The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Best Budget Wireless Router?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by Nater43, Sep 30, 2010.

  1. Nater43

    Nater43 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    65
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'm looking to pick up a router for home use for less than $40. Whats are some recommendations for the best value to price router I can get at this price point?
     
  2. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

    Reputations:
    1,235
    Messages:
    2,108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
  3. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

    Reputations:
    3,300
    Messages:
    7,115
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Woot® : One Day, One Deal has a deal on a refurb WRT54GS2 today only, $23 shipped. Can't really complain about anything for that price.
     
  4. downloads

    downloads No, Dee Dee, no! Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    7,729
    Messages:
    8,722
    Likes Received:
    2,230
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Asus RT-n12 (300MHz CPU, 32MB RAM, 802.11n 300mbps, supported by DD-WRT) for $40 @newegg

    That would be a good choice- you can't expect too much in that price range so it lacks gigabit Ethernet and USB port but offers 300mbps wifi (not 150mbps which is common in this price range) and has pretty good hardware and additional 3rd party firmware support.

    Only 8MB RAM and 2MB flash, most recent versoin is not supported by DD-WRT. So I'd avoid it.

    That one is 16MB RAM (but only 2MB flash) and is supported by 3rd party firmware.
    That's batter (and really cheap) but it's still 2005 hardware in a new package.
     
  5. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

    Reputations:
    1,235
    Messages:
    2,108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    ^^^ The Asus seems like a good choice indeed there downloads. 802.11n for $40, not bad at all.

    BTW congrats on Mod status :cool: ....I still have nightmares of your lengthy posts. :p

    Hmm...i'm not sure which ver. I have but I do have DD-WRT running on it.
     
  6. downloads

    downloads No, Dee Dee, no! Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    7,729
    Messages:
    8,722
    Likes Received:
    2,230
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Why, thank you :) They did it to stop me from posting those dissertations ;)

    As for the DD-WRT you are right- but unfortunately the most recent hardware version, which I assume is the only one on sale now, doesn't support DD-WRT anymore.
     
  7. Nater43

    Nater43 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    65
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thanks for the advice guys, I'm going to pick up the Asus.
     
  8. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    643
    Trophy Points:
    181
  9. RWUK

    RWUK Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    254
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It's a pretty popular router but like any, many good reviews with it's mix of DOA's and odd problems. Newegg sometimes sells the refurbs for ~$35 and it's another 'for that price you can't beat it' type of thing. Supports 3rd party firmware too.
     
  10. hakira

    hakira <3 xkcd

    Reputations:
    957
    Messages:
    1,286
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    How is the asus working out for you, OP? I'm looking to pick a new one up now as well and don't want to drop $100 on one...