SLMC

Silas Scarborough · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 1224 Location: Rhode Island

I used an old 8-port Linksys router for years and was satisfied with it until I hit SL and encountered an increasing problem with stream drops. That was resolved when I went to a new Netgear router that supported 802.11g. Speed zoomed, drop-outs stopped and life was peachy. Until the Netgear fried after less than six months.

On Wednesday I got a new Linksys router that supports 802.11g and should, presumably, have plenty of speed for streaming. I hadn't been using it for more than 24 hours before I got a stream drop.

So, the question is what router is the favorite of SL gearheads? I'm considering a D-Link DIR655 but I've got a bit of room to move so I'm not going to buy today. Sure as hell, the Linksys WRT310N is going back.
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Ever vigilant for da gooses overhead.

- Silas

My Web site is at myducksoup.com

BabbleGrabble · Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 590 Location: San Francisco

I think most everything has dropped in quality. Before Cisco took over, Linksys routers were decent; now they just seem worthless. So I've gone over to D-Link ... the first was defective and had to return it, but the one I have now has been rock solid. I've heard good things about NetGear products but haven't used them.

Despite the poor quality, I would think the Linksys would be sufficient. I was just wondering if you might need to tweak some settings to make it friendlier to your ISP connection, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's simply a bad product..
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Alazarin · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 52 Location: London

I have a 3COM 3CRWDR101A-75 Wireless 11g router. It couldn't cope with ADSL2+ at first but a firmware update fixed that. Since then it's been rock-solid reliable and bombproof. It is a tad slower than the Thompson router my ISP provided but an order of magnitude more reliable. Gimme reliability any day.
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Zak Claxton · Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 2008 Location: Podul/33/243/154/

I'm using a D-Link WBR-2310. Seems pretty stable. I keep the Ethernet connected while gigging, but it works fine as a wireless router under other circumstances.
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RayW · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Twin Cities, MN

I have a Linksys 3-in-1 (can't remember the model).

I strictly use the ethernet and my wife uses the wireless on her MacBook Pro. (and my printers are all wireless).

No problems so far. Did drop a few when I was off the wire, though --- probably during a print job sent down from the laptop upstairs. Rolling Eyes

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Silas Scarborough · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 1224 Location: Rhode Island

Nice to see a number of D-Link users out there as that's what I've just installed. It's the D-Link DIR655 and set-up took about an hour. I've just checked it out at Speakeasy and saw 27 Mbits for download and 2 Mbits upload. If you're interested, you can check out your network performance at http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/.

I'm ever so curious about getting the fastest connection so I'm wondering if anyone out there could take a minute to try Speakeasy so we can have a virtual Internet race. I'm connecting via Cox Cable and it's their premium high-speed. I divided the Speakeasy Kbits by 1000 to determine Mbits. (That's in case anyone wants to get all technical and divide it by 1024)

So, numbers to beat are 27 Mbits down and 2 Mbits up. (I'm hoping someone does beat 'em as that'll give me something to lust for more than porno pixels and radishes.)
_________________
Ever vigilant for da gooses overhead.

- Silas

My Web site is at myducksoup.com

Zak Claxton · Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 2008 Location: Podul/33/243/154/

I won't beat 'em. I'm on the far end of a DSL station, and my upstream speed is exactly shit/s.
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BabbleGrabble · Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 590 Location: San Francisco

I can beat that from work, but for a home connection, that is just freakin' incredible, Silas.
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Silas Scarborough · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 1224 Location: Rhode Island

Non-gearhead comparison of these routers: the first thing that matters when you're dealing with the router is the difficulty in setting it up. This comparison is between Netgear, D-Link, and Linksys routers. All of them connect between your cable or DSL modem and your computers and are the latest gigabit versions of each router. All support wireless with varying claims on maximum range.

All of the routers are set up with a Web browser and you'll navigate through the router configuration just as with any other Web page. Some Web pages suck and so it is with router configurations.

Netgear had the sexiest configuration dialog as it was very easy for me to use and I Don't Want to Learn a Damn Thing About Routers. I just want to crank it up and get back to what I like doing. Configuring routers is not it so I was well-pleased with that aspect.

The setup on the D-Link is confusing as even if you know what you want to change it can be be a bit of a challenge navigating around the router to find it. However, it's comprehensive and has a large array of security options. This one would only be sexy after a couple of drinks at which point you are rather less capable for, um, configuring routers.

