Help me buy a new router

**JimBowy** · Moderator Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Posts: 1627

My second Linksys BEFSR41 has died and I've had enough. But I need your help quickly, my internet connectivey depends on it.

I want to move out of the crappy routers and get something half-decent for the home network. So screw the recent Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link crap.

Someone help me choose a small-business-class router for ~$100.

I have tworequirements other than the basics (port forwarding/dmz host):
- Must be at least 10/100
- Need at least 8 ports (16 would be better)

If you could make some suggestions... yes, that includes you cheese. I'd prefer to get something new but used could be an option.

FOX · Posted: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 02:37:39 Post Subject:

what was wrong w/ those other 3 brands?? typically those are the best i thought lol

BeerLotus · Posted: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 02:43:27 Post Subject:

I've got a Linksys right now and they've a lways worked just fine for me, I don't know what your talking about. Linksys, 3com, and Netgear are the best out, use one of those.

**JimBowy** · Moderator Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Posts: 1627

These home-based routers just don't compare to something like a cisco guys. I want something a little better than these and I don't really believe in supporting a company where 2 times now the same model has died.

My "diag" light is stuck on the router and even after the router is re-flashed it will come back on. The product is no longer under warranty. If you look online you'll notice this is a problem common to Linksys routers, a problem I want to get away from.

vulcan · Posted: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 05:58:29 Post Subject:

I'm using a netgear over here, have been for 9 months now, works fine. The problem is, if you want to move up to something like a cisco router, that will probably mean a big price jump.

**JimBowy** · Moderator Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Posts: 1627

Cheeze! Rescue me!

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 13:47:34 Post Subject:

I'd love to my friend... but the $100 price point is going to keep you on the low end.

Jumping into a new cisco router is going to start closer in the 500+ range. I was looking around and found a referb'd 1605R that would work for you, but it's $215 and referbed

http://www.compu-america.com/ProdDisplay.asp?CatID=37&ProdID=135845&ExportID=6

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 13:50:21 Post Subject:

Here is the lowest end Cisco I could find that's brand new... but note I have no experince with this model:

Cisco 831 Ethernet Router

**JimBowy** · Moderator Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Posts: 1627

It doesnt necessarily have to be a cisco.

Help me pick out something thats "small-business class" or does that bring me back to the Bestbuy networking parts again?

Maybe I'll have to try Netgear this time.
How about this one http://www.netgear.com/products/details/FVS318.php

It's roughly $100

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 14:18:36 Post Subject:

The $100 range brings you into Best Buy/Circuit City network equipment.

Personally... my recommendation in your price range is to get a:

Linksys WRT54GS V2

Then go to:
http://www.sveasoft.com

Sign up pay the $20 get the latest firmware (or as close to it as you feel comfortable) and enjoy all the benefits of a enterprise class router for a much lower price.

I actually have that router, and have applied their latest freeware firmware. And it works great. If I was using the router for anything more than just a simple WAP I would have paid the $20 and got newer firmware, but I only needed the signal boost feature.