The Router Recommendations Thread (Consumer)

I'm in the market for a new router as my current one is on it's last legs and never really performed the way I'd hope. For my new one I'm trying to decide between the Netgear WNDR4000-100NAS and the Netgear WNDR3700-100NAS. I'm wondering if the WNDR4000 is worth the small step-up in price? It boats up to 450Mbps rather than the typical ~300Mbps by most other higher-end routers. Besides speed my absolute biggest need out of this router is a decent range and strong signals at that range. By decent I mean I have computers about 60ft (through plaster walls) from the cable modem/router and would also like to be able to get decent coverage on my laptop in every nook of the house (a good solid 60-70ft of reliable, rock solid coverage would be perfect minimum range I'd want).

Another thing, the WNDR4000 doesn't advertise/boast about having "Rangemax" (at least not in what I've seen without looking too in-depth into it) whereas the 3700 model does. If that is the case will I be better to go with the 3700 for the extra range performance, or is this a feature on the 4000 as well that just isn't as front-and-center as it was on the other model?

Thanks guys!
 
FWIW, I bought a D-link DIR-615 a couple of weeks ago. I put DD-WRT on it immediately because the stock firmware GUI sucks. It worked pretty well, expect I kept losing connect with the Wii for Netflix. Turns out the thing has crappy range. It's going back tomorrow and I'm gonna pick up a Asus RT-N56U.
 
I just picked up a Cisco-Linksys E1000 and the performance is perfect. And for the $23 I paid on Amazon for a refurbished unit can't be beat IMO.
 
Is the linksys e4200 good with the stock firmware? Costco have it for 134 and I am planning to get it?
 
I had a bad experience with it. I can only tell you to avoid the E4200. I bought it at Best Buy and returned it within the 30 days.

Others have good experiences while a few didn't.

But check with Costco's return policy, just in case you have a bad experience too.
 
I went to Fry's but they were out of the Asus. <grrr> I ended up with the WNDR3700. Very good router. I'm completely happy with it.
 
I'm in the market for a new router as my current one is on it's last legs and never really performed the way I'd hope. For my new one I'm trying to decide between the Netgear WNDR4000-100NAS and the Netgear WNDR3700-100NAS. I'm wondering if the WNDR4000 is worth the small step-up in price? It boats up to 450Mbps rather than the typical ~300Mbps by most other higher-end routers. Besides speed my absolute biggest need out of this router is a decent range and strong signals at that range. By decent I mean I have computers about 60ft (through plaster walls) from the cable modem/router and would also like to be able to get decent coverage on my laptop in every nook of the house (a good solid 60-70ft of reliable, rock solid coverage would be perfect minimum range I'd want).

Another thing, the WNDR4000 doesn't advertise/boast about having "Rangemax" (at least not in what I've seen without looking too in-depth into it) whereas the 3700 model does. If that is the case will I be better to go with the 3700 for the extra range performance, or is this a feature on the 4000 as well that just isn't as front-and-center as it was on the other model?

Thanks guys!
I think the Netgear WNDR3700 is quite a router. Not sure so much about the Rangemax but it seems to have the best specs at the price range, the fastest CPU, simultaneous dual band, USB port, and the ability to flash with DD-WRT to replace the clunky GUI/interface and allow it to easily connect to a VPN through OpenVPN or PPTP.
 
My router does what it needs to, however am I missing out on anything because I'm using a Netgear WGT264 v3? What do new routers offer that would make me want to get a new one?
 
My router does what it needs to, however am I missing out on anything because I'm using a Netgear WGT264 v3? What do new routers offer that would make me want to get a new one?

Wow, thats an oldy. I had a Dlink 4300 for six years up until a few months ago. I tried a few new routers out before settling on Linksys E3000 for a great deal. I couldn't believe the difference in how much better my network ran, gigabit, wireless connection/speed, being able to play Xbox live while bittorrenting.

