> The SMC unit cooked off. Every single bit of SMC equipment I've ever owned
> has failed.
>
> The Linksys BEFW11S4v4 with 1.52 firmware that I purchased to replace it has
> a fatal bug: It locks up when attempting to view video from sites like
> msn.com, etc... (Apparently a firmware bug, known since 2005 and Linksys has
> not issued updated firmware! Grrrrr)
>
> So the top rated unit at Amazon.com is the Zyxel X-550 but it has only been
> out for a few months and I'm not sure if problems have had a chance to show.
> Also, it looks flimsy. Also, I've had bad experiences with Zyxel modems
> years ago.
> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000BP2YLC
>
> Next down is the Linksys WRT54GL
> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000BTL0OA Which is mature, well
> loved, and so on. I really don't care what OS the router is running, as long
> as it works, so the Linux thing is only good for the resale value. I hate to
> go with another Linksys after the BEFW11S4 fiasco, but I've run nothing but
> Linksys wired routers at the office (BEFSX54 and BEFSR54) and have had ZERO
> problems with them. Not a single bad review on Amazon, but then again, the
> BEFW11S4 was well reviewed until a couple weeks after I purchased it!
>
> Next is an OLD Microsoft(!?) Wireless Router ??? No, thank you!
>
> Next is a D-Link DGL-4300 but the price is high $130! And it is fairly new,
> and both the D-Link hubs I've owned have had problems with the AC adapter
> plug.
>
> Anyway, other than mixed experiences with Linksys (mostly good), bad
> experiences with SMC, and the ratings on Amazon.com, I'm not sure how to
> pick one out...
>
> Any advice?
>
> ---
> James Newton: PICList webmaster/Admin
> KILLspamjamesnewtonKILLspampiclist.com  1-619-652-0593 phone
> http://www.piclist.com/member/JMN-EFP-786
> PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com
>
>
>
>
>

>
> Hi James,
>
> Try a MIMO router (it has three antennas, two for RX and one for TX)
> the computer must have also a MIMO wireless board, else those three
> antennas for the router are useless.
>
> Vasile
>
> On 2/9/07, James Newtons Massmind <spamBeGonejamesnewtonspamBeGonemassmind.org> wrote:
> > The SMC unit cooked off. Every single bit of SMC equipment I've ever
> owned
> > has failed.
> >
> > The Linksys BEFW11S4v4 with 1.52 firmware that I purchased to replace it
> has
> > a fatal bug: It locks up when attempting to view video from sites like
> > msn.com, etc... (Apparently a firmware bug, known since 2005 and Linksys
> has
> > not issued updated firmware! Grrrrr)
> >
> > So the top rated unit at Amazon.com is the Zyxel X-550 but it has only
> been
> > out for a few months and I'm not sure if problems have had a chance to
> show.
> > Also, it looks flimsy. Also, I've had bad experiences with Zyxel modems
> > years ago.
> > www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000BP2YLC
> >
> > Next down is the Linksys WRT54GL
> > http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000BTL0OA Which is mature, well
> > loved, and so on. I really don't care what OS the router is running, as
> long
> > as it works, so the Linux thing is only good for the resale value. I
> hate to
> > go with another Linksys after the BEFW11S4 fiasco, but I've run nothing
> but
> > Linksys wired routers at the office (BEFSX54 and BEFSR54) and have had
> ZERO
> > problems with them. Not a single bad review on Amazon, but then again,
> the
> > BEFW11S4 was well reviewed until a couple weeks after I purchased it!
> >
> > Next is an OLD Microsoft(!?) Wireless Router ??? No, thank you!
> >
> > Next is a D-Link DGL-4300 but the price is high $130! And it is fairly
> new,
> > and both the D-Link hubs I've owned have had problems with the AC
> adapter
> > plug.
> >
> > Anyway, other than mixed experiences with Linksys (mostly good), bad
> > experiences with SMC, and the ratings on Amazon.com, I'm not sure how to
> > pick one out...
> >
> > Any advice?
> >
> > ---
> > James Newton: PICList webmaster/Admin
> > TakeThisOuTjamesnewtonEraseMEspam_OUTpiclist.com  1-619-652-0593 phone
> > http://www.piclist.com/member/JMN-EFP-786
> > PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --

> I've been very happy my my Netgear, and it is what I recommend to people
> all the time.  Whenever a friend asks me to setup a wireless network for
> them, Netgear is what I buy for them, and so far there has been no
> problems or complaints with any of them.  The one I currently use at
> home is the WGR614 with the v4 (54Mbps) rom in it, but it is about  3
> years old now.  I don't recall the models I've installed lately, but
> they are all super G at 108Mbps.
>
> -Mario
>
>
>

