Cheap(ish) wireless router recommendation please!

[Vermette]

So I've never purchased a home wireless router, for lack of need. Well now I have a need. What I'd like is something I can order from ncix/newegg/tigerdirect and I can painlessly replace the firmware with tomato or equivalent, and at least 4 ethernet jacks. My price ceiling is $100, so I'd love to hear recommendations.

[wtd]

Splurge and buy the D-Link DIR-825. It's good stuff.

[rdrake]

I heart my WRT54GL. I've had DD-WRT running flawlessly on it for well over a year with no problems at all. I'm not sure if they make it anymore though.

$100 for a wireless router is huge. I think I paid something like $60 with taxes, shipped, from ncix.com.

Oh look, it's still being manufactured and is even on special. Be sure to check out the hardware compatibility listings to ensure the router is supported by default as well.

[saltpro15]

rdrake, I have the same router. Can't recommend it enough I think we paid $40 for it after a mail in rebate.

[Vermette]

I know about the WRT54GL. From what I understand it's great for flashing as long as you have the right revision... After a certain date they basically crippled the thing by halving the available memory or somesuch.

[wtd]

Unfortunately, the WRT54GL is an 802.11G router.

[Dan]

I had a WRT54G model for a long time and it was by far my favorit one. Unfrontly after many fixes i had made to it (including a manual flash of the bios using a jtag cable, see that fun here: http://compsci.ca/~dan/pics/router/ ) some of the capastors gave out and my atments at fixing it only lead to alot of smoke witch lead to Jess forcing me to trow it out.

I now have a dual band N router from linksys however i was forced to return the first one i got as it was defective.

I would deftaly recommend the WRT54G if you want a cheap reliable router that has alot of moding and hacking possibilities.

@wtd, N only realy helps if you have an adaptor witch supports it. Otherwise you are only wasting money.

[wtd]

[quote="Dan @ Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:33 pm"@wtd, N only realy helps if you have an adaptor witch supports it. Otherwise you are only wasting money.[/quote]

Yes, but such an adaptor is worth investing in.

[Vermette]

Is there any reason you recommend the DIR-825 beyond 802.11n draft support? To me that's only nice for the future...

About the WRT54G again, is there an easy way to identify which revision you're buying without opening the box, like by the SKU?

[wtd]

I've had experience with it. It's extremely stable, and has very nice range.

[Dan]

wtd @ 11th August 2009, 2:10 am wrote:

Dan @ Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:33 pm wrote:

@wtd, N only realy helps if you have an adaptor witch supports it. Otherwise you are only wasting money.

Yes, but such an adaptor is worth investing in.

Only if you want to move files around your network, if you only have one computer and a router it will not help you much.