Netgear WNDR4000 vs Linksys E3200 vs WRT54GL

[ChicagoMark72]

My current router is on the fritz, a WRT54G. It seems to loose WAN about an hour or so. I installed dd-wrt on it, but I don't see that as a requirement for a new router.

Most of the time I have 2 laptops, and an iPhone on the wireless side. My desktop, xbox, and Airplay (via an airport express) all hooked up on wired connections. My laptop does have the N (Centrino N 1030). The other laptop is G only (Dell 1390 WLAN). I am satisfied with my current speeds.

Last year I tried a WRT54G2 for about $45, I thought it was really sloooowwww. (I guess the price was proportional to speed). I ended up taking it out of service.

Do I buy a new WRT54GL for about $50? Is the current model just as good as my old one? Is it better than the G2? I like the idea that it has the external antennas (even thought they aren't detachable).

Or do I go for one the dual-band simultaneous routers like the WNDR4000 or E3200? Any ideas which is better? Do I split the network and put 1 laptop on the N and the other on the G?

I am sort of afraid to go back to Cisco, after the 54G2 being so slow, but that one was really inexpensive, so I might be convinced that the E3200 is better.

Suggestions please.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[thiggins]

Unless you have dual-band devices, you don't gain anything by going to a dual-band router. If you want to use the scheme you propose, the "N" radio would need to be set to the 5 GHz band.

What was slow when you tried the the WRT54G2, wired routing speed or wireless speed?

Don't be afraid to go back to Cisco. Try a refurbed E1200 from the Cisco store for $30 with free shipping and 30 day return.

 

[ChicagoMark72]

Wireless speed seem to be the issue that had.

 

[stevech]

My current router is on the fritz, a WRT54G.
Thanks,

Mark

Time to move on from the WRT54G/GL. These are really old. Slow CPUs. Not up with today's standards.

$40-50 will get you a very fine 11g/n WiFi router. Opinion! buy selected models from LInksys (still the best of the mass-market), Belkin, avoid D-Link, most Netgear. Read reviews here and on newegg.com (ignoring the bozos)