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Network Upgrade Advice
Hey guys, I'm looking to upgrade the home network soon from an old WRT-45G, but am having some trouble picking out a good, solid consumer router. I need something with simultaneous dual-band radios, gigabit ethernet, high throughput, reserved IPs, and rock-solid stability... good transmit power and antennas, highly customizable firmware and other features a plus, but secondary concerns.
I'm in a toss-up between the top of the line cisco-linksys and netgear routers:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/30925-start-your-buying-netgear-wndr3700-reviewed
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/31399-cisco-linksys-e4200-maximum-performance-wireless-n-router-reviewed
Does anyone here have some experience or know which of these would be better? Alternatively, anyone have a different, better recommendation?
I'm in a toss-up between the top of the line cisco-linksys and netgear routers:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/30925-start-your-buying-netgear-wndr3700-reviewed
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/31399-cisco-linksys-e4200-maximum-performance-wireless-n-router-reviewed
Does anyone here have some experience or know which of these would be better? Alternatively, anyone have a different, better recommendation?
Neither of those supports IPv6, which is frankly retarded in 2011. In particular, I've used the Linksys e4200 and noticed it (like all other standard-firmware Linksys routers) being unable to pass non-bog-standard IP protocols, like IPv6 encapsulation (41) or IPSEC (50) when its firewall is enabled, which is a bummer if you want to do anything useful with your network (like bridge it to a larger network).
If you don't want to install a custom firmware, I've actually had more success with Apple AirPorts than with any other consumer router. They actually have a decent routing engine, support for a plethora of features, and decent wireless performance. I understand that it's not terribly performant using 802.11n in the 2.4GHz band, but nobody should expect much performance out of that configuration anyway.
All the consumer-grade stuff is really shitty, though. Just get a cheap real router and AP. Say a Juniper J2320 and a WLA522 access point, or (if you prefer Cisco), a 2900 series router and an A1260 AP. Although then you have to be able to run PoE... but that shouldn't be too much trouble?
If you don't want to install a custom firmware, I've actually had more success with Apple AirPorts than with any other consumer router. They actually have a decent routing engine, support for a plethora of features, and decent wireless performance. I understand that it's not terribly performant using 802.11n in the 2.4GHz band, but nobody should expect much performance out of that configuration anyway.
All the consumer-grade stuff is really shitty, though. Just get a cheap real router and AP. Say a Juniper J2320 and a WLA522 access point, or (if you prefer Cisco), a 2900 series router and an A1260 AP. Although then you have to be able to run PoE... but that shouldn't be too much trouble?
Yeah, I wouldn't choose either of those. Finding the right router is like finding the right woman. When you find it you'll know. Or, you will die a lonely miserable man with a crappy router because no router will ever be good enough for you ever.
Even when the router sometimes makes you feel good about your choice it is soon followed by a series of events that makes you think the router is the worst thing you have ever invested in and you want to take it out in the middle of nowhere, beat it to death with a shovel, then bury anything that could ever link you to it.
Of course you don't because gas is expensive these days so the trip itself would just add to the overall pain the router has caused you. But um yeah...good luck finding what you are looking for!
Even when the router sometimes makes you feel good about your choice it is soon followed by a series of events that makes you think the router is the worst thing you have ever invested in and you want to take it out in the middle of nowhere, beat it to death with a shovel, then bury anything that could ever link you to it.
Of course you don't because gas is expensive these days so the trip itself would just add to the overall pain the router has caused you. But um yeah...good luck finding what you are looking for!