Router Board 450G vs EnGenius ESR9850

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

I've already downsized the routers to 2. RB450G or EnGenius ESR9850. I am trying to replace my Dlink DIR-655 because i am sick of crummy firmware releases.

Which one is better ??? My networking skills by the way isn't l33t :help:

None of these routers support DRT or Tomato, however the 9850 may eventually get supported.




RB450G
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Picture
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Description
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The RB450G is a five port Gigabit ethernet router. Comparing to the RB450, the RB450G not only adds Gigabit speed capability, but also 256Mb of RAM, a faster CPU and a microSD card slot for file storage.

Spec sheet
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www.routerboard.com/pdf/rb450g.pdf


Other Router Board models
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http://www.rts-wireless.com/RouterBOARD.html

http://routerboard.com/




EnGenius 300Mbps Wireless N Router with Gigabit Switch (ESR9850)
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Picture
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Spec Sheet
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http://www.invictusnetworks.com/datasheets/ESR-9850.pdf


Reviews
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http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wi...switch-reviewed

http://www.testfreaks.com/routers-switches/engenius-esr9850/


*notes: check the smallnetbuilder review link especially because it shows the performance chart which shows the EnGenius performing very well especially max simultaneous connections which makes it awesome for p2p.

WAN to LAN: 619.3 Mbps

LAN to WAN: 640.0 Mbps

Total Throughput: 740.3 Mbps

Maximum simultaneous connections: 19,721




I know the EnGenius is good, but i hear the Microtik RB450G may be better, considering that the RB450G has 256MB RAM vs the ESR9850 which has only 32MB ram. So can anyone please comment on the comparison between these 2 As i cannot find any reviews for the RB450G to compare with (especially maximum simultaneous connections etc) :{

 

[tipstir]

Why don't you downgrade the firmware in the DIR-655 with the Russian one that will allow you to install firmware 1.11 or 1.21. As for ESR-9850 with firmware 1.09 everything works well wireless does. I'll be running some test today using both as AP not router and AP. ESR-9850 good if you plan not to use VPN. The other router you have here listed you should really go to the forum where this router is supported. I was gamed myself on it until reading the issue good number were having with it.

So either downgrade the firmware on DIR-655 or find ESR-9850 with firmware 1.09 on it. Those max connections don't get to caught up in that though. Other choices are Belkin N+ V1 though not V2 or TEW-673GRU is really quick 680MHz wireless is very good if you have it on the on the main and second floor coverage is very good not so go if you have 3 floors.

 

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

Why don't you downgrade the firmware in the DIR-655 with the Russian one that will allow you to install firmware 1.11 or 1.21. As for ESR-9850 with firmware 1.09 everything works well wireless does. I'll be running some test today using both as AP not router and AP. ESR-9850 good if you plan not to use VPN. The other router you have here listed you should really go to the forum where this router is supported. I was gamed myself on it until reading the issue good number were having with it.

So either downgrade the firmware on DIR-655 or find ESR-9850 with firmware 1.09 on it. Those max connections don't get to caught up in that though. Other choices are Belkin N+ V1 though not V2 or TEW-673GRU is really quick 680MHz wireless is very good if you have it on the on the main and second floor coverage is very good not so go if you have 3 floors.

I'm using DLINK DIR-655 A2 firmware 1.11 ( i used the russian firmware trick to get to 1.21 then downgraded again to 1.11 Also factory reset and entered all settings manually ).

Just not happy with it :/ Also the A2 has maximum simultaneous connections 200 vs the A4 that has as much as the EnGenius ESR9850. Other reasons for me to upgrade is because the ethernet port sockets for the dlink seem to be lose, so my rj45 cables don't stick into it and lock properly and is loose. Also my bro usually connects to the wifi for his work, so i was thinking of giving it to him to use, and i get a new router. We got 2 separate internet accounts in the house :]

I was actually looking for a tomato or drt router that was using up to date hardware, that was until i came across the EnGenius and the Router Board :/

So now i am not sure which :{

I can't even compared the RB because it doesn't seem as smallnetwork builder have reviewed it yet :{ but i can say many people would like to know as well.





Anyway back to topic. So your saying the RB is a no no ?? Ok i'll trust you on that :] (i'm noob anyway so worried i might not be able to configure it much). What about vpn :d ?? how would u use it for the router. I have a QNAP TS-509 Pro on my network by the way. Also with only 32mb ram would that be sufficient to support the maximum simultaneous connections the EnGenius seems able to do??? Or will the 32mb ram run out and the router will disconnect or need a reboot :d ??? Other routers like Buffalo have 64mb ram, and the RB450G has 256mb ram. I'm a heavy torrenter and leave my stuff on 24/7 :{

I don't much care for the wireless performance since i don't use it much. And another thing, the EnGenius insides doesn't seem to have heat sink :{ i'm worried it can't run 24/7 because of that.

 

[tipstir]

I'm using DLINK DIR-655 A2 firmware 1.11 ( i used the russian firmware trick to get to 1.21 then downgraded again to 1.11 Also factory reset and entered all settings manually ).

