[CalcProgrammer1]

I have a Netgear WGT624v3 router, and it's been a very good router so far. However, we bought it at our old house (a 2 story house) and then moved to a 1 story house. The router is in the basement, and we're currently finishing the basement. Since 1 story houses spread out farther, the distance between the kitchen (where I use my laptop when I'm eating) to the computer room in the basement (other side of the house) is fairly large. It was working OK (reporting about 45% strength) but today we put drywall up on the ceiling of the room right under the kitchen. Apparently hard boards like drywall really mess with WiFi signals, because it practically killed my connection (Ubuntu reports about a 30% signal while Windows XP can't even hold a connection). We haven't even finished most of the walls in the basement yet, so I'm assuming by the time it's all done, there will be no connection at all.

What I want to buy is a Linksys WRT54GL and install DD-WRT. However, I may actually need a MIMO router. Wireless-N isn't terribly important to me (my new laptop supports it, but no other devices on my network do, so at most I'd get 100mbps [Ethernet equivalent] and I usually use a cable for big transfers anyways), I'm most concerned about range and price. I like the idea of the WRT54GL because it's an open-source