Router: Looking for a SOHO / high-ish-end consumer router

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VerumSeeker

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Nov 27, 2010
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Am looking for a new router. Currently have an ancient Linksys BEFSR41, but my space is getting used more as a SOHO and less as a home-only. Most of my house is wired but there are a few rooms that require wireless so I'd like to go ahead and upgrade to a wireless even though the wireless capability will be rarely used (I suppose guests might be the primary users of the wireless functionality).
- Would like to get the current standard (802.11n) and WPA2.
- Would like at least one 10/100/1000 WAN port (I know that the 1000 on the WAN side is wasted at this point, but do not want to buy another router next year if something suddenly changes on the WAN side) and at least four (4) 10/100/1000 LAN ports (although eight (8) ports would be better).
- Needs to work with an Arris TM601A cable modem and with a Netgear GS108 Gigabit Switch supporting three laptops running Windows XP and Windows 7 as well as four desktops running Windows XP (running mostly 11g cards at this point--upgrading soon).
- Am also planning to add a media server (primarily for videos) in the coming months and want the router to support DLNA. Would like the router to have at least one USB port and support NTFS drives.
- And would like dual-band with good range/speed (but does not have to reach the very last millimeter at the very fastest speed that the standard supports--I do not need bleeding edge--just want something that is good-plus with no drops).
- Don't care how it looks as it will be out of sight in the basement.
- May eventually want support for printer, but that is optional and may not be truly needed.
- Would also like to get something that will accomodate the 3rd party firmware (DD-WRT) that seems to be popular (am not 100% sure on this one, but it seems pervasive in comments from experts).
- Would like to stay under $150, but if that is impossible, feel free to tell me.

Am a tiny bit concerned about buying a Cisco product given recent announcements about their supoport for consumer products, but if this concern is unwarranted, feel free to tell me.

Am not 100% sure what else to look for? I am not a professinal Network Admionistrator, but am also not a computer novice. In summary, NOT looking for the absolute latest-and-greatest-cost-is-no-factor-state-of-the-art unit, but rather one that near the top of the heap and has good-plus stats and a strong track record of stable performance.

Would appreciate your advice and pointers to exhaustive and authoritiative comparative reviews.
 
I am real happy with my Asus RT-N16 router running Tomato. Only thing that would have liked would have been dual-band wireless but it has performed great for my needs.
 
Netgear 3700 or 4000.

Even the 3500 is reasonably good w/o dual band. The 3700 and up will give ya
2.4/5Ghz channels and some good speeds.

Only get 4-5 ports on most routers, the reason being is the ones I've found with
8 port switches on them are generally more expensive, and not necessarily as feature
laden as their 4 port brothers. Just buy a another GS108 if you need more ports.
 
VerumSeeker said:
- Am also planning to add a media server (primarily for videos) in the coming months and want the router to support DLNA. Would like the router to have at least one USB port and support NTFS drives.
Click to expand...

Everything I've seen on the router USB ports, they only do about 2MB/s. It's a nice idea, but the implementation seems to be pretty crappy. If you're building a media server, then I'm not sure why you need your router to act as one also.


PanzerBoxb said:
I am real happy with my Asus RT-N16 router running Tomato. Only thing that would have liked would have been dual-band wireless but it has performed great for my needs.
Click to expand...

Same here.
 
PanzerBoxb said:
I am real happy with my Asus RT-N16 router running Tomato. Only thing that would have liked would have been dual-band wireless but it has performed great for my needs.
Click to expand...

same with my RT-N16! Running Tomato-USB VPN edition, I was gonna move to a PFSense box, but I am staying with the Asus!

so looking at the thread,

3+ for the Asus RT-N16 w/ 3rd party firmware
2 for the Netgear 3700

Either way you can't go wrong!
 
Be a bit careful with RT-N16 since it uses binary blobs it might be an issue if you want 3rd party fw.
//Danne
 
i can also say that the asus rt-n16 is a good option. i have it running with dd-wrt mega build. easy to get that setup. i have a media server hooked up via gigE and constantly get bout ~110-115mB/s transfers.
as stated before since you already have a switch, no need to spend more for an 8 port router
i cant comment on the usb port on it though, never used it and i dont intend to. shitty speeds from what i hear.
as for the printer, you can hook one up to that usb port and use it that way i believe
 
It may break your budget....but the latest Asus Black Diamond RT-N56U is looking sweet!
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...-dual-band-gigabit-wireless-n-router-reviewed

It topped Tim Higgins router performance charts, over 800 megs throughput! Supports over 30,000 simultaneous connections! This thing has some balls!

Only feature it lacks, which for home users...shouldn't be a problem...is no "guest WLAN" or ability to setup mutiple SSIDs. Although it does have client AP isolation. Perhaps a firmware update will add that feature.

You said you wanted dual band...I believe that won't happen with the old RT-N16 model.
 
Wait for the new Asus RT-N66U or 76u whatever they end up calling it. It is supposed to release soon as well.
 
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