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    Modem and wireless choices.

    I've been having some issues with my D-link DSL-G604T for months now and it seems to be progessing to worse as time goes by.

    I will usually lose my ADSL connection or the wireless will act up and not send out a signal or even worse all the lights turn off and only the power light remains.

    Usually I have to power cycle it a few times to get it working normally again. I had a look inside there and it's filled with GSC caps.... none are bulging etc.

    Now I recap motherboards but I just can't be bothered disassembling this unit to pieces so I think i'll just go and buy a new modem and wireless router.... I want an upgrade on this stuff anyway.

    The D-link DSL-G604T that I'm currently using is an all in one unit with wireless and ethernet inbuilt to it as well (I bought it because it was cheaper than the seperate stuff).... i'm kinda over this all in one stuff and I think it's better if I get a seperate modem and a seperate wireless access point.

    I need some help in choosing the access point and the modem. So far my choice for the wireless access point is the Linksys WRT54G series because I've heard a lot of good stuff about them and also I own a Linksys WAP11 access point and that thing perfect in every way.... only problem is that it's only 11Mbps compared to 54Mbps on the newer stuff.
    I don't care about the new 108Mbps 802.11a stuff so anything that is 802.11g and 54Mbps is good enough for me.

    And my choice for the modem is a Linksys AM300 series ADSL2+ modem. The modem costs $59AUD and the access point costs $58AUD...... go figure...... the access point is cheaper than the modem????.


    Anyway, I need some opinions on my choice.... are they good or bad??

    The D-link is now 3 years old so I'm not dissapointed that it's dying now.... it did its job well for the 2 years until recently where it keeps acting up.

    Thanks.
    Last edited by stevo1210; 05-25-2008, 03:49 AM.
    Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous

    #2
    Re: Modem and wireless choices.

    what i had done on my netgear and linksys ... is i do a recap job.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Modem and wireless choices.

      I have one client who was using all D-Link. Nothing but trouble... intermittent enable/disable of the NIC, etc.

      My very limited experience with D-Link is all bad. The AirLink drivers for his PCMCIA wireless card suck. Installation is awful, so is general operation. The installation gets broken, so you cannot remove it or reinstall over the top of it. The Windows Installer itself winds up corrupt around the same time. Hard to tell if this is the D-Link code, or something else on the machine (Fujitsu Tablet, another piece of shit).

      I have some of his old D-Link routers in the junk bin... never bothered to open one up. Perhaps it is populated with bad caps. Dunno. Never had the slightest inclination to ever use that piece of junk, so left it in the bin.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Modem and wireless choices.

        When I had cable internet, I used their modem (Motorola Surfboard) with a D-Link DI-604 router. I never had a lick of trouble with it. With my current internet provider (AT&T U-verse) it is not compatable. The current modem/router combo is from 2Wire, and the router/firewall part of it sucks.

        I would go back to the cheap-ass DI-604 in a heartbeat, if I could disable the router on the 2Wire.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Modem and wireless choices.

          My family's DI-624 had similar problems after ~3 years of use. IIRC it had GSC caps, too, some of which were bulging.
          the unit usually ran pretty hot, so no big surprise.

          Recapping the thing took me no more than 10 minutes; all problems are gone now.
          Unlike their wireless cards, DLink routers are not too bad IMO.
          "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Modem and wireless choices.

            The very few reviews I've seen for Wireless-N give high marks to the D-Link and SMC routers. Newegg user satisfaction with Linksys and Netgear "N" is awful. The TrendNET routers are unknowns in the US, but apparently well known abroad. Newegg users and the general community seem to really like them. I'd give them a try also, but they don't seem to have a matching access point. I need both router and AP for my clients.

            I have a client who needs basic wireless, so I bought them the usual Linksys WRT54GL and WAP54G combination. I've had pretty good luck with Linksys for basic routing tasks for home or SOHO users. Evidently most of these use the Broadcom engine, and some sort of linux based firmware. Figures. The combination of craps + dipshit coders is a fatal one.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Modem and wireless choices.

              I was given a D-Link DI-524 a few months back. A really nice wireless access point.... only problem is that the previous owner opened it up and somehow managed to seperate the antenna cable from the crimp on the antenna coxial connector.... my solution was to route the antenna cable outside the unit and that made the signal better, but it''s still weak.
              Everything still works except I get a really weak wireless signal. I use the router as a network switch now and does its job well.
              On the other note, I heard that there are some versions of the WRT54G that won't run the modded Linux firmware? I saw a version in a store today called the Linksys WRT54GL and apparently that supports modded firmware?.

              Thanks.
              Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                WRT54G and WRT54GS support Linux firmware until they released version 5. Since then Linksys have moved onto using a proprietary system. The WRT54GL is the Linux version of the WRT54G version 5.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                  I've found a lot higher user satisfaction with the WRT54GL, which is why I order them for my clients.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                    Be aware the WRT54 series are long in tooth for nearly 4 years. Invest in something bit newer. Unless your needs is fine with what you get there WRT54 series are grand and there are third party firmwares out there. GL is great for this as this is currently available when new and can put third-party firmware on it.

                    Have anyone considered the linksys DIR-655 or either WGL-4300 (older) or WGL-4500 in production?

                    Cheers, Wizard

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                      The DIR-655 got good marks, but I need a WAP to match, plus backward support for 802.11g for the client's new Dell laptop. I don't think it has Wireless-N built in.

