Recommendations for stable, fast, good range Wireless-G router

[jcole]

Hello,

I have been using an D-Link DGL-4300 for a couple of years with add-on D-Link 4dBi antenna for my home network. Up until recently it has been working nicely, stable, fast enough, with range to certain parts of the house and a garage apt. being the only limitations.

But now I am seeing dropped connections and strange behavior from it where either the wireless signal drops out - or the router gets locked up or bogged down and the internet connection drops or becomes very sluggish.

At first I thought it was my cable connection, but I've had technicians out on 2 different occasions to check everything. They brought the signal down a bit with a splitter (it was too high) and swapped out the cable modem to be sure... but everything now checks out very well on their end.

I have a couple of wired devices on the net, an NAS and a Windows box - and several wireless connections (an Apple Airport Express hooked to my stereo for streaming iTunes, a wireless Tivo, and two laptops - one Mac and one PC). We also have two iPhones that jump on the network throughout the day.

Everything is set up for wireless G access only on the network. Currently using WEP, but I plan on moving it all over to WPA soon (once I get these problems resolved).

So, after much troubleshooting, swapping cables, moving things around, reconfiguring the router, etc. I decided to try another router. Having had good luck with D-Link up to this point in time, I decided to give the DIR-655N a try.

After about 4-5 days of screwing around with it... it was also unstable and was demonstrating some of the same frustrating connection drops and lockups. I returned it to the store, did some more research and decided to go with the WRT54GL/Tomato solution (using the latest 1.19 firmware).

This is what I am running at the moment, but it has since locked up twice over the last couple of days for no apparent reason. The latest one requiring me to cut the power and reboot. During this time, the cable modem stayed online and appeared be fine.

As part of the troubleshooting process working with the different routers, I did some ping tests on both routers and the DGL-4300 appears to have some issues with many of the response times in the triple digits (settings were default factory). This router used to run beautifully. I'm now wondering if its in the process of dying on me.

The WRT54GL didn't have the ping issue and responds quickly, but I'm not convinced that it is going to be a stable solution for me based on the last two lock ups.

The default range on the WRT54GL leaves something to be desired in my situation and appears to be noticeably less than what I had on the DGL-4300 set up when it was working. I've played around with increasing the power output on the WRT54GL in the Tomato settings, but I'm wary of running it too high thinking that it might cause more issues than it solves.

The WRT54GL also does not have the gigabit ports that the DGL-4300 has. I can live without those if the router is going to be stable and perform well otherwise - but they would certainly be nice.

So... does anyone have any insight into what might be going on here? Could it be something about my set up... the demand I'm putting on the router with the various devices... or is there a router solution better suited for my needs?

Can anyone recommend a rock solid, high performance wireless-g router with good range (and possibly gigabit ports)?

Thank you,
John

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by jcole

Hello,

I have been using an D-Link DGL-4300 for a couple of years with add-on D-Link 4dBi antenna for my home network. Up until recently it has been working nicely, stable, fast enough, with range to certain parts of the house and a garage apt. being the only limitations.

But now I am seeing dropped connections and strange behavior from it where either the wireless signal drops out - or the router gets locked up or bogged down and the internet connection drops or becomes very sluggish.

At first I thought it was my cable connection, but I've had technicians out on 2 different occasions to check everything. They brought the signal down a bit with a splitter (it was too high) and swapped out the cable modem to be sure... but everything now checks out very well on their end.

I have a couple of wired devices on the net, an NAS and a Windows box - and several wireless connections (an Apple Airport Express hooked to my stereo for streaming iTunes, a wireless Tivo, and two laptops - one Mac and one PC). We also have two iPhones that jump on the network throughout the day.

Everything is set up for wireless G access only on the network. Currently using WEP, but I plan on moving it all over to WPA soon (once I get these problems resolved).

So, after much troubleshooting, swapping cables, moving things around, reconfiguring the router, etc. I decided to try another router. Having had good luck with D-Link up to this point in time, I decided to give the DIR-655N a try.

