Which router is better?

Verted · 4 Jul 2006 at 15:26

Belkin 125Mbps Wireless-G Router Or
Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Router/4-Port Switch

Obviously the Belkin one is £5 more expensive, but I dont mind that. All I want to do is plug my modem into the router (Via Ethernet), and plug the router into the PC (Also via an Ethernet cable), and then be able to pick up the connection on my Macbook (Which I plan to get later in the week). I was sure I wanted to get the Linksys one, but today I heard that there can be problems with Linksys routers and Macbook's.

Curiosityx · 4 Jul 2006 at 17:37

Linksys WRT54G - One because it's simply a solid platform. Two - Check out Sveasoft.com

the_box · 4 Jul 2006 at 21:12

Linksys WRT54G

E1mo · 4 Jul 2006 at 22:20

Note only WRT54G Version 4 or below runs the Linux firmwares (definitely). The WRT54GL is the same as these models and is still available.

The current WRT54G Version 5 (as you mentioned) has far less RAM and has only recently been hacked to take Linux (and a very stripped down version at that).

Therefore recommending the Linksys WRT54G based on the ability to install 3rd party firmwares isn't really valid.

Efour · 4 Jul 2006 at 23:45

I recently had a V5 linksys and found it rather pony. I wouldnt reccomend it atall.

I had the ADSL version of that belkin router and found it excellent, obviously its not a direct comparison but if its anywhere near as good as their DSL routers then id be happy.

Curiosityx · 4 Jul 2006 at 23:51

E1mo said:
Therefore recommending the Linksys WRT54G based on the ability to install 3rd party firmwares isn't really valid.

Very true but you can pick up a V2.2 device from certain sites cheap and fully customisable.

They also perform just as well as there V5 counterparts.

E1mo · 5 Jul 2006 at 09:34

I'm sure you can pick them up from a few places, but the poster shouldn't be mentioning those models without clarification of which ones work with Linux 3rd Party firmwares.

ChuKKi Ninja · 5 Jul 2006 at 09:48

Before getting the linksys router I would have a read of this from tomshardware

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2006/06/09/linksys_wrt54g_v5_really_is_a_lousy_router_uk/

barnettgs · 5 Jul 2006 at 10:07

Linksys has released WRT54GL this year, which is the same as WRT54G V4.

See here:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1934591,00.asp

Earlier this year, Linksys modified the design of its most recent WRT54G. They halved the amount of flash memory and RAM to just 2MB Flash and 8MB RAM and switched to a VxWorks firmware. According to Linksys, this change allowed them to decrease the memory footprint of the OS and reduce the hardware requirements while maintaining a similar feature set at a reduced cost.

Carrying on the Linux heritage for enthusiasts is the WRT54GL, a device with essentially the same Linux kernel, 200MHz processor, 4MB Flash, and 16MB RAM as the old WRT54G v4. Since the majority of aftermarket firmware won't work on the WRT54G v5's crippled hardware, the WRT54GL is now your only Linksys option for third-party-compatible fun if you can't score an older model.