Router recommendation

[Evylldemon]

Looking to get a new router as I left my WRT54GL behind in the move for a friend.

Will be used with Shaw extreme (15Mbps) in Vancouver.

1 wired desktop, 1 wireless G laptop, 1 wireless N laptop, wireless PS3, wired Xbox 360. Used for lots of bittorrent and file sharing/streaming.

I'd prefer to get a wireless N router and I'm not really interested in dual band. I'm comfortable using third party firmware as my previous WRT54GL ran tomato and I have a WRT54GL at my parent's house running DD-WRT. A USB port for a shared printer would be a nice bonus.

So far I've been looking at:
D-link DIR-615 (no USB)
D-link DIR-655
ASUS RT-N16

EDIT: forgot to include my price range. I was originally looking to spend ~$60 but would probably go up to $100 if it was worth it (before tax and after price matching).

[Varroa]

If you get the DIR-655 make sure you read up on the firmware issues they are having. It is a great router but the current firmware sucks monkey B*lls.

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Evylldemon

Looking to get a new router as I left my WRT54GL behind in the move for a friend.

Will be used with Shaw extreme (15Mbps) in Vancouver.

1 wired desktop, 1 wireless G laptop, 1 wireless N laptop, wireless PS3, wired Xbox 360. Used for lots of bittorrent and file sharing/streaming.

I'd prefer to get a wireless N router and I'm not really interested in dual band. I'm comfortable using third party firmware as my previous WRT54GL ran tomato and I have a WRT54GL at my parent's house running DD-WRT. A USB port for a shared printer would be a nice bonus.

So far I've been looking at:
D-link DIR-615 (no USB)
D-link DIR-655
ASUS RT-N16

EDIT: forgot to include my price range. I was originally looking to spend ~$60 but would probably go up to $100 if it was worth it (before tax and after price matching).

This begs the question of "why"???

I stand to be corrected, but AFAIK, unless you go with a dual band N router, you will not see any benefit to the N standard so long as there is a single wireless G device connected to it.

[Evylldemon]

Originally Posted by sswilson

This begs the question of "why"???

I stand to be corrected, but AFAIK, unless you go with a dual band N router, you will not see any benefit to the N standard so long as there is a single wireless G device connected to it.

That is news to me. So the benefit of N (speed and range) is negated if a wireless G device is connected to the same router?

[sswilson]

Yes, because it drops down to wireless G mode for all connected devices. As I said... I stand to be corrected, so do your own research to be sure, but AFAIK, this is exactly why dual band routers exist in that they allow wireless N devices to function on their own while G and below devices use the other "band".

[sswilson]

Hrmmmmm..... quick search shows that you might even have to do full research on whatever dual band you buy........

From this review....

TRENDnet 300Mbps Dual Band Wireless N Gigabit Router Introduction :: TweakTown

With two bands to work with, the TEW-672GR not only supports 802.11b, g and n wireless modes but also 802.11a wireless mode. The marketing here is somewhat deceptive as you cannot run both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios simultaneously, which is a disappointment. The good news, though, is that there are many different wireless mixed modes that you can choose from and as long as at least one is suitable for your home or office requirements, it may not be a huge pitfall that both radios cannot operate at the same time.

[Thund3rball]

I just ordered one of these Asus WL-520GU. My wrt54G is still fine but I want a wireless print server! I have

desktop wired
wireless laptop
PS3
HP Printer

If you don't want dual band this is a well rated router. I am getting NCIX to price match.

Buy ASUS [WL-520GU] ASUS WL-520GU Wireless Router 802.11B/G Up to 125MBPS 4PT 10/100 W/ USB Print Server

[Evylldemon]

Originally Posted by sswilson

Yes, because it drops down to wireless G mode for all connected devices. As I said... I stand to be corrected, so do your own research to be sure, but AFAIK, this is exactly why dual band routers exist in that they allow wireless N devices to function on their own while G and below devices use the other "band".

I always thought dual band was just for those that found the 2.4Ghz frequency was cluttered form other devices in their home. After searching around for more info it seems you are correct. The router will transmit at the lowest common denominator. Effectively that would mean a single band wireless N router would be useless to me.

So should I spend the extra money ~$130 for a dual band router or just get a wireless G router. Since I don't really NEED the extra range (it's a small apartment anyway) and 54 Mbps is fast enough for pretty much everything anyway. I think I'll find a good wireless G router.

Should I just get another WRT54GL? Are there any good ones that have a USB port for printer sharing?

[Thund3rball]

see post above ^^ :)

[Evylldemon]

Originally Posted by Thund3rball

I just ordered one of these Asus WL-520GU. My wrt54G is still fine but I want a wireless print server! I have

desktop wired
wireless laptop
PS3
HP Printer

If you don't want dual band this is a well rated router. I am getting NCIX to price match.

Buy ASUS [WL-520GU] ASUS WL-520GU Wireless Router 802.11B/G Up to 125MBPS 4PT 10/100 W/ USB Print Server

Hmmm that is almost exactly the inputs I have (hp printer as well). Is that router as good as the WRT54GL?

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Thund3rball

see post above ^^ :)

haha yeah saw it after I posted.