After about 4-5 days of screwing around with it... it was also unstable and was demonstrating some of the same frustrating connection drops and lockups. I returned it to the store, did some more research and decided to go with the WRT54GL/Tomato solution (using the latest 1.19 firmware).

This is what I am running at the moment, but it has since locked up twice over the last couple of days for no apparent reason. The latest one requiring me to cut the power and reboot. During this time, the cable modem stayed online and appeared be fine.

As part of the troubleshooting process working with the different routers, I did some ping tests on both routers and the DGL-4300 appears to have some issues with many of the response times in the triple digits (settings were default factory). This router used to run beautifully. I'm now wondering if its in the process of dying on me.

The WRT54GL didn't have the ping issue and responds quickly, but I'm not convinced that it is going to be a stable solution for me based on the last two lock ups.

The default range on the WRT54GL leaves something to be desired in my situation and appears to be noticeably less than what I had on the DGL-4300 set up when it was working. I've played around with increasing the power output on the WRT54GL in the Tomato settings, but I'm wary of running it too high thinking that it might cause more issues than it solves.

The WRT54GL also does not have the gigabit ports that the DGL-4300 has. I can live without those if the router is going to be stable and perform well otherwise - but they would certainly be nice.

So... does anyone have any insight into what might be going on here? Could it be something about my set up... the demand I'm putting on the router with the various devices... or is there a router solution better suited for my needs?

Can anyone recommend a rock solid, high performance wireless-g router with good range (and possibly gigabit ports)?

Thank you,
John

I would recommend a Linksys router. I bought one for my parents, and I can log onto their network several hundred yards from their home. I've tried D-Link products before, and could never get them to work properly. At this point I would not consider anything but a Linksys.

-Jay

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

I would recommend a Linksys router. I bought one for my parents, and I can log onto their network several hundred yards from their home. I've tried D-Link products before, and could never get them to work properly. At this point I would not consider anything but a Linksys.

-Jay

i have a linksys also and its a champ. never failed to connect, can be outside on my porch about 40 meters from my router and i still have 70% power, which is still plenty fast.

D-link's are very fickle. youll love a linksys.


if you wanto get really techy though, Buffalos are nice too, but a bit more pricey.

[jcole]

Hi Jay,

Thanks for the reply. I should have been more explicit in my post, the WRT54GL is a Linksys router. Based on the research I did, it is one of the more high rated and popular models out there (although I'm sure some will differ on that).

John

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by jcole

Hi Jay,

Thanks for the reply. I should have been more explicit in my post, the WRT54GL is a Linksys router. Based on the research I did, it is one of the more high rated and popular models out there (although I'm sure some will differ on that).

John

The most I have ever done with a Linksys router is press the reset button in the rear. Try resetting it, and reconfiguring the router from the beginning. I've had numerous problems with D-Link units, to the point that I would never purchase another one again. The last D-Link unit I messed with would not work properly with encryption, so I just gave up on it after 2 days and took it back to the store and returned it.

-Jay

[Ddeere2]

I have a linksys WRT54g router flashed to DD-WRT firmware. Has more features than I use. There's been a know problem with the Linksys that it craps out when it reaches a certain limit on global connections I think it is. But besides that, its a very good router. Also, from what I remember, the WRT54GL is running linux. Don't know if you can mod it. But I would still say, if your brave enough, flash it to an open source. With that, you can change the signal db, the number of connections, and a whole lot of other settings

[jcole]

Thanks Ddeere2.

I am running 3rd party firmware on the Linksys. Tomato v1.19.

I've been experimenting with increasing the power raange settings slightly up from the default 42mW, and have recently added some high gain 7dBi antennas.

We'll see if it makes a difference on the strength of the wireless signals.

[Ddeere2]

No problem. You could also try a different band, because you have to remember microwaves and cordless phones can interfere with the router too.

[jcole]

I've got the band pretty spaced out from the neighbor's channels, but there probably is some cordless phone interference in the house.

Do you know how to tell what frequency a cordless phone is on? ie. 2.4xxx?

