Who makes reliable wireless products?

[acstech]

All I can find any more is garbage. Either the power supplies they ship with crap out (bad caps strike again...) or the unit itself overheats and goes belly-up. Specifically, I'm looking for a wireless access point that will have the reliability of your average 10/100 ethernet switch.

It needs to:
1. Not drop connections like Linksys are famous for doing. (at least the ones I've seen)
2. Have a power supply not made by DVE corp, preferably not made in China. One that works.
3. Just work.

I have been using Zyxel or Netgear. The Zyxel units work great until the power supplies die. New, different power supplies usually bring them back to life nicely. Netgear usually works good, until they die for some inexplicable reason. No bad caps, just dead. Probably overheated.

Any ideas? It doesn't necessarily need to be draft-n or anything like that. Reliability, though, is key. Am I asking too much?

[Paul S]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

I have absolutely no problems with my Linksys WAP54G Wireless-G Access Point. I connect to it with my Dell Inspiron 1150 laptop (Broadcom wireless), that is running Linux.

[acstech]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

Maybe it's just their routers.

I had a bad taste in my mouth for Linksys from years back after getting several ethernet nics that died within a month. That and several dead WRT-54G routers, several that dropped connnections on a daily basis, etc. Typically when someone says Linksys to me any more I run screaming the other way.

If you can guarantee me that their access points work good, and last more than a year without any problems, I might try Linksys again. But it better be good.

How long have you used yours?

[starfury1]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

linksys do have problems....mine have been ok so far but they have crap caps too
The wireless side I don't use much...probably cause I don't think much of it...maybe its just me...never been impressed with it.

they put me in mind of cordless, phones you move here its gone you move there its good...which is a pain
How some people claim they get Kilometer ranges out of them
(with highly directional ant) has got me stuffed
I am lucky if I can get it do a room or two on an omni
(sure how good you ant is, is going to determine how well it will work and range you get, I know that)

but basically you just want it to work no matter were you sit down

WRT54G there are a few variations on and I think chip line ups changed over a few versions too (think you know that already)
(I lost track after version 5 and the proprietary Firmware they used in one version)

later generations linksys I don't know about but Cisco did buy them out so maybe they have done some improvements on the later (more pricey) gear

If your looking for something more reliable you may have to look at something more on a professional level rather then the toys for home SOHO use

what they would be I wouldn't have a clue...
but maybe its a case of you get what you pay for really

Apart from that mine work ok wired but they don't get what you call a lot of traffic through them

The only other alternative is to mod I suppose for more reliability...but if you are putting this in say a customers place not really good idea
If it was for yourself thats one route I suppose with the cheaper stuff

wish I knew of something that would do the job for you.

Cheers

[shadow]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

I got a Linksys WRT54GS and its wireless is rock solid. However I am using 3rd party firmware. Not sure about the range thou, however better antennas can always be made or purchased and the wireless transmission power can be boosted a little bit.

I occasionally get disconnected but its because of my POS Netgear NIC and not the router. Damn Netgear and their crappy drivers! I'm using U.S. Robotics Drivers for my NIC because the Netgear ones suck so much. Damn Texas Instruments for not supporting their wireless chipset better, all NIC's based on the TI ACX111 chipset have fairly buggy drivers. Its just that the U.S. Robotics ones are the best of a bad lot!

[Bookworm]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

I've had good luck with the D-Link WAPs. I have several that have been in abusive environments for years.

[kikkoman]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

My family's D-Link 624+ recently suffered from bad caps. Not sure about the power supply, but I think it had to be replaced some time ago.
I second shadow's opinion on TI chipsets.

SMC are said to build good stuff. but I guess you're never safe from crappy power supplies, probably not even with 3com.

[starfury1]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

just on linksys here's the Wiki

see the fan modded one at the bottom

there is a site dedicated to them linksysinfo.org at bottom of wiki

you use to be able to get vertical mounting brackets for them too

I like No. 3 Just work! .....I'll second that

Dlink haven't really looked at what they have to offer

anyone got some links on whats is available on a more professional level
(just wondering)

Cheers

[stevo1210]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

I personally have 4 wireless routers operating around my house. Yes I need four because my house is has too many walls and is too big as well so I lose signal if I go too far.

The main router is a D-Link DSL-G604T with the ADSL modem built in. It's been operating for nearly two years now continuously without any issues (except for some random drop outs due to my ISP).
I'm happy with that one and it has served me well. In fact I recommend this model to practically everyone I know because it's very cheap at only $90AUD and has an ADSL modem built in.