Just not happy with it :/ Also the A2 has maximum simultaneous connections 200 vs the A4 that has as much as the EnGenius ESR9850. Other reasons for me to upgrade is because the ethernet port sockets for the dlink seem to be lose, so my rj45 cables don't stick into it and lock properly and is loose. Also my bro usually connects to the wifi for his work, so i was thinking of giving it to him to use, and i get a new router. We got 2 separate internet accounts in the house :]

I was actually looking for a tomato or drt router that was using up to date hardware, that was until i came across the EnGenius and the Router Board :/

So now i am not sure which :{

I can't even compared the RB because it doesn't seem as smallnetwork builder have reviewed it yet :{ but i can say many people would like to know as well.

Oh okay I see your point with the DIR-655 A2 1.11. Time to move on then. DD-WRT unless you can get WRT-310n which works perfect with that firmware. EnGenius ESR-9850 is really quick routing, and P2P downloads are steady. There is ESR-9855 out cost more has 475MHz 64MB of RAM don't know what the max connections for that one is though. Not tested yet on this site. I didn't want to go for it. TEW-673GRU is a keeper for me as a main router is blazing quick on routing. Haven't seen anything to cry home about as they say except for the wireless signal. I only seem a few wireless routers that can blanket the house here is coverage without the use of extra AP.

So the choices are:

ESR-9855 no dual band
ESR-9850 no dual band
TEW-673GRU with LCD and dual band

 

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

I'm watching your TEW-673GRU right now :]

Not sure if you mentioned any specs yet like

-wan to lan
- lan to wan
- total throughput
- max simultaneous connections

*i'm on part 1

 

[tipstir]

I'm watching your TEW-673GRU right now :]

Not sure if you mentioned any specs yet like

-wan to lan
- lan to wan
- total throughput
- max simultaneous connections

*i'm on part 1

No the videos won't show your that. I can test the last one and show numbers. Just have to rig it up. I should really see how it does. P2P was going so quick the other night steady stream 3.xxmb/s down. WAN to LAN / LAN to WAN I leave that for P2P stuff LAN to LAN is over 150mb/s over wired gig. Wireless I'll need to test that also.

Just got two ESR-9850 re-flash to 1.09 firmware configure them as AP on different network type/modes 802.11g and 802.11n (got to disable a lot to get them to work in AP) and daisy chained them also.

 

[saturation]

No the videos won't show your that. I can test the last one and show numbers. Just have to rig it up. I should really see how it does. P2P was going so quick the other night steady stream 3.xxmb/s down. WAN to LAN / LAN to WAN I leave that for P2P stuff LAN to LAN is over 150mb/s over wired gig. Wireless I'll need to test that also.

Just got two ESR-9850 re-flash to 1.09 firmware configure them as AP on different network type/modes 802.11g and 802.11n (got to disable a lot to get them to work in AP) and daisy chained them also.

Tipsitr, your continued adventures in networking since the 9850 came out just amazes me! I follow your progress every day.

 

[tipstir]

Tipsitr, your continued adventures in networking since the 9850 came out just amazes me! I follow your progress every day.

Thanks! I try to get them to work and be stable if I can? It hasn't been easy!

 

[saturation]

Thanks! I try to get them to work and be stable if I can? It hasn't been easy!

I can see and I appreciate your work.

My feeling is you getting a lot of interference from so many AP working close together. Its certainly an acid test of interoperability.

A good point is it appears Engenius is listening to these reviews, a firmware update for the 7750 was curiously close to SNB product review and now shows the expected and improved result at least in router function.

 

[tipstir]

I can see and I appreciate your work.

My feeling is you getting a lot of interference from so many AP working close together. Its certainly an acid test of interoperability.

A good point is it appears Engenius is listening to these reviews, a firmware update for the 7750 was curiously close to SNB product review and now shows the expected and improved result at least in router function.

I don't have so many AP in operation. One should be able to cover the house. But the TX mW on these routers is set to low. I need about 70mW to cover this house from top to bottom and 360 degree radius with 300 ft span outside.

Where I have the two right now they can blanket the house with a strong signal. ESR-9850 wireless drops off the radar I got pictures showing it on and off side by-side crazy. Even if they're watching this forum, still issues with the ESR-9850 firmware or not. ESR-9855 I didn't want to waste money on a product that might not deliver.

Sure there is interference and found where to place the AP were the house is covered so G and N wireless clients can communicate with wired clients.

But as you know overtime wireless hardware will degrade if pushed to the limit. So spending more money on a wireless router to get better chipset that might stand-up well compared to cheap (low cost) wireless router without the proper design to work as it meant too.

Years ago the router sold to the public did that, now they don't. To many versions from the same manufacturer. I still have my original V2 Linksys Wired router and V3 that replaced it. DLINK wire router DI-704 clone sold by BB under the product name Dynex though it only had 150MHz Marvel NPU with 8MB of RAM it was a work horse. Lasted 3 years before it started acting up.

Your Dual band there has dual chipset they sell the Gig version but now here in the USA. I can not buy another 10/100 router. I have no issues with TEW-673GRU through-put has been great!

Wireless strong if I am in the area of it. The mW TX is set to low, would be nice if I could have the option to change the setting.