Old router broke, help me choose a new one

Borden

Borden

Borden

Soldato
Joined
14 Jul 2005
Posts
3,810
Location
Surrey
Hi all,

Recently my Linksys AG041 router broke and i'm looking for a new one. There are two things i'd like to know.

1. I currently use the router alongside a Linksys WAP54G in order to provide wireless access to my laptop. However, i get a pretty bad signal from some parts of the house. If i were to get a wireless router could i plug the WAP54G into the mains somewhere else in the house (without connecting it to the router using cables) and be able to somehow relay the connection from the wireless router in order to provide a better signal in the house? If this is possible then can you recommend me a wireless router. I was looking at the Netgear DG834G which seems to be pretty good.

2. If the above will not work then can you recommend me a wired router. The Linksys seemed to have a lot of problems but the free technical support i found was extremely useful. Is the Netgear support any good? Recommendations on a reliable router would be great.

Thanks in advance
Mark
 
Get another Linksys WRT54 (I have a 'L') and install DD-WRT on it and tweak a few settings in the web menu. These are the best cheap routers by far.

As I understand it, just in normal AP mode using WDS (wireless distribution service) the router should realise that there's another router there and act as a repeater (bridge, what ever you want to call it) and a access point for wireless clients.


The other surefire way of doing it is to connect up both wireless APs with a Lan cable, and let the clients connect wirelessly.

edit to add links:

http://www.futurehardware.in/558581.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_LAN
http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/index.php
 
Last edited:
Hi there,

Thanks for the information. Unfortunately as it is the family network my dad won't allow me to install any custom firmwares on it due to warranty etc. Also the WRT54GL won't be suitable as i need one with an integrated modem, sorry, i should have mentioned it in the original post.

Is it not possible to use the WAP54G as a repeater without installing DD-WRT or the likes onto it? Doesn't it already have WDS functionality as it would be great if i could just plug them all in and for it to work straight away?

I also can't connect the router and WAP54G by LAN cable as the AP will be too far away.

Thanks
 
mark1 said:
Is it not possible to use the WAP54G as a repeater without installing DD-WRT or the likes onto it? Doesn't it already have WDS functionality as it would be great if i could just plug them all in and for it to work straight away?
Click to expand...


I don't know - try it and report back with your findings, cheers
 
whitecrook said:
I don't know - try it and report back with your findings, cheers
Click to expand...
Will do. I ordered the Netgear router in the end, i'd read about too many people having similar problems to us where we are constantly having to restart it. I thought we were just unlucky.

I'll see how it goes, hopefully it'll have a good improvement in wireless range.

Cheers for your help :)
 
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