Suggestions for new router

I'm looking for suggestions for a new wireless B/G router to connect to my existing Motorola Vonage router which has terrible wifi signal but is required for vonage's phone service. I need one with better than average range (my old linksys wrtp54g was barely powerful enough to reach the upstairs of my house). Also, my laptops only have standard 802.11g adapters so would MIMO or Speedbooster routers be worth it?

 

I have had Belkin, NetGear, and Linksys and I personally like my cheap Linksys WRT54G great and I have no problem using it when upstairs or downstairs and have 5 bars downstairs and 4 bars upstairs in all rooms. Also make sure you have the most updated drivers for you adapter and the most updated firmware for you router and check for conflicts with outer devices in the house and make sure none of them opperate in the 2.4 GHz range.


Also you siggy don't say which adapter you have but if you have the Intell 4965 that is most likely the problem because when iwas using a 4965 ihad the same issues as you.

 

My HP has the Intel 3945 a/b/g while the Dell has the Dell 1390 b/g. I was considering getting the WRT54G but i have one question about it: why are there 2 external antennas? Do they just work together to boost range? Most dual-antenna routers I've seen have MIMO, which outputs multiple signals to increase coverage.

 

Don't go for WRT54G- it's not what it used to be.
I'm a bit tired of writing this so just look at this:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/26843/51/

Only 8MB of RAM, 2MB flash, VxWorks instead of Linux and highly unreliable.
If you don't wanna look far just go for WRT54GL- still there are better routers these days.

 

Well I don't want to spend more than approximately $50 on a router, so does anyone have any suggestions for the best one within my budget? I'm mainly looking for long range, not necessarily super fast speeds (such as super g 108mbps).

 

I don't know how much does the WRT54GL cost but you can install DD-WRT and increase Wi-Fi transmit power like three times default safely.
And it's much more reliable than WRT54G.
If you wanna make it cheaper try Buffalo WHR-HP-G54- just as good due to the same hardware so it can run DD-WRT too.

 

I found a WRT54GL on buy.com for $52.98 after $10 mail-in rebate. I think i might get this, but i'm wondering what exactly are the extra features available in third-party firmwares like the one you mentioned?

 

Lots of things from multiple SSIDs, router overclocking, P2P improvements, VoIP firmware versions, DHCP daemon with semi-static IPs, additional Wi-Fi statistics.
Don't even know where to start. Definitely worth it.