My secondary router is a Linksys WAP11 series. It's an 11b series router so it only gives 11Mbps. It's a very reliable router and I'm happy with it.... with the exception of the setup and driver issues.... but they are easy to get around with a bit of patience. I would easily recommend this one because the two antennas can serve as a receiver and sender.... much like a repeater and also the signal is very powerful and gets to most of the house. Only problem is that its max speed is only 11Mbps because it's about 4-5 years old now.
Another router I have is a Dlink DI-713P. Also with two antennas but the signal is not as strong as the Linksys. This one supports a parallel port printer as well . I use this router for gaining some signal at the back of the house where my workshop is. It had problems with the power supply but I replaced it and it's working fine again.
My other router which is used as a wired network hub now is a D-Link DI-524.... I got that one for free from a friend and it has a few issues such as IP address issues and random drop outs from the wireless etc. I think I might be the only one with these issues because I know many people with this model router and have had no problems. I also noticed theres a Jun-Fu brand cap when I opened it up the other day.... it hasn't popped yet even after 1.5 years of 24 hour use.

I'm also thinking of upgrading my secondary router soon as well. I have heard that the Linksys WRT54 series of routers are very good.

[willawake]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

I wonder if all this wireless stuff is good for the health.
Although linksys is owned by cisco you wont see anything enterprise grade in build cos it will compete with the cisco products. Difference in price $70 as opposed to $500.....

funny thing is on the big yachts. wireless network and switches.....linksys. PCs consumer grade (although they usually have second pc ready to be swapped in under the console).

regarding the original complaint, why not source some quality stabilized power supplies, or find a decent design and recap it. imho most networking things will have shitty power bricks and checking some with a multimeter usually brings some laughs. the only difference is the rackmount stuff which usually has nicer internal psu and has the benefit of not cooking in a tiny brick case.

still i agree about the power bricks, we had a bunch of intel in-business switches power supplies die one after the other. Even though they were all on UPS like all network equipment should be. replaced with 3com officeconnect which never had theirs die but then they got crapcaps but worked fine after recapping.

[Paul S]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

Maybe it's just their routers.

I had a bad taste in my mouth for Linksys from years back after getting several ethernet nics that died within a month. That and several dead WRT-54G routers, several that dropped connnections on a daily basis, etc. Typically when someone says Linksys to me any more I run screaming the other way.

If you can guarantee me that their access points work good, and last more than a year without any problems, I might try Linksys again. But it better be good.

How long have you used yours?

I've been using mine for a while now, 2 years plus. It is a Cisco made model, and I did upgrade the firmware once. It is only an access point, no router in it. I have my router assign it a permanent IP address.

As for routers, I have a 2WIRE modem/router/wireless that my internet provider gave me. The wireless in that sucks, as I can almost never connect to it! I have recently signed up for the new U-Verse system. It is cable TV over fiber optic, provided by our phone company, AT&T. The modem/router combo is HUGE.

[starfury1]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

so basically the best idea is find something that works ok for you and is easily fixable caps wise is probably the way to go willawake ?
(plus look at the heat side of things)

Seems no one really wants to make anything that lasts lest on the cheaper end of town


On Cisco yeah... that fairly much what I thought but thought since they got their name attached to it they may have just improved some of the latest lines...well thats the hope

Linksys did have a *good name at one point..for consumer stuff...think they just got a little cheap
(* of cause how good it was technically I really wouldn't have had a clue at the time but they seemed to get good press and reviews)

As I said I haven't had any real problems with mine....just the wireless seems somewhat weak flaky (running hyper WRT in one)..but they don't get brutal treatment work wise either...apart from summer here which can be very hot

Just on that willawake, yeah having you brains constantly exposed to low levels of RF at around 2.5 GHz probably really isn't a good thing but it does remind me of a big debate about a Phone tower, one they were going to put up for better coverage for people...lots of protests about it...bet they all jumped on their mobiles to complain

Thing is we really don't know what the long term effects are...lots of stuff for and against on what they "think happens" but on the whole we just don't know yet

Water use to get piped to people in lead pipes...and ever heard the expression "Mad as a Hatter "?..

Cheers

[bgavin]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

I place Linksys routers and access points in all my client locations. I refuse to use any Linksys switches, because they have a dinky fan that quits, then the box over heats.

I use Netgear switches because they run cool. Forget the Netgear warranty... when you have a dead router they make you talk to some dipshit in Bangalore to "recreate the problem". No talkie-no warranty. You have to take down your entire client operation while Mr. Dipshit mushes his way through the problem. All for a $50 warranty... no thanks.

