Router recommendation, please

[glc]

Hello, everyone.

I have read the stickies.

I need a router recommendation. I just subscribed to my local cable Internet (Cable One) with (up to) 50/2 meg service. Best speeds I can get through my old WRT54GL (DD-WRT) (10/100 WAN) are 20 ping, 42 down, 2.3 up. Connecting direct to a computer (Gig-E port) I get 10 ping, 52 down, 2.3 up (Speeds from speedtest.net). Modem is a Motorola SB6121 (Gig-E port). I'm pretty sure I've hit the WAN limitation of the WRT54GL, your charts show max 53.

What I'd like in a new router:

1. Gig-E WAN port.
2. DD-WRT compatibility.
3. Removable external antenna/antennas.
4. Enough WAN headroom to easily maintain my provider's full speed.
5. Least expensive without compromising quality/reliability.
6. Wireless speed is not important, but range is. N150 is plenty.

Thank you very much for reading this. I will probably get 2 of them, my son in law is probably going to be subscribing to the same service, we are both fed up with AT&T. I just ditched 3 meg service, he has 12 meg service and isn't happy with it.

 

[glc]

I suppose that I have been too vague to get any replies, so let's try this -

Can I do any better for the money than an Asus RT-N16? The egg has it for $83.29 and there's a $10 rebate till the end of the month.

 

[sfx2000]

There's a number of choices - all depends on what you want to spend...

I tend to prefer Apple and Buffalo/Melco, as they tend to do more of their own HW/SW development, ASUS is also a decent choice. Cradlepoint is a decent alternative as well, but they tend to be more focused on the 3G/4G Wireless WAN side, but their gear is quite decent.

Don't let removable antenna's be a blocker. And DD-WRT, can cause more problems than it solves - but builds based on DD-WRT, such as Buffalo, have more QA and internal development behind them

sfx

 

[stevech]

If you drop DD-WRT you'll have far more choices. I used DD-WRT years ago, before common routers and SOHO routers had all the features that most do, today.

 

[glc]

Okay, thank you both.

Here are my priorities from the wish list.

1. Under $100.
2. Gigabit WAN port.
3. The best wireless range possible for mixed devices - "G" laptops, "N" Androids and iPhones. None of the devices are 5 GHz capable. Wireless speed not an issue.

(In reference to #3, this is why I mentioned DD-WRT and removable antennas - so I can crank up the power and put high gain antennas on it if necessary)

 

[remixedcat]

You'll be set with an Amped Wireless router then.

They do got a lot of features, high powered, and GB ports. N600, and upgradeable SMA connector antennas.

the R20000G is around 100 on various sites

I got a review here for more info:
http://remixedcat.blogspot.com/2013/03/amped-wireless-r20000g-wireless-router.html

 

[glc]

Thank you, but it's $130 from any place that I'd be buying it from, a bit more than I want to spend. I also don't need dual band.

 

[remixedcat]

Try the R10000G then

 

[glc]

Thanks everyone for your input. I bought an Asus RT-N16 and am very happy with it. I left it completely stock and got this:

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/2936326139