My Dlink 4300 was cream of the crop back in 05 but it doesn't hold a handle to todays consumer routers. Look at the comparison in these charts to see what I mean.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/router-charts/bar/76-total-simul
 
I'm in the market for a new router as my current one is on it's last legs and never really performed the way I'd hope. For my new one I'm trying to decide between the Netgear WNDR4000-100NAS and the Netgear WNDR3700-100NAS. I'm wondering if the WNDR4000 is worth the small step-up in price? It boats up to 450Mbps rather than the typical ~300Mbps by most other higher-end routers. Besides speed my absolute biggest need out of this router is a decent range and strong signals at that range. By decent I mean I have computers about 60ft (through plaster walls) from the cable modem/router and would also like to be able to get decent coverage on my laptop in every nook of the house (a good solid 60-70ft of reliable, rock solid coverage would be perfect minimum range I'd want).

Another thing, the WNDR4000 doesn't advertise/boast about having "Rangemax" (at least not in what I've seen without looking too in-depth into it) whereas the 3700 model does. If that is the case will I be better to go with the 3700 for the extra range performance, or is this a feature on the 4000 as well that just isn't as front-and-center as it was on the other model?

Thanks guys!

late response, but the 3700 is good enough! a very popular and high performance router, both v1 and v2. the bigger difference between 3700 and 4000 (and linksys e4200) is that the latter ones use broadcom chipsets so you have the possibility of using tomato firmware in the future. (but third party firmware support for new routers is hard to predict because most routers still have sketchy support years after release)
 
Been using a Trendnet router and wireless bridge for about 6 years now, and they're both getting old at this point, so I'm looking for replacements for both. My setup is currently the router next to the modem to give connectivity to consoles and Wi-fi for general usage, with a wireless bridge going to an 8-port switch for my workstation area on the far end of my apartment. This setup has worked out nicely, so I want to keep it this way.

However, I've been out of this stuff for a long time now, so I wouldn't know the first place to start looking. In general, this only needs to supply a small studio apartment, so I'm looking less at range of signal, and more at quality and throughput of signal, for both the router and the bridge. Are there any general recommendations for what I should start looking into?
 
I need some advice. I currently have a DIR-655 router I have been running for a while. I host a couple of game servers behind it, and it has always been up to the task. Lately it seems to be dropping connections and exhibiting other strange behavior. Is there a better router to replace it with for the purpose I use it for? Or should I just grab another DIR-655?
 
I need some advice. I currently have a DIR-655 router I have been running for a while. I host a couple of game servers behind it, and it has always been up to the task. Lately it seems to be dropping connections and exhibiting other strange behavior. Is there a better router to replace it with for the purpose I use it for? Or should I just grab another DIR-655?

the 655 is a good mainstream router the hardware inside is ok but if your needs are heavier like mine were spend the extra and get the 855 i have that one it is much more powerful and up to the task you need plus its dual band wireless 2.4 and 5ghz at the same time. Had mine for over a year and zero issues. or the new DIR-657 but i have not used this so i'd look for reviews and user feedback.
 
You may also want to look at something like the Netgear WNDR3500L (or the newest version). I was having issues with my router locking up under a significant load and this has been the best router I have used without stepping up to a pfSense box or Cisco ASA.
 
I have a wireless router in my basement, an ASUS RT-N16. It has DDWRT firmware. It also acts as a switch for my basement media setup (Computer, server, gaming systems) and is connected through CAT6 ethernet to my living room where there is currently a gigabit switch hooked up to another computer and media streamer.

I would like better wireless signal in my living room and also in my yard (My living room has 3 all glass walls) so I want to buy a wireless extender/repeater/AP of some sort.

Any suggestions? Ideally the new box has gigabit switching so I can ditch the gigabit switch that is already in the living room. The fewer boxes the better up there :)
 
support e2000

Thanks for the response, is there any particular reason you recommend the Linksys E2000? It seems to be an extremely full featured and powerful router (even more so than my trusty ASUS N16?)

Is there a way I can get by with a "less powerful" router since I'm just using it as an extender and switch or does the dual band feature actually benefit me here?

Sorry for the noob questions
Smitty
 
So what model (or brand) would you recommend for a two-user household? We'll be getting an (advertised) 10m Mbps connection. I was looking to keep it under $100. I'm way out of the loop on routers (haven't bought one in five years, last one was a Linksys), so any help is appreciated. Thanks
 
Am considering a TP-Link TL-wr1034ND

Is that a good choice?