I had the most problems with DLink wireless cards and routers. I refuse to install any of those. Next most problematic was Netgear routers. The Netgear wireless cards and NICs are problematic.

Linksys NIC cards were always ambiguous for version and driver problems. I have a bucket of 3C905-TX pulls that work well, so I won't be using anybody elses cards for a long time.

Intel wireless and Pro NICS never let me down.

[acstech]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

The impression I'm getting is that they're all crap. Someone will have good experiences with one brand, while someone else will say it sucks because of some issue. To me this says it's all random.

I do have a source of quality power bricks. These seem to work well: http://www.apogeekits.com/ac-dc_swit...r_supplies.htm

I have checked quite a few power bricks with a multimeter. I had a range extender that died, come to find out the power brick was putting out a healthy 6v instead of the spec'd 4.5v. That unit got replaced and all units of that type got a replacement power brick. That bad power brick had a bad cap in it, but could not be revived with a new cap.

As someone who sells this stuff for a living, I cannot afford to go replace parts on every single f***ing wireless network I set up. Especially when vendors do not honor their warranty. Even if they did, I'm still out the considerable time to go troubleshoot the problem, fix it, line up the warranty, etc. I'm about ready to say hell with it, I'm not selling anything wireless any more.

Is it any better with the higher end business-grade equipment?

Any thoughts on this unit?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833120310

[bgavin]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

As a small business owner, I certainly feel your pain. Time is money, and time wasted f*cking around with Dipshits From Bangalore (DFBs) over worthless warranties for gear loaded with Cheap Chinese Crap (CCCs) gets expensive.

If you waste a lot of time on this, you waste a lot of money. I have to tell my clients they can engage me to negotiate THEIR warranty claim for THEIR router. I am just the servicer, not the warranty provider.

I'm not having nearly enough complaints to warrant recapping new routers. Yet. I have a few dead Netgear in the bin, but haven't been interested enough to look inside. I like Linksys router much better than Netgear anyway, because their code is more flexible.

[willawake]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

seems nice. the choices are quite confusing and a lot of that stuff no longer listed on their site. Personally i would find a cisco forum and get some advice if you will choose one of them.

Be careful of the lightweight versions, they need an extra central control box.

I think most cisco stuff is based on their IOS software. It is quite hardcore, i think TC would agree with that. I ended up with a bunch of notes of console just to do simple things with the switch. Still looking at the internals of the switch i can live with that. Those APs have web interface also though.

I dont think IOS upgrades are available when you like unless you have smartnet support or are a partner. Not sure about that or whether that matters to you for non-internet facing stuff anyway

You could consider PoE if you were to install a new system, backed by a quality switch this could solve the power adapter issues.

You could also consider HP Procurve instead of Cisco, they have lifetime warranty and free software upgrades

For as long as you own the product, with next-business-day advance replacement (available in most countries).

I would choose either of those two brands for company stuff.

If the price stings then you can do the old :

24 port switch $800 / 19 used ports = $42 per port. 3 x 365 = 1095 days reasonable service life. 42 / 1095 = 4 cents per day per used port sir!

[starfury1]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

As someone who sells this stuff for a living, I cannot afford to go replace parts on every single f***ing wireless network I set up.

Yeah thought it might be like that

Then they want 24 hrs service and every time
If something f%^&$* up its your fault cause you sold it to them.

I fully appreciate your position.

"Is it any better with the higher end business-grade equipment?"

I would Hope so but dont know
willawake seem to have some good suggestions...
find a mob that really stands by their products

this the HP stuff your referring to willawake?

http://www.procurve.com/

its a rock and hard place with customers...
why should I pay $500 when I can get something for $50 that does the same thing.

cause one's crap and i'll charge you $300 bucks every time you ring me the other quality and an i'll offer free support for a year

Ok tongue in cheek.... but don't you just feel like saying that sometimes

good luck Acstech wish I had better info for you

Cheers

[starfury1]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

If you waste a lot of time on this, you waste a lot of money. I have to tell my clients they can engage me to negotiate THEIR warranty claim for THEIR router. I am just the servicer, not the warranty provider.

true, you got to draw a clear line

[willawake]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

this the HP stuff your referring to willawake?

http://www.procurve.com/

uhuh. never tried it but its been recommended to me. Although many consumers curse HP all their enterprise stuff is good.

why should I pay $500 when I can get something for $50 that does the same thing.

as per equation above the cisco switch is cheaper than toilet paper.

[acstech]

Re: Who makes reliable wireless products?

I may try the HP stuff. Lifetime warranty and free software upgrades do sound good.