CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

I am getting close to buying a new wireless router to replace my aging wireless g router, DLink DI-624. It has served me very well, while losing a signal was a regular occurance, once it locked on, the speed was good.

I want to get this one...http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-655-Extreme-Wireless-Router/dp/B000LIFB7S

Any thoughts? I will initially put this one upstairs in the laundry room which is centrally located and then hard wire off of its extra giga ports to the upstairs computer room, living room, TV, and bedroom for now. I was going to get a $50 dlink 5 port giga switch but this will work for now. I will eventually hardwire downstairs to theater but hoping that this new router increases the PS3's functionality.

Thoughts or recommendations? This is supposedly draft n 2.0 and the hardware is the final spec, so firmware updates will work to make it updated later.

TIA

Brooklyn · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 494 Location: Morgan Hill, CA

It does look like a great deal, and has many good ratings. I personally have a Linksys wrt300n. It seems to work well, however I have read online that other people have had problems with then, so I probably would be hesitant to purchase the linksys..

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

FWIW our Linksys WRT54G has been going for ages -- I would have guessed at least 8 years but Wikipedia says they only came out in 2002. It's been quite reliable for us, though my HP laptop seems to drop connections with it if the link is inactive for more than a few seconds.

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

Interesting, the D-link I use is a stand alone access point. It NEVER.....

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

...drops out.... Smile

Mike

Joust · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject:

good one.

I personally like the 802.11b units. they have more range and are more reliable for a wireless connection.
I use a wrt54 that I modified with a linux replacement OS and cranked up the power output to help with its range. Even then, I find the 802.11b ones better.

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

How can you live with 802.11b?

It got a decent rating at cnet but they can't recommend it because it is still draft n and not the final spec. I read in a review at newegg that its hardware meets the final spec so a firmware would be able to make it up to speed with the final spec, whenever that gets widespread.

Are each companies draft n compatible with each other? I am looking for a laptop with built-in draft n and hopefully it will work with this router.

Joust · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:38 am Post subject:

802.11b is 11Mbs. on a good day my DSL is 4mbs. if my computer is connected at 11Mbs its better than the stupid G routers that drops out really fast. My B has 8 times more range.

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11#802.11b

Wireless B has the exact same theoretical range as wireless G according to the all knowing wiki. Are you speaking from personal experience with specific routers?

Wiki also says that the TGn isn't supposed to complete the wireless n spec until Nov. 2008. Maybe I should just wait. But then again...the new final spec wireless n routers will likely be $200, which I don't want to spend, and this d-link unit is ssupposed to be firmware upgradeable.

Joust · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:57 am Post subject:

Sure, the carrier frequency has the same range. but when you try to put all the protocols through that and push the data, the range drops off significantly.
I've worked in this stuff a long time. its better to use the throughput that will do the job and get more reliable range than it is to have the max available when you don't really need it.

I've found that the 802.11g drops out even if I'm sitting on my sofa that is about 20feet away from my router antenna.
the 802.11b will work at my neighbors house. Our lots are 2 acres apiece.
so yeah, practically speaking. the B is better in my experienced and somewhat expert opinion.

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

It also depends on what you are doing with it. Streaming HD Video fast is must, for web browsing unless you have a T3 in your house I don't know that you would really notice a difference in speed.

Mike

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

Yeah, Mike, that is what I was getting at. Web browsing wouldn't make a difference which one you went with.

Streaming HD clips to a PS3 needs a decent amount of bandwidth I think. B seems to struggle doing this.

I have had the exact opposite experience. My first APT had wireless B that was terrible. Constant dropouts, slow speed, etc, etc.

Of course this AP was shared between 8 total 4 bedroom APT's so there was a lot of demand on them.

I purchased this dlink wireless g router about three years ago it seems and haven't had too many issues with it.

I think I am going to pull the trigger. Hopefully have some time in these next weekends to get everything all wired up. Not really wanting to jump in the attic at the moment though as it is probably over 140F up there. I have a few projects lined up in the attic once October rolls around.

Tedd · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 156 Location: Ontario

I have a DIR-655 and it has excellent signal strength. It work fine with the PS3 via ethernet connectivity. The bundled Network Magic worked great, but is limited to three devices.