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Replace Router or not?

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My current Wireless router - the popular Linksys WRT54GL.
Years of Reliable Service - 7+ yrs
Wireless Range - not the best
Cost - Free (Got from previous work place, thought the device is broken, but firmware upgrade solved the problem)

I am currently remodelling the house and Hard wired the entire home. Few devices like Laptops and phones do use wireless. I was thinking of getting a new Wireless router for following reasons:
1. Gigabit WAN link with Modem (Cox High speed Cable)
2. Wireless N connection
3. Better Wireless Range.

2 and 3 are not that higher priority but with the newer Gigabit interface routers will there be speed difference in internet browsing, gaming, downloading/uploading, youtube etc?

I don't have any dual-band capable devices so don't know if I should get a dual-band router.

Is the WRT still better?

One of the Cheapest and good reviews

NETGEAR JNR3210-100NAS N300 Wireless Gigabit Route...

:toast:
 
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Seems like a good deal, the need for dual band really depends on how congested the 2.4ghz channel is, check how many APs you can see when trying to connect to wifi, if more than, lets say 10, then you should invest in dual band. Good luck :)
 
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I upgraded from a WRT54GL to an ASUS RT-AC66U and I'm very happy with it. The biggest difference I notice is the routing speed. The WRT54GL can only handle about 50Mbps of traffic on the WAN, and with internet speeds increasing I was hitting its max occasionally. If you just need wireless-N, then you can pick up a cheaper ASUS RT-N66.

As far as dual band performance goes, the utility of the 5GHz band is really dependent on the location of the access point. 5GHz doesn't penetrate many walls so if you do not place the access point in an open area you can expect no better (or even worse) performance than 2.4GHz. I have a congested 2.4GHz network where I live, but to get full 5GHz coverage of my 1200 square foot apartment with many walls I need two access points.
 

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with the newer Gigabit interface routers will there be speed difference in internet browsing, gaming, downloading/uploading, youtube etc?

To answer this question directly, no a Gigabit interface will not make your internet any faster. the only exception would be if your internet connection is faster than 100Mbps.

However, as The Von Matrices point out, the WRT54GL is too slow to handle the routing if your internet connection is faster than about 50Mbps, I'd actually go lower than that and say 25Mbps because that is what mine topped out at. Overclocking it got me to the 35Mbps range, but that was all I could get out of it.

So I'd definitely look at replacing the router, but a Gigiabit WAN port isn't necessary.

At this point, I wouldn't look at anything that wasn't Simultaneous Dual-Band. It might not seem necessary to have the 5.0GHz band now, but it is nice to have if you ever get a device that supports it.
 

brandonwh64

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This thread reminds me that I need to start looking for a dual band access point.
 
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Last edited:
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To answer this question directly, no a Gigabit interface will not make your internet any faster. the only exception would be if your internet connection is faster than 100Mbps.

However, as The Von Matrices point out, the WRT54GL is too slow to handle the routing if your internet connection is faster than about 50Mbps, I'd actually go lower than that and say 25Mbps because that is what mine topped out at. Overclocking it got me to the 35Mbps range, but that was all I could get out of it.

So I'd definitely look at replacing the router, but a Gigiabit WAN port isn't necessary.

At this point, I wouldn't look at anything that wasn't Simultaneous Dual-Band. It might not seem necessary to have the 5.0GHz band now, but it is nice to have if you ever get a device that supports it.

Last night I checked the speed and I get 23 down and 17 up. hmm how do I OC a router?
 

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I upgraded from a WRT54GL to an ASUS RT-AC66U and I'm very happy with it. The biggest difference I notice is the routing speed. The WRT54GL can only handle about 50Mbps of traffic on the WAN, and with internet speeds increasing I was hitting its max occasionally. If you just need wireless-N, then you can pick up a cheaper ASUS RT-N66.

As far as dual band performance goes, the utility of the 5GHz band is really dependent on the location of the access point. 5GHz doesn't penetrate many walls so if you do not place the access point in an open area you can expect no better (or even worse) performance than 2.4GHz. I have a congested 2.4GHz network where I live, but to get full 5GHz coverage of my 1200 square foot apartment with many walls I need two access points.

Yeah i was getting that with my GL v1.1



To answer this question directly, no a Gigabit interface will not make your internet any faster. the only exception would be if your internet connection is faster than 100Mbps.

However, as The Von Matrices point out, the WRT54GL is too slow to handle the routing if your internet connection is faster than about 50Mbps, I'd actually go lower than that and say 25Mbps because that is what mine topped out at. Overclocking it got me to the 35Mbps range, but that was all I could get out of it.

So I'd definitely look at replacing the router, but a Gigiabit WAN port isn't necessary.

At this point, I wouldn't look at anything that wasn't Simultaneous Dual-Band. It might not seem necessary to have the 5.0GHz band now, but it is nice to have if you ever get a device that supports it.

Well as i saaid above i was getting around 50 with my GL but aa few days ago i did a check and was getting around 25 -30 max although i am using a G v3.1 and been meaning to change it just to check if it's down to Comcast or the router.


Anyways, i been thinking of picking up one of the Newer Netgear routers as we do already use a Netgear extender and has worked nicely with the current setup..

Only reason i have not picked one up is due to cost lol.
 
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This one (Amped Wireless R20000G) is what I got and the coverage is AWESOME and I barely have to touch it cuz it works so good.

I was able to stream HD 1080p vids from 200 some ft away!!!
 
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Just going from G to N is a major upgrade regardless if you need dual band or not
 
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