need new router, mines pooping out

Just like the title says router is pooping out. The wireless is getting really sluggish now, and wired internet doesnt work anymore. So my dad says he wants to buy a new router anways its to slow. (everything is getting slow after i built him his new desktop hahaha he was running a p4 for up until a year ago now everything is slow) Okay so in the market for a new router. Price range not sure $50-$100ish, hes pretty cheap but im willing to add my own money if its 100% good.
Amazon.com: NETGEAR WGT624NA Wireless G Firewall Router: Electronics
thats what we currently have.

Okay needs he wants it faster, so not sure what to get.
Computers connected i say about 4-5 computers wirelessly and a printer, and about 3 computers connected through rj45,(and connected to a hub to disperse it throughout the house.
For my comp router has to give signal through 1 wall, my sisters about 3 walls, and my dads 4-5 walls. so has to give signal through max of 5 walls.
I game on wireless everyone else just checks email and download stuff. I would prefer to get something real fast cause my dad tends to not upgrading for a LONG time. (just like his comp vs me i change comps/ new things less than a year if im lucky almost 2 years) thanks in advance

 

There's this one if you don't need dual band: Newegg.com - ASUS RT-N16 Wireless Router 802.11b/g/n up to 300Mbps DD-WRT Open Source support with USB Storage, Printer And Media Server. If you're the kind of person who likes to tweak using third party firmware it's a nice choice for dd-wrt.

Unlimited budget: Linksys E4200 or Asus RT-N56, a netgear equivalent would do as well. The E4200 has awesome range from what i hear, if it's as good as my E3000 in terms of range, i wouldn't worry too much. Not everyone knows this, but a router needs a fairly good amount of RAM and a good processor to handle all those connections so don't skimp on the router if you plan on keeping it for a long time. You get what you pay for most of the time.

 

whats dualband?

 

Dual band means 2.4GHz range and 5GHz range available in the same device.
Simultaneous dual band means both available at the same time i.e you can have two SSIDs one @ 2.4GHz (which is getting overcrowded and the other @ 5GHz which has poor range but is rarely used)

Asus RT-N16 has gotten cheaper but it's still too expensive- it's a single band 2.4GHz 300mbps router with Gigabit Ethernet and two USB ports. It's based on Broadcom's BCM4318 chip and is equipped with 128MB RAM and default firmware is crap.

I would go for a Netgear WNR3500L which uses the very same BCM4318 chip and 64MB RAM (the latter doesn't make a difference) and is also a single band 2.4GHz 300mbps router with one USB port and Gigabit Ethernet.

So the difference is RAM (no difference performance-wise one you reach 64MB), one USB port- both in favor of Asus and firmware and price- both in favor of Netgear. Wireless range is also slightly better on Netgear but it's not a big difference.

 

The Netgear definitely has a USB port. Haven't tried to use it with dd-wrt tho. Oh wait. So the Asus has two USB ports. OK, that's not a big deal then.

 

I'll second the Asus RT-N56U as a great router. From the massive amount of machine connected to the router, you'll definitely want something with good hardware and probably simultaneous dual-band. I'd probably go so far as to say dual-band should be one of your requirements.

 

okay its between the asus and netgear now. Well the dual band does sound neat i mean even though the 5ghz isnt that far im literally about 10 feet or less away from the router, would i see an improvement in my wifi speed on my laptop its in my sig, even if its just me it would be nice to have fast speed when gaming and would like to stream myself play LoL since my friends always ask if i stream.

 

The thing with 5GHz isn't that it's stronger or better ranged. If anything, it has less range and less penetrating ability than 2.4GHz band.

what makes 5GHz useful is that not many devices use it. For example, in my house, with myself, two other tenants, and the landlord, we have roughly five laptops and three smartphones hooked up via wireless. Of those devices, my MSI and Dellienware are the only ones able to access the 5GHz band. That translates out to me having an entire wireless network all to my lonesome. While the three laptops and three smartphones are jockeying for signal, (and that doesn't even take into account interference from landline cordless phones and the like) I'm sitting pretty on my unpopulated 5GHz band.

In your case, if people are streaming wirelessly over your network, you'll see a negligible impact because you're on an entirely different wireless band.

That does assume that you have a 5GHz-capable card. Do you? What's your wireless adapter?

 

You'll need a 5GHz capable adapter like forge said. I can vouch for the awesomeness of being the only on 5GHz though . There is no point in paying more fro a dual band router if you don't have a 5GHz compatible adapter though.

The linksys E4200 would be a good buy too but it is expensive so i wouldn't buy it unless you can get a deal on one.