The Linksys setup couldn't get laid on a desert island full of drunken naked sailors. If You Don't Want to Learn a Damn Thing About Routers, you will hate it for sure. It also has the Mac-friendly benefit of taking advantage of the fact that Mac People Don't Read Manuals. They don't include a line of support for Mac in the installation process. The only way to get it installed is to call up their tech line that terminates in an off-shore call center. Hurro! (Yes, that sucks to mock an Asian accent but how much more does it suck when that's exactly what you hear when you call up with a Problem You Don't Fucking Understand and someone who can barely speak the language answers. And, yes, I know exactly the same thing would happen in reverse. How much would it suck for Japanese people if they had to call an American call center in, say, Memphis. I bet Japanese would sound great with a smooth Southern drawl.)

For the ultimate in user-friendly, the Linksys CD would open on a Mac but there's nothing on it for a Mac user. Opening the CD under Windows was not possible; it just kept kicking out the CD. For Mac-hateful, Linksys wins it running away.

So, definite gearhead alert on Linksys. Netgear is an easy winner on setup.

If you've read this far then you must be seriously interested in getting a router so the next consideration is performance. Netgear was the only one that I saw getting download speeds of 30 Mbits and, for cable, that's smokin'. The D-Link seems to peak at 27 Mbits and the Linksys at about 25 Mbits. NOTE: These numbers are from random samples and are highly-dependent on network traffic. Of the three, I have vastly more samples for the Netgear than the others because I have had it much longer)

Netgear wins on speed.

Reliability is huge and that's where Netgear choked. After six months it went dead and using their reset did nothing. I haven't had the Linksys or the D-Link for long enough to give any reliability information on them but I had two previous Linksys routers that ran for years with no difficulties of any kind. I only went to the second Linksys because I needed more ports for my network because of the number of computers.

Don't take my observation on reliability as sufficient to condemn Netgear. A friend of mine is a relentless gamer and he requires network perfection. He's been playing Everquest for years, even the new one and it was worth it to him to get more powerful computers to do it. So, he wants Big Power and he has been using Netgear with no difficulties for years.

Reliability is unclear.

Another aspect of reliability that is crucial for SL performers is how effectively will it support your audio stream. My original Linksys was at least 3-4 years old and it dropped the stream quite a bit. I attributed that to age and got the Netgear router to replace it. In about six months of use, the stream never dropped once so that would be at least two hundred hours of online stream time. But the Netgear fried and then I got the Linksys. The first gig went well but I was only streaming at 64K as, for some bizarro reason, it crashes Circe if I stream fatter than that. I did a second gig the following evening and the stream dropped twice. Worse, I had forgotten to switch back to 128K so it wasn't even running as hard as I ran the Netgear. I don't have sufficient time with the D-Link to have any information on its streaming reliability.

Netgear wins on streaming but D-Link is untested.

As to sexy in appearance, the Netgear was most stylish as it stands vertically and, notwithstanding the obligatory array of flashing lights on the front, the minimalist design is pleasing.

The Linksys would likely be sexy to people in lab coats as it sits flat on the desk and has a large dark smoked plastic top that seems like you should see something through it but you can't.

The D-Link would only be sexy to UFO spotters as it definitely looks like it was made by space aliens. It has three goofy-looking antennae that are like a space alien version of rabbit ears for a TV set (yes, I know that hugely dated me. So who had a gadget that would operate a motor on the house antenna to point it at the correct station antenna? Hmmm??) The device sits flat and is white with a black belt around the mid-section that contains the flashing lights, all of which are blue circles so as to ensure that only those UFO spotters who know the secret code will have any idea what they mean.

if Mac minimalism is important to you, the Netgear will likely best complement your system. If this article has magically turned you into a gearhead then the others may appeal and I do confess that I kind of like the D-Link space alien motify and, what the hell, the flashing lights are blue and that should count for something. I'd have given them the prize if they were purple. That would have been cool.

This may come as a surprise but I recommend the Netgear. It's highly-likely that the problem I experienced was a fluke as that hasn't been the experience of others I've asked about it. I work with high-end computer pros so I'm giving their experience with Netgear high credibility. (Actually they work for me. I just write email and people pay me. I'm such a slut!)

The Netgear was easiest to set up, it performed the best, and it looked pretty sexy on the desk. Too bad it croaked but take that as anecdotal as you can't judge reliability from one person's experience.

So, hopefully that was worth the read and helpful in dealing with these things. If you've got any questions and are bashful to ask in open forum, please do send a private message or IM me in-world.

If you've read this far then you must have some major hots for a router so here's the specifics on the models:

Netgear WNR854T
Linksys WRT310N
D-Link DIR655

All are available for about $120 US. Retail is $190 or so. At that price, you should get free shipping so get it online from an out-of-state store. (If you're outside the US, buying out-of-state means you don't pay sales tax. This is definitely tax cheating and we'll certainly go to hell for doing it.)
_________________
Ever vigilant for da gooses overhead.

- Silas

My Web site is at myducksoup.com

Silas Scarborough · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 1224 Location: Rhode Island