who makes the best routers?

[bdjohnson]

So I am finally getting dsl and I need to buy a router for my small network at home. I already have an 8 port switch so I think all I need is a one port router that the switch will uplink to. What company do you guys recommend?

 

[amdskip]

Just get a 4 port router (one port are rare and are more expensive usually than 4 port ones) that you can find in hot deals. Take your pick from linksys, netgear, smc, dlink, etc. Netgear wireless routers have left a bad taste in my mouth as of late. I've purchased 2 different models of them and both of have been died within 24 hours.

 

[Agamar]

Any of the cheap routers will still give you top speed with only a DSL connection.

 

[bdjohnson]

Originally posted by: Agamar
Any of the cheap routers will still give you top speed with only a DSL connection.

I'm not worried about top speed I'm more concerned with how reliable it will be.

 

[JackMDS]

If you are willing to spend few hundreds $$$ there are more reliable Routers.

If you are looking at the sub $100 Cable/DSL Router?

It Does Not Matter. The main deference is the Color of the Plastic casing.

However there might be functional differences between the models, like the number of Ports that can be opened.

So, log to the support Sites of SMC, Netgear, D-Link, Buffalo, Linksys, etc. Down load the manuals, read and choose what ever fit your personal needs.

About Routers: Cable/DSL Routers - NAT & Ports.

:sun:

 

[bdjohnson]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
If you are willing to spend few hundreds $$$ there are more reliable Routers.

If you are looking at the sub $100 Cable/DSL Router?

It Does Not Matter. The main deference is the Color of the Plastic casing.

However there might be functional differences between the models, like the number of Ports that can be opened.

So, log to the support Sites of SMC, Netgear, D-Link, Buffalo, Linksys, etc. Down load the manuals, read and choose what ever fit your personal needs.

About Routers: Cable/DSL Routers - NAT & Ports.

:sun:

Thanks! I think I've pretty much decided just to go with the best deal on a mid range (not the cheapest of the cheap aka around $42) router I can find.

 

[dc5]

get a router that has stateful packet inspection (SPI) for higher security.

 

[jonn]

Here ya go
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,5470,00.asp

 

[bdjohnson]

Originally posted by: jonn
Here ya go
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,5470,00.asp

I think thats a little out of my price range

 

[nageov3t]

they're really all the same.

I'd recomend Netgear, as Linksys products look like sh!t, but it's just a personal preference.

 

[Cheetah8799]

Setup your own Smoothwall or IPCop firewall with an old PC.

smoothwall.org
ipcop.org

Otherwise the Netgear MR814 802.11b routers are good, and about $20 after the current Netgear rebate that is going on. Check Hot Deals for more info.

 

[travanx]

i really like my Linksys WRT54G, especially with all the hacked firmware you can choose from.

 

[joecool]

Originally posted by: loki8481
they're really all the same.

I'd recomend Netgear, as Linksys products look like sh!t, but it's just a personal preference.

LOL, i couldn't agree with you more. guess they are trying to look serious and industrial but to me they're just butt ugly! netgear is shiny and techy looking and futuristic - all rounded corners. sexy

oh, and he's right - if you're getting a wired device, they really are all the same. reliability will be fine with any of 'em.

wireless is another story from what i've heard ... but since i haven't gone there yet myself and can't say from personal experience.

 

[Lyfer]

If you are looking for just a basic DSL router or just basic 802.11b support, get the Netgear 814 Wireless router from newegg for $39, it has a $10 MIR also. I have one at home and it works great wireless/wired. A piece of cake to setup too.

 

[JackMDS]

LOL.

So by now we know that some people here like Linksys, some like Netgear, some like smoothwall, some like something else.

This week I like Buffalo ! Why?

I got one that is doing 802.11g it can function as WDS, and it WZC compatible.

$19.99 after rebate.

Next week who knows?

Ergo it Does Not Matter.:shocked:

:sun:

 

[Davegod75]

another vote for smoothwall

 

[itachi]

my say is smc.. you can get one from newegg for $60.. relatively cheap .

 

[gpgofast]

I have had great luck with both Linksys(WRT54G) and Dlink(614+). I personally had problems get WPA working on the Dlink as it wasn't originally designed to support it. No problems with WPA on the Linksys, but I think that is mainly because the "G" standard was mainstreamed after WPA was released. The Linksys is cool as there is a LOT of cool firmware available since Linksys originally coded it in Linux and was required to release the source code. There is a lot of really neat stuff coming out for that specific router.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I like using Iptables for maximum flexibillity, reliabillity, and control.

If you want easy, use Smoothwall ... which is based on iptables
If you want to do it manually, then install any linux distro on a spare rig with 2 nics and find an "IP MASQUERADE" linux Howto

 

[Confused]

I've had bad experiences with D-Link and Netgear. US Robotics is what I am buying now.


Confused

 

[cmetz]

bdjohnson, all of the SOHO networking vendors are hit or miss. Some of their prodcuts have been great and some have been real duds (and many start out as duds and mature into great over the course of a year or more).

Linksys's WRT54G/GS is a pretty good unit these days, and the hacked firmware gives it a lot longer viable life than most because it can continue to get updated by the community even after Linksys moves on.

Linksys's BEFSR41 is an old solid performer.

Check dslreports.com's forums for horror stories about particular products, but in general if your needs are just for a basic PAT firewall/router, any of them should work fine - get the cheapest one that week.

 

[neildoug]

I have not been happy with my netgear MR814v2. I got a dud (returned to Netgear via a process that non-experienced users and those without much time could not do) and but was later sent a decent one (but it HAS hung--granted, it was after 2 weeks of being constantly on).

Therefore, I would avoid the netgear MR814v2 for the sake of reliability. It is really nice besides that (when it works).

Networking-experienced friends of mine love their trouble-free Linksyses.
I have also had good luck with Belkin routers.

 

[txxxx]

My D-Link DSL504 once forget its MAC address for its internal ethernet bridge...very strange but I some how realised the problem.
Other than that, D-Link gets my vote.

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
LOL.

So by now we know that some people here like Linksys, some like Netgear, some like smoothwall, some like something else.

This week I like Buffalo ! Why?

I got one that is doing 802.11g it can function as WDS, and it WZC compatible.

$19.99 after rebate.

Next week who knows?

Ergo it Does Not Matter.:shocked:

:sun:

Buffalo does make some nice stuff. I especially like their like their G routers. I have a rock solid SMC 2804G that is fine. I would swap it for a buffalo but I almost NEVER use wifi in my house and I only use it for wifi capability. Have a Snapgear Firewall for main LAN.

 

[bdjohnson]

Originally posted by: cmetz
bdjohnson, all of the SOHO networking vendors are hit or miss. Some of their prodcuts have been great and some have been real duds (and many start out as duds and mature into great over the course of a year or more).

Linksys's WRT54G/GS is a pretty good unit these days, and the hacked firmware gives it a lot longer viable life than most because it can continue to get updated by the community even after Linksys moves on.

Linksys's BEFSR41 is an old solid performer.

Check dslreports.com's forums for horror stories about particular products, but in general if your needs are just for a basic PAT firewall/router, any of them should work fine - get the cheapest one that week.

Thanks. I bought this one a few days ago since it was in hot deals and all the newegg reviews were pretty good. Hopefully it will work well. I'll be sure to post back with any exceptionally good or bad experiences for you guys. Thanks again for the help.