Which router shall I order from OcUK RIGHT NOW for my XBOX 360?

alexjholland

alexjholland

alexjholland

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Joined
8 Oct 2006
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322
Hey,

I live in a uni accomodation with 8 guys, who have a mixture of wired and wireless computers. I also have an XBOX 360, connected with a cable.

Initially we had a Belkin Wireless G plus box for our 2 meg connection, which had another 8-way hub connected to it, to serve each room in the house (we have one ethernet port per bedroom).

It wasn't the best router in the world, but it was a nice little workhorse - then one day recently I brought an XBox 360 .

At first I constantly switched the ethernet cable between my PC and Xbox, and both worked perfectly fine, but being the impatient chap I am, I decided to buy a wired router so I could have both at once.

This didn't work straight away, and I couldn't get into my main router's login for some reason.. So being the impatient chap I am, I hit router reset.

The button snapped.

I then opened it up to fix it, and the power supply snapped off the board.

I told my landlord what happened, and he kindly gave us a new router made by 'Tenda', which is, unfortunately, appalling.

- Has anyone heard of this cheap knock-off brand?

It's a W302 model, and I have been playing with everything - MTU settings, and DNZ and it gets worse and worse, the internet is dying, the XBOX is too slow to play online and my housemates hate me for their rubbish wireless signal.

- What DSL router shall I order from OcUK RIGHT NOW to make everything better?

If you really have useful advice for my 'Tenda', or you can confirm that they are as bad as I think then thanks, but please don't try and talk me out of replacing it, as for the sake of £40 I'd rather have a decent router that I can take home at summer.

My main criteria are that it should be:

- Around £40 (unless you can convince me one is really worth a little more).
- GREAT for XBOX 360.
- Can handle lots of traffic (8 way hub run into it).
- Good wireless range (our last was G plus, does this one need to be?).
- N technology seems a waste, as none of us have compatible hardware.

These are two models that have caught my eye so far: One is designed for gaming, and one seems to be beloved for its 'Tomato' firmware.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-093-LS&groupid=46&catid=1014&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-052-LS&groupid=46&catid=1014&subcat=

As soon as I have some good suggestions I'm placing an order, so quick responses would be appreciated - I would like it by Friday!

Thanks Very Much,

Alex
 
Easy..
The 2nd router you linked to..

WRT54GL, then put the Tomato firmware on it.. I don't think you can do better, it even has a good Wireless Survey feature!
 
alexjholland said:
AND this is suitable for DSL Virgin customers?
Click to expand...

Yes. I personally would get the Buffalo WHR-G125 actually. I'd then look to put DD-WRT on it. Having said that, it is now supported in tomato.

Costs £35 delivered if you shop around. It has a newer wireless chipset in it, over the Linksys WRT54GL (BCM5354 as opposed to BCM5352). The new chipset is more sensitive wirelessly. It's also faster than the older chipset - 240Mhz vs 200mhz....

I own both the above and have 10MB from Virginmedia. :).

The Linksys sits downstairs running tomato and the Buffalo in my room as a repeater bridge to extend wireless (tomato doesn't support it in the same way as DD-WRT).
 
Last edited:
smids said:
Yes. I personally would get the Buffalo WHR-G125 actually. I'd then look to put DD-WRT on it. Having said that, it is now supported in tomato.

Costs £35 delivered if you shop around. It has a newer wireless chipset in it, over the Linksys WRT54GL (BCM5354 as opposed to BCM5352). The new chipset is more sensitive wirelessly. It's also faster than the older chipset - 240Mhz vs 200mhz....

I own both the above and have 10MB from Virginmedia. :).

The Linksys sits downstairs running tomato and the Buffalo in my room as a repeater bridge to extend wireless (tomato doesn't support it in the same way as DD-WRT).
Click to expand...

I don't think you can go wrong with either DD-WRT or Tomato, there are slight differences in features, but I have been nothing short of amazed at the quality of both!, especially compared to the manufacturers offerings!

The OP did want to order from OCers, who don't stock the Buffalo? Which would sound like a fraction better, although I don't think hell be disappointed with the WRT54GL, sometimes it's nice to get the latest chipsets though!.

:)
 
Demon said:
I don't think you can go wrong with either DD-WRT or Tomato, there are slight differences in features, but I have been nothing short of amazed at the quality of both!, especially compared to the manufacturers offerings!

The OP did want to order from OCers, who don't stock the Buffalo? Which would sound like a fraction better, although I don't think hell be disappointed with the WRT54GL, sometimes it's nice to get the latest chipsets though!.

:)
Click to expand...

I know. Just adding to the options. Buffalo have almost taken the linux router market from Linksys. They even now sell routers which come pre-loaded with DD-WRT instead of their own firmware, such is the extent of their support for the program.

As you say, he will go wrong with neither. Perhaps if he wanted a shared fileserver, I'd recommend the Asus WL500g v2 Premium which has 2 USB ports. Coupled with DD-WRT, you have a router which can be used as a direct NAS box...

Anyway, I digress... :)
 
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