Looking for a new access point....

[stevo1210]

Hello Everyone,

My uncle is looking to buy a new wireless access point in the USA.... one with a DSL modem built in.

He needs something that is cheap and reliable for his home.... any ideas?? he needs one to replace a 2wire one that won't give off any wireless signal.

I currently use a D-link DSL-G604T but I don't know if it's available in the USA. It's a very good access point in my opinion.

He is also looking at Linksys ones but I don't know anything about them and I don't want to tell him to buy the wrong model and make him regret his purchase.


Thanks.

[shadow]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

Hey Steve, I would recommend Linksys routers and access points. I really like them because most of their models use Linux as the Operating System and the firmware is Open Source.

This means that hobbyists and outside developers can build new third-party firmware relatively easily. Third-party firmware commonly increase functionality of the device, fix small bugs and even introduce new features. Having said this, I would avoid the Linksys models that do not use Linux since to me it defeats the purpose of buying one of their routers or access points.

You have not stipulated whether you wanted an 802.11g or a pre 802.11n access point. Anyway Linksys' range can be seen here.

I have just read your post again and I noticed that you are after a router, not specifically an access point.

Edit: Just checked Linksys' website more thoroughly and found out that Linksys call routers with built in modems "Gateways". There are three models available (in Australia at least).

* WAG200G - http://www-au.linksys.com/servlet/Sa...=7370888888B01
* WAG54GP2 - http://www-au.linksys.com/servlet/Sa...=4430388888B03
* WAG325N - http://www-au.linksys.com/servlet/Sa...=4190988888B01

[gonzo0815]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

AVM Fritz! if available outside Germany. Very easy to setup, most stable FW i ever seen.

[willawake]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

for router only i would say zyxel or ci$co. but i dont like the zyxel wireless connection which is a pcmcia card with internal antenna. the range isnt so good i think

linksys seems to be the good choice but if you want to get third party firmware from what i have seen, needs research before you buy because some versions and models not supported.

[toastygoodness]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

if he gets it from the phone company it's usually actiontel.

[stevo1210]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

He got it from the phone company and it's a 2wire one. He is looking at the Netgear range now. I think they are good because many people that i know use Netgear routers and access points.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

I personally are not a fan of Netgear stuff. There are to much lemons in their product portofolio.

The most common problems are bad firmware, bad cooling and bad caps.

[toastygoodness]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

ewww... 2wire. i guess their new products are okay. i like netgear too, but yeah, they usually have errors in firmware or have bad caps. their old products didn't though, until they switch to the new plastic covers. i remember the old metal zyxel-style cases that you would open up and find rubycons.

[willawake]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

in the past a lot of netgear stuff was design by zyxel but metal cases and rubycon i have not seen that in zyxel gear recently.

[toastygoodness]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

i thought zyxel started to use bad caps.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

Sure, they do.

[stevo1210]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

ewww... 2wire. i guess their new products are okay. i like netgear too, but yeah, they usually have errors in firmware or have bad caps. their old products didn't though, until they switch to the new plastic covers. i remember the old metal zyxel-style cases that you would open up and find rubycons.

Oh. Netgear routers have bad caps? Does D-Link routers have bad caps?

[willawake]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

i thought zyxel started to use bad caps.

thats true. but i havent seen good caps in anything but cisco.

[stevo1210]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

Are Cisco and Linksys the same company?

[willawake]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

cisco bought linksys. dont expect the same quality though.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

Exactly, IMHO all SOHO routers are featuring badcaps.
But not every SOHO router will be affected by the problems they imply.

I duno, if the caps e.g in Linksys wrt54g could be so degraded to make trouble.
But from some Zyxel routers i am sure they do.
I would say the hotter it runs, the more likely those caps will go ape shit.
But even those caps should last one or two years may be even longer.

[starfury1]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

yeah linky's dont have great caps and yep cisco bought them ...again dont expect cisco quality
on the bright side yeah Linux but there was a version 5 wrt54G whatever and I think some others that have propriatory type firmware I think they now released a model with linux (for the hackers) cause everybody screamed the place down for that in house firmware.

and yeah linky's have been bagged out for one thing or another like a lot of others.

I got two and don't mind them but you might what to think on the user interface....if his tech savvy or just wants a set and forget.

I have a billion ADSL modem wireless router...the whole box and dice...but you got to watch the firmwares with them they seem to have a constant "under construction" sign on them
(and this model had real issues with wireless and VOIP)

I am not sure what the latest linksys range is like or whats available as modem wireless in one box.(or what the caps are like)

I find wireless and distance flaky so you may need to look at what his conditions will be on using it, how far how many walls, can he relocate the AP further higher if need be etc...not that I have done much playing around with it but my opinion of wireless is it sucks, I use it occasionally.

You can get high gain ant for them but they are so way over priced for what they are

you will find most models available in the world
(with some changes for local conditions esp the modem side of this and some possible changes for wireless)

if you want to get a rough idea of models and features and some info check out Ozcableguy's site a fair bit is a little on the dated side or now obsolete thought
(and dont bother looking for cisco there)
router reviews section
(its a pity he hasn't keep that a bit more up to date)

that model Dlink was listed at amazon USA but the Dlink website it is shown as a discontinued model.

just remember in some respects you get what you pay for, so don't spent too cheap.

cheers

[PedroDaGr8]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

Exactly, IMHO all SOHO routers are featuring badcaps.

My NetGear 24 port Gigabit SOHO switch (one of the blue metal case ones) has all nichicon's in it. Which suprised the F out of me since we got it for under $200.

I happen to liek my Buffalo Wireless router. They make some nice stuff at a better price point than Linksys (and they run DD-WRT which makes the functionality the same between the two). Also the WHR-HP-54G has a built in amp (I think a RX amp as well as theTX amp that all routers that have.)

On another note DD-WRT now supports the v.7 and v.8 WRT54G's. They got around the flash loader protection I just loved this quote:
Many thanks to Bill Henderson for his testing and development work on the WRT54gv8 bootloader project and Linksys/Cybertan for sure, for implementing a bootloader flash protection. nice try.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

A little off topic, but i have to say, that DDwrt is from my point of view a little overloaded with features, but is lacking the basic stability and functionality of basic features.
After several years i switched to tomato and it is incredibly faster, more stable and QOS is working compared with the ddwrt.
Sure, there are a few advanced features missing, but i think more features are only worth it, if the stability, speed and basic features are not scarified.

[PedroDaGr8]

Re: Looking for a new access point....

A little off topic, but i have to say, that DDwrt is from my point of view a little overloaded with features, but is lacking the basic stability and functionality of basic features.
After several years i switched to tomato and it is incredibly faster, more stable and QOS is working compared with the ddwrt.
Sure, there are a few advanced features missing, but i think more features are only worth it, if the stability, speed and basic features are not scarified.

I've heard a lot of good things about tomato, never tried it though. Think I will this weekend. I have found the non beta ver of DD-WRT to be super stable (i.e. I run v23 SP2 on my routers and not a single one has had to be reset in almost a year now.). I guess to each his/her own.