[Ddeere2]

I wanna take a guess that its from 2.4 Ghz to 2.4835 Ghz with a spacing of about 5Mhz. Not to sure about this though, might want to wait and see what someone with more knowledge than me has to say. Sorry.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Ddeere2

I wanna take a guess that its from 2.4 Ghz to 2.4835 Ghz with a spacing of about 5Mhz. Not to sure about this though, might want to wait and see what someone with more knowledge than me has to say. Sorry.

Or go draft N and use the 5 ghz band...
I think the draft N linksys routers all come with gigabit ethernet was well. I know the one I set up for a friend last month did...

-Jay

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Or go draft N and use the 5 ghz band...
I think the draft N linksys routers all come with gigabit ethernet was well. I know the one I set up for a friend last month did...

-Jay

yea the N's are nice but usually over kill and very prices. ill wait for them to come down.

[RadioRaiders]

Originally Posted by jcole

The default range on the WRT54GL leaves something to be desired in my situation and appears to be noticeably less than what I had on the DGL-4300 set up when it was working. I've played around with increasing the power output on the WRT54GL in the Tomato settings, but I'm wary of running it too high thinking that it might cause more issues than it solves.

The range isnt just about the transmit power. Its also about the routers receive sensitivity level (and the output power of your wifi devices). If your new router isnt getting the same range, compare its minimum receive sensitivity levels to your old router. Your router can transmit at high-as-hell power, but if it cant hear your wifi devices it wont matter. Communication is a 2-way street.

You can compare you routers min RX sens to a Cisco Aironet. Its rated at 1Mbps at -93dBm. Every 6dB change is a double (or halving) of the distance:
RadioRaiders WLAN Range

If you keep having the same problem with several routers, then its probably not the router. Look into what can be interfereing with the radio. Shut down all radios except your router and one known good receiver and go from there.. Try different freq channels too.

Heres a list of wifi channels and corresponding frequencies:
RadioRaiders WLAN Frequency and Power

Also, I really wouldnt advise to screw with firmware, and especially to stay away from 3rd party firmware. I also would take a Linksys over a D-Link anyday. The WRT54GL is probably the most popular Linksys router out there, so Id assume its a good one.

Originally Posted by jcole

I've got the band pretty spaced out from the neighbor's channels, but there probably is some cordless phone interference in the house.

Do you know how to tell what frequency a cordless phone is on? ie. 2.4xxx?

What phone is it? Does it use DSSS? FHSS? Are you sure your phone is on 2.4Ghz? If it is, try getting one in the 900 or 5Ghz band. Sounds like your 2.4Ghz band is busy enough.

[jcole]

Thanks for the info RadioRaiders. I'll look into the receive sensitivity in terms of the range issue.

I think I've narrowed down what is locking up the routers, and it appears to be the ethernet card on a system that is hooked up directly to it. Its a RealTek gigabit card which had been working fine for quite a while. But recently appears to have started causing issue with the router after it has been connected for about a day or two.

When I reboot that or unplug the system, the problems seem to go away. So I've reverted to the built in 10/100 adapter on the motherboard and things are running pretty smoothly now.

The only issue I've seen was once after using a VPN client on a wireless connection to connect to an external network, the Linksys seemed to lock up in a similar way. It hasn't happened since then though.

FWIW, the Tomato firmware seems very solid and nice in my time with it so far. Unless its causing the above mentioned VPN issue (and I don't think it is), then I'd whole-heartedly recommend it.

I've also replaced my 2.4 cordless with a newer 6.0 band phone. We'll see if it makes a difference.

John

[Steven R]

If I may ask, what is Wireless-G router?

I'm not the smartest person when it comes to web !

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Steven R

If I may ask, what is Wireless-G router?

I'm not the smartest person when it comes to web !

what is a wireless g router - Ask.com Web Search

[Ddeere2]

I'd say stick with G as wireless N, if I remember correctly, isn't a fully certified draft yet and all the releases are just per-cert like DOCSIS 3.0 and the prices will come down for as well.