Seems to be great value considering price vs features (usb port, gigabyte lan, wirelessN 300mbps)
 
Cisco has offered to buy back out brand new RV082, since the VPN functionality doesn't quite work correctly.

Still looking for the good reliable VPN router. I may try a PFsense box this next go-a-round.
 
Cisco has offered to buy back out brand new RV082, since the VPN functionality doesn't quite work correctly.

Still looking for the good reliable VPN router. I may try a PFsense box this next go-a-round.

Ive ditched all the cisco consumer grade units, i did just install a Dlink unit that worked GREAT.

However pfsense hands down :)
 
Well after a good sit down with my manager we decided not to go with pfsense this round, do to the time it will take to setup, debug and port everything over.

Instead I ordered a Zyxel USG 200. I only plan on using the IDS subscription, so the pricing works out. The VPN is 100% compatible and Zyxel's VPN client is a rebadged version of "TheGreenBow" which we already have 10 licenses for. I figure the complete setup and roll over should take about 6 hours which will work with our schedule. It also now supports IPSec/L2TP VPN such as the native one built into Windows 7.

I should have the new router sometime next week. I 'll post a quick update as soon as I have a good feel for the device.
 
So far the Zyxel USG router is fairly swanky. It's a very different interface than anything I have come across before. (Not recommended for a novice) So far the gotcha's include the web interface only working with IE 7-9 and firefox 3-4. No Safari, Opera or Chrome compatibility. I should have all the L2TP VPNs up and being tested this weekend, along with (1) single standard AES IPsec tunnel.

I'll be plugging it into the network tomorrow after everyone is gone for the day.
 
So I hate a 8 year old WRT54G. Been gone a few years. Looking for something besides WEP, and something faster. I have a wired main PC, PS3, 3 laptops, Tablets, phones, etc. And I game a lot.

Can someone recommend me a few routers to look into?
 
So I hate a 8 year old WRT54G. Been gone a few years. Looking for something besides WEP, and something faster. I have a wired main PC, PS3, 3 laptops, Tablets, phones, etc. And I game a lot.

Can someone recommend me a few routers to look into?

i have a v4 of that one it does wpa2 with dd-wrt on it been thinking of getting something with wireless n... so far im thinking asus r16 or linksys e2000
 
So I hate a 8 year old WRT54G. Been gone a few years. Looking for something besides WEP, and something faster. I have a wired main PC, PS3, 3 laptops, Tablets, phones, etc. And I game a lot.

Can someone recommend me a few routers to look into?

I'd look into the ASUS RT-N56U. Check out this link for benchmarks. Looks like the best thing out there. Had read early on about some bugs with f/w but it sounds like that had been ironed out now a while back.

Link: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...-dual-band-gigabit-wireless-n-router-reviewed
 
Still working with the Zyxel USG 100. I have all my port forwarding services working, and 10 L2TP VPN tunnels configured. I need to still issues a security certificate for the authentication, and configure the normal IPsec tunnels, but so far this is looking to be a great purchase. I have seen no issues saturating the 25/25mbit Fios pipe we have.

Learning the interface is the biggest obstacle here. Defining objects, creating the NAT policy route then defining a rule for that route in the firewall. Fun stuff.

The real test will be when there are 5 VPNs concurrently running (out of the 17 that are configured), the FTP is uploading to a customer or two, its lunchtime (so multiple TV shows are streaming while people eat lunch), and someone in the office is downloading a 30+ GB file and the mail is still working reliably.

I'll eventually happen, just give it time.

I'll update again next week.
 
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I'd look into the ASUS RT-N56U. Check out this link for benchmarks. Looks like the best thing out there. Had read early on about some bugs with f/w but it sounds like that had been ironed out now a while back.

Link: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...-dual-band-gigabit-wireless-n-router-reviewed

Ugh! Ordered this before you posted. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122326

And it looks like that Asus is better. I knew I shoulda waited a few days to see more options.
 
There ain't a thing wrong with that netgear fallguy. It still remains one of the most recommended and best overall routers out there. There's also a mod community behind it that will likely be porting ddwrt if it hasn't already been done (still in beta last I heard).
 
I just got the WNDR4000 and since I first set it up 2 days ago it's already crashed/rebooted 4-5 times :( Anyone got any suggestions?
 
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