                      I'd like nothing better than stable Wireless-N to connect the upstairs router with downstairs office access point, and 802.11g to connect the router to her laptop. I just couldn't find enough information to convince me to try any of the N products... time ran out, so I ordered the Linksys pair for her. Tried and true, it will do the job. Non-enthusiast use only.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                        I had a look today at some Netgear products. The model I was looking at was the Netgear WGR614 wireless router. Is Netgear any good?

                        Thanks.
                        Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                          I have had more hard failures with Netgear than anything else. I suspect bad caps is the problem. I have a few dead bodies in the bin, perhaps I'll open one up when I have free time. That will be when Hell freezes over...

                          My heartburn with Netgear is their asshole tech support people. I call in a dead router, provide serial, they verify it is under warranty. They want to put the dead router back in the circuit and play 64 versions of Read The Check List before honoring the warranty. They want to do this in a million dollar business, and keep them down.

                          Screw that, and screw Netgear. Box is dead, under warranty, replace the box.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                            Originally posted by stevo1210
                            I had a look today at some Netgear products. The model I was looking at was the Netgear WGR614 wireless router. Is Netgear any good?
                            As bgavin pointed out, usually Netgears devices are below average regarding support and quality. One of rare good ones (maybe by chance ) is the DG834/DG834G series: stable, almost insensible to line noise (a must if you are far from the exchange box, it handles connections while most routers can't) and fast enough to keep the flux of P2P packets. Revisions from V1 to V3 are based on the TI AR7 chip (firmware is Linux based: there should be a modding project with a comunity, though it isn't as large as the WRT fan base), the V4 and the DG834GT employs a Broadcom ic (no info available).
                            Anyway I won't suggest this one because:
                            - it's about 4 years old and the version shop sell today, the V4, is the less preferable among all;
                            - wireless is slower than average and about half the bandwith of best 803.11G routers/APs: you can surf and watch streaming channels, but sharing is so sloooow.

                            Zandrax
                            Have an happy life.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                              If Netgear is crap then my only choices are probably Linksys and D-Link. There are also Asus routers but I've heard some bad about them so I don't really want to buy an Asus router.

                              Thanks.
                              Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous

                              Comment


                                #16
                                Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                                has anybody used draytek? they always get good review in pcpro magazine (dunno if cos they are big advertiser)

                                - it's about 4 years old and the version shop sell today, the V4, is the less preferable among all;
                                was the good version made before agreement with zyxel cancelled?

                                if i was in the market i would probably be looking at zyxel or thomson speedtouch. although both have crap caps like most

                                i was impressed with 3com switch bought recently. all chemicon
                                capacitor lab yachtmati techmati

                                Comment


                                  #17
                                  Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                                  The TrendNET routers have some very good press. They are better known abroad, than in the US. Newegg buyers give them good marks for Wireless-N.

                                  It is entirely possible the TrendNET is a sleeper... high quality yet unknown. I would have given one a try, if I could get a WAP for it, and backward support for 802.11g. I couldn't so I bought the Linksys pair.

                                  Comment


                                    #18
                                    Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                                    Originally posted by willawake
                                    was the good version made before agreement with zyxel cancelled?
                                    I think you know more than me: until now, I ignored Netgear and Zyxel had an agreement.

                                    Originally posted by willawake
                                    i was impressed with 3com switch bought recently. all chemicon
                                    Slight OT: I want to replace an old fast ethernet hub (not switch, only hub), now unreliable and prone to corrupt packages (I send corrupted mail and I have to reload pages more than once); I'm looking for gigabit switches because I'm going to implement a nas, so I need bandwith. The only gigabit switches I can find in town are crappy D-Links, but I like more enterprise grade stuff, such as 3Com or HP ProCurve gears.
                                    Willa, do you know your 3Com bandwith (Can it reach peaks of 70-80 MB/s?) and its power consumption?
                                    Thanks

                                    Zandrax
                                    Have an happy life.

                                    Comment


                                      #19
                                      Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                                      I went out to the computer store that i usually shop at to buy my modem and wireless router yesterday. The modem I bought is a Linksys AG300 series modem. A very nice modem indded and it even has 4 ethernet ports on it compared to 1 on other modems i've seen.... it was the only Linksys modem that was available.... but I'm happy for the features it's got. I used it today and it is perfect!.
                                      The wireless access point I bought was a Linksys WRT54G. A nice router indeed. But I can't set it up... arrgh!.
                                      I need some help in setting up my router. I used the CD but it keeps saying it can't detect an intertnet connection. It can see other computers on the network but cant connect to the net.
                                      I've also noticed something and that is that both modem and wireless router used a web based configuration.... nothing worong with that.... but why are the two IP address number to access the web based config exactly the same?
                                      Both use 192.168.1.1 to access the web based setup utility.... is this whats causing the router not to detect an internet connection?
                                      There's even a setup setting that asks me if the WRT54G is connected to another router.... what is that telling me?

                                      Thanks.
                                      Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous

                                      Comment


                                        #20
                                        Re: Modem and wireless choices.

                                        I've had a dozen or so D-link switches and routers (wireless and not).
                                        Only had trouble with one of them.

                                        I like the looks of TrendNET too.
                                        Been watching the reviews. Haven't tried one yet.

                                        .
                                        Mann-Made Global Warming.
                                        - We should be more concerned about the Intellectual Climate.

                                        -
                                        Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

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