plays out when it gets here.

Come Captain, update the post with the Router's performance...

I looking at ordering one for myself based on your review

[Spazosaurus]

Ive been meaning to come back and write up something on this eh, it just slipped me.

Its a very good thing you held off too because im here to say that this WRT160N router SUCKS ASS.

Two problems:

1) Under windows 7, the router seems to like only certain wireless n adapter chipsets, Ralink (the most common one), is NOT one of them. The wierd thing is, they work fine in XP, then again, the same Ralink N adapters that give trouble with the router in Windows 7 connects to other routers just fine. So is it a router issue or adapter issue? (Beats the hell out of me). I'd say its a driver issue if the adapters still malfunctioned under 7 connecting to a different router, but the work fine.

The problem, as far as I can see, seems to be with the wireless security. The adapters dont seem to pick up the correct authentication settings pushed out by the router. (Detects  WEP security when WPA2 is on.) If i manually setup the profile, it says that the profile settings do not match the router settings and refuses to connect. When left open, all the adapters seem to work fine, which of course is not an option.


That leaves us with WPA which I think sometimes gives the same problem, but i'll have to confirm.

This brings us to problem number 2.

For those N adapters that do play nice winder windows 7 ( and even under XP i've found), the connection drops out every so often. If it happened every few weeks or even every few days, I could have dealt with that, but the damn signal drops out every few MINUTES. Case in point, trying to stream content over the local network sticks and stutters every fw minutes. The problem is WORSE with your 720p rips and such where after 5 minutes (if so long) the damn file just stops playing and you have to wait a while and browse to the share again. Sometimes thesignal drops completely and you have to reboot the machine to re-establish connectivity.

All in all, this damn thing is the most painful router ive had and just reminds me how much I hate Linksys. Linksys not getting my money again, even if they start making toiletpaper cheaper than price-mart branded toilet paper.

Maybe its something to do with the fact I got a refurb unit, but the amazon reviews of the new ones not looking very bright either.

Bottom line, look elsewhere. Proceed with your purchase at your own risk.

*Edit*

Oh, one more thing. I also tried updating the firmware, even downgraded it after I found some people online getting some issues. No luck whatsoever. Expect to see me put this up for sale for real small money just as soon as I can find a proper replacement. its good for someone who wants to just use the wireless to do light internet browsing, or maybe create a publicly accessible access point. Nothing more.

Well I just confirmed that nothing but my devices with the Intel 5100/5300 adapter will connect to the router. The others simply wont connect with even plain ole WPA enabled. I have to actually REMOVE all security for them to connect. Talk about the most annoying thing ever.

*CptAwesome reaches for the big red "EPIC PHAYLLLEEE" stamp.*

STAMP.

[Netizen1]

Did you try using another firmware?

dd-wrt for example?

[EDIT]
Just saw the WRT320N on Amazon for 89.99 so I may swing that way afterall

[Spazosaurus]

A few people said that that firmware actually made things worse, but its tough to imagine being worse that what I experienced.

Good luck on te Linksys train. I've officially disembarked for life.

[TriniXaeno]

I think cicso is putting the "non performers" in their company in the Linksys department where they can hammer out wshb products for the low end market.

I don't know what else can explain the recent shuddy repute of the once dominating force in SOHO routers.

A few years ago Linksys couldn't be beat.

Now I cringe when I see one at a customer's residence. Dlink all the way yes (or any other brand for that matter)

[rassmatic]

....... I just place an order for a Linksys WRT400N Wireless-N Router. Should I have not?

[Spazosaurus]

As noob said, you should cringe. I've had nothin but bad experiences with those hell routers.

[Netizen1]

ok fellas y'all being really harsh...

Well, back on topic, what else is a good 802.11n router? Preferably one that works with dd-wrt firmware

[rassmatic]

As noob said, you should cringe. I've had nothin but bad experiences with those hell routers.

But I've had nothing but GOOD experience with their routers. A friend lent me a WRT54G2 for months now and it never game me any problems. Like is lucky I lucky?

[Netizen1]

Well, until someone can recommend a better 802.11n router with Gigabit and a USB port that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I'll be ordering the WRT320n from Amazon.

http://amzn.com/B001SEL326

[Spazosaurus]

Linksys has proved to me time and time again that their products are ABSOLUTE rubbish. Never throwing my money down THAT hole again. Netizen, my brother, I admire you as you have the cojones to stomarch yet another Linksys product, but ive ha it up to here *capt points over his head* with them.

Ive been doing somechecking around and found the SMC SMCWGBR14-N Barricade N.

I know you're thinking youve never heard of such a beast and admittedly, neither have I, however, looking at the customer reviews on Amazon and some other reviews, it seems to be exactly the kind of thing i'm looking for. Above average range, rock solid signal, easy setup with a wealth of options AND gigabit ethernet ports...yea, I can sign up with that.

[Netizen1]

Wow, I'd say that's within my budget...

But I'm looking for one that works with custom firmware (dd-wrt) so I stumbled on this one http://amzn.com/B002SISM5W Asus RT-N16

What say ye?

[Spazosaurus]

It looks good on paper, but did you read reviews and such? If so, link them nah. Its the Dlink firmware you intend to use right? As far as I see, the SMC uses a similar interface to the dlink gamer series routers.

[Netizen1]

Asus RT-N16 Review
http://www.cnet.com.au/asus-rt-n16-wireless-router-339298697.htm

not DLink, DD-WRT (www.dd-wrt.com)
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=61570

[Arcmanov]

Well, as with all things tech, your mileage may vary.

I have a Linksys WRT150N that has been humming along quite nicely at home.
No debilitating issues yet that I can speak of...and that router replaced a WRT54G
that my brother still uses at home without issue.  I dunno, maybe I haven't used
a lot of different wi-fi chipsets on em, so I haven't gotten half the issues you guys had.


Or maybe Captain Awesome just bad-lucky. 

[rassmatic]

I feel is bad lucky he bad lucky. Like me with XFX. Every product of theirs I get either arrives dead or die really quickly. Just depends how lucky u are I guess.

[AR!Ø]

D-Link 655. That is all.
Works well enough through cement and steel filled concrete blocks, split level.
As soon as I close a door in a room though it pretty much dies. No troubles with it thus far, been rocking it close on to a year now I think, if not more. Not sure if this helps but I think I had 3 pc's and a wii connected all at once, and had 2 and the wii on the net simultaneously without any problems

[trinislacker]

My wrt54g v24 is finally showing some age and i'm looking to upgrade my home network.


What i'm a bit unsure about is the tv capability i would like to add to my pc's. Does slingbox work with analog flow (FYI scientific atlanta 8600stnn)? can't seem to find supported cable set-top boxes online. My other options would be to get a supported universal cable box and "mod" it . Another option would be to "mod" a vcr and add a tv tuner card (this option would be limited to only one Pc and not really the direction i'm heading).

Devices i'm looking to add

D-Link DGS-2208 - went with this over a DIR-655 because well 4 ports simply just isn't enough with the hardware i'm adding
WD TV Live - to stream video from my Pc to Tv
SlingBox Solo

Will continue to use the wrt solely for wifi till i get more N capable laptops.

[trinislacker]

Was my post moved here? it has almost nothing to do with wireless N router and i'm sure it wasn't in the wrong forum.

[Spazosaurus]

Yes it was. Its all about wireless n routers, features and what makes them the best. No need for a separate topic.