> Next down is the Linksys WRT54GL
> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000BTL0OA Which is mature, well
> loved, and so on. I really don't care what OS the router is running, as long
> as it works, so the Linux thing is only good for the resale value. I hate to
> go with another Linksys after the BEFW11S4 fiasco, but I've run nothing but
> Linksys wired routers at the office (BEFSX54 and BEFSR54) and have had ZERO
> problems with them. Not a single bad review on Amazon, but then again, the
> BEFW11S4 was well reviewed until a couple weeks after I purchased it!
>
> Next is an OLD Microsoft(!?) Wireless Router ??? No, thank you!
>
> Next is a D-Link DGL-4300 but the price is high $130! And it is fairly new,
> and both the D-Link hubs I've owned have had problems with the AC adapter
> plug.
>
> Anyway, other than mixed experiences with Linksys (mostly good), bad
> experiences with SMC, and the ratings on Amazon.com, I'm not sure how to
> pick one out...
>
> Any advice?
>
> ---
> James Newton: PICList webmaster/Admin
> spamBeGonejamesnewtonSTOPspamEraseMEpiclist.com  1-619-652-0593 phone
> http://www.piclist.com/member/JMN-EFP-786
> PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com
>
>
>
>  
>
>  

> On Sun, 2007-02-11 at 00:52 -0800, Vasile Surducan wrote:
> > On 2/10/07, EraseMEpiclistEraseMEmmendes.com <@spam@piclist@spam@spam_OUTmmendes.com> wrote:
> > > I haven't actually done any tests to see if the transfer is trully at
> > > 108, but what I have done is try to connect from diferent distances from
> > > the router, most of the time outside.  As the signal degrades over the
> > > distance the speeds (indicated in the taskbar icons) do switch to lower
> > > or higher depending on the quality of the signal.  This was done for a
> > > very picky friend who wanted to be able to use his laptop while on a
> > > floter in his pool (I know, I wouldn't do it, but he wanted it)
> > >
> > > Obviously, you can only get 108 when using an 108 router with an 108
> > > card.
> >
> >  The maximum speed allowed in 802.11g standard (2.4Ghz) is 54Mbps,
> > named as 108, page14 of 802.11g standard, downloadable here:
> >
> > standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html
> >
> > Do I miss something ? or there is available a newer specification ?
>
> For pure g, yes, 54Mbps is the fastest.
>
> However, because the IEEE has taken a stupidly long time to come out
> with the next standard (n), the manufacturers didn't want to wait (g
> hardware had reach commodity prices, not much margin when prices get
> that low). So they started developing extensions to g that could go
> faster. Most claim speeds of up to 108Mbps (and often improved distance
> specs).
>
> The rub is they are NOT compatible between different chipsets. This
> means if you want a 108Mbps network (often called super g), you must
> ensure every bit of equipment uses the same line of chipsets. Easiest
> way to ensure this is to buy the same brand, but even that isn't 100%
> since sometimes brands change chipsets, meaning the older 108Mbps
> hardware may not work with the newer 108Mbps hardware.
>
> On top of this confusion is the MIMO or "pre n" stuff. Usually you can
> tell this stuff separately from the "normal" 108Mbps stuff by the number
> of antennas, MIMO usually has three, although sometimes one is
> "internal", further mucking up the market.
>
> Personally, I won't touch any feature beyond 54Mbps until n is fully out
> there. My router is capable of 108Mbps, but I've never even enabled it.
>
> The part that really bugs me is the IEEE members. They are really the
> ones to blame for the mess that is WiFi right now. They kept arguing and
> squabbling, holding up any chance at a reasonable time period for the
> next standard. Consumer confusion is high, interoperability is in the
> tubes, and even worse, many of the MIMO technologies out there right now
> will KILL your g bandwidth completely. MIMO technologies usually take
> two WiFi channels. Despite the numbering, in the 2.4GHz band there are
> only 3 non overlapping WiFi channels (1, 6 and 11). If you are using g
> on channel 6 and your neighbour powers up most MIMO routers, there's a
> good chance that your bandwidth will drop like a stone. Newer MIMO
> routers are better then older ones, but the problem is still there.
> draft-n products supposedly are MUCH better, but there is still chance
> for the problem appearing.
>
> Anyways, for more information try http://www.tomshardware.com, lots of
> articles there on what's out there and what to avoid, if you REALLY want
> to go faster then 54Mbps. Me, I run a cable...

>> I have the non-linux WRT54G
>>    
>
> Me too.
>
>  
>> It works well but sometimes my laptop will not connect to it. I don't
>> know the exact reason but I speculate that it's quite cold in that room.
>>    
>
> Mine does this occasionally too, and when it does it seems to get an IP
> address of 168.254.w.x instead of the 168.192.y.z. When this happens it does
> seem to be when the signal is very low when logging on.
>
>  

> I didn't think either of them (54G and 54GL) ran Linux out-of-the-box,
> but there are Linux-based firmwares out there that give a lot more
> functionality than the Linksys-supplied one that will run on the 54GL.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G
>
> Alan B. Pearce wrote:
> >> I have the non-linux WRT54G
> >>
> >
> > Me too.
> >
> >
> >> It works well but sometimes my laptop will not connect to it. I don't
> >> know the exact reason but I speculate that it's quite cold in that room.
> >>
> >
> > Mine does this occasionally too, and when it does it seems to get an IP
> > address of 168.254.w.x instead of the 168.192.y.z. When this happens it does
> > seem to be when the signal is very low when logging on.
> >
> >
>