Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SHANE02]

I will be setting up a wireless network at home soon. I will have the main computer (desktop) in one room, and a laptop moving around the house.

I have done some reading, and like the look of this Linksys Wrt 54G v4
because of the custom firmware options. I will be downloading alot via Utorrent. I will also host an FTP server.

What do people recomend in the way of routers? What are you using? What have you had good/bad experiences with?


Here's what I'm looking at

http://www.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=114830868&pos_shop_cd=SH&pos_class_cd=111111111&pos_class_kind=T&search_keyword=wrt54g

[spliff]

I'm using a cheap Asus for my two coms but it's not wireless. It does the trick and has firewall and I have a network for accessing files. Think I paid 10,000 for it. Seems to me it's a mixed bag when it comes to Linksy...I've heard an equal amount of favorable and unfavorable comment about them. I remember some people saying they don't work well in hot climates. Google around I'm sure there must be some sort of router forum and you can find some more info there.

[SHANE02]

[tractor]

I use BUFFALO WHR-G54S <-- can't link to product but here's the page with all the wireless routers.



had it for over a year and no problems so far. The web control panel is in english so it makes it easier to config.

[bassexpander]

If you plan on adding custom firmware to your Linksys WRT54g router, be sure to check what version number you are getting. There used to be a version number on the UPC code of the box. Something like "v4" should show it. Some versions will not accept 3rd party firmware.

[SHANE02]

[bassexpander]

What Linksys did with that router was to change the model numbers around. There is one version of that router which is newer and will accept the firmware updates. If you buy the v.4 router, you'll be OK though. I had a v.4 and it was good. Don't buy v.5 or v.6 though. I have no idea about v.7.

If you want to change to third party software, get v.4 or find out what the new router model number is that will accept the 3rd party software.

By the way, I boosted the heck out of my power with that 3rd party firmware, but at best it only added maybe just about 3 to 5 more meters to the signal. It did help me get more power through a wall to another room, but there is a point of dimishing returns not far from the power it's already putting out. The signal starts getting too noisy and degrading after a certain percentage (maybe it was 50% of full). It even discusses that on the Thibor site.

Also, you have to ask yourself how safe it is for your body to be boosting that router signal 10 to 100 times higher than it's legally supposed to be.

After all is said and done, I am currently running on a cheap ZIO 40,000 won router that has a basic signal. I don't really care to give my neighbors too much opportunity to use/break into my signal.

[SuperHero]

I've got the WRT54G v7 - and I'm running two desktops, my printer and a (wired) and my laptop (wireless) through it with no problems. Torrent downloads regularly above 5MB/s all you need to do to ensure good torrent speeds is visit portforward.com and follow the instructions there.

[spliff]

Right, you have to use a manually configured ip and forward all the ports you're using for p2p for each com.

[SHANE02]

@ Bassexpander, thanks for the info. I have read the hacking manual for the Linsys router. Sounds like fun.

@ Superhero. That's good news on the torrents. It sounds like no slowdown compared to wired if I port foward correctly.

[SuperHero]

[bassexpander]

Most run-of-the-mill wifi "G" routers seem to top out around 768kps for download speed using the wifi signal. Some routers will run the "A" and "N" bands. I believe those are supposed to be faster, but you need a computer that can receive and use that signal, too.

There is definitely a slowdown over wifi, although it's more than enough for video and general use. The slower speeds are mostly only a concern if you are downloading a lot from torrents.

However, I can achieve the full speed of my cheap internet, 3.5 mps, if I plug directly into the router.

One more note... you'll notice loads more distance from a MIMO router than you will boosting that Linksys model. I had a Belkin Pre-N MIMO router which I gave to my brother, and it really had some serious distance to it. Unfortunately, it didn't work well with our uni's system here.

[SHANE02]

I see, thanks guys.

I will torrent on the machine plugged directly into the router. The laptop will be wifi for the wife. It should be fine for streaming video which would be the most demanding thing she'll do.