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best router under $100 - gigabit/wireless-n

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  • Sep 8th, 2010 3:05 am
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Sr. Member
Jul 16, 2006
508 posts
182 upvotes
Toronto

best router under $100 - gigabit/wireless-n

I'm wondering if you guys have an recommendations for a new router. My WRT54G just died on me.

I'm looking for something that has gigabit ethernet and wireless-N. I'm not too worried about dual band, but I guess I wouldn't mind

I've heard good things about the Asus RT-N16. Any other models I should consider under $100?
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Sr. Member
Jul 16, 2006
508 posts
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Toronto
thx, I'll check it out.
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Sep 10, 2005
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I think you'd be happy with either the DIR-655 or the RT-N16.

I would go for the RT-N16 because you can flash it with TomatoUSB or DD-WRT firmware and it has two USB ports.
If those aren't priorities then go for whichever is cheaper of the two.
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Dec 27, 2006
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The WNR3500L-100PAS has been doing great by me after some months now. Love the usb port, it has been serving as a file server with a one tb external drive, streaming to my wdtv live in the living room and my patriot box office in the bedroom via wireless. Range is good and the signal is constantly strong. It is $109 at FS but I bought it when it was $89, it is likely to be on sale again but it can also be had even cheaper at other retailers.
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Jan 19, 2006
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Linksys wrt320n has been working well for me.
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Feb 24, 2007
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I had a DIR-655 years ago and keep getting wireless disconnection problem even with the latest firmware flashed. Bought another one when in X'mas when the price was cheap and still give me the problem. Eventually found it has something to do with the wireless n. Router works no problem with g but not n. POS. Search the web and found out there're lots of disconnection problem for this router.

Get a Linksys E2000 if I were you.
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Sr. Member
Aug 7, 2003
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I bought the WNR3500L from ca.buy.com for $80. This Model has gigabit lan. It is 3rd party firmware friendly, but after some research, I discovered it has faster transfer rates with the stock firmware. The homebrew firmware brings new features to the party. :) But to run stable it sacrifices speed. The community is working on it. Lot's of choices anyway.

Tomato 1.27 on the Linksys wrt54g(s) uses the faster drivers, but 1.28 uses the stable drivers.
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Nov 15, 2004
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df329 wrote: my dir-655 has been great

+1

Mine works great out of the box. No disconnections or anything. I've heard people say to never upgrade the firmware though, as the newer ones seem to cause a lot of problems.
Sr. Member
Jul 16, 2006
508 posts
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Toronto
Dave98 wrote: I think you'd be happy with either the DIR-655 or the RT-N16.

I would go for the RT-N16 because you can flash it with TomatoUSB or DD-WRT firmware and it has two USB ports.
If those aren't priorities then go for whichever is cheaper of the two.

Sounds good. I've been using DD-WRT on my old Linksys for a while and it worked like a charm.
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Jan 18, 2005
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+1 on the rt-n16 solution, only other thing to mention, is I use the $30 rt-n12s and a gigabit switch, you might be able to get a 8 port+ gig-e switch but if you want to combine and dont need the ports and want it to be fancy and fast, you CANNOT beat that rt-n16 for dd-wrt support! IT simply kicks ass and has 128MB ram! with 16mb flash.

I want one but can't justify it as my N12's are fine and match with my gig-e switch, but I only really use the wireless portion of the N12 anyways since setting up my Untangle Box.
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Jul 6, 2010
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50$ bewawa TP-LINK 1043, this is a great router when flashed with DD-WRT.

Dir-655 is great if you get a working one, but I would say 20-40% of the units experience hardware failure within first year...
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Aug 3, 2002
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I have a DIR-655, I think the signal strength is dying on the wireless though. Getting dropped signals constantly outside of the room the router is in...
But I've had it for like 2 years...
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Sep 10, 2004
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Piro21 wrote: +1

Mine works great out of the box. No disconnections or anything. I've heard people say to never upgrade the firmware though, as the newer ones seem to cause a lot of problems.
The old firmware favoured would be 1.21
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Jan 19, 2005
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mapleleafs89 wrote: 50$ bewawa TP-LINK 1043, this is a great router when flashed with DD-WRT.

Dir-655 is great if you get a working one, but I would say 20-40% of the units experience hardware failure within first year...

How's the range on the TL-WR1043? Can you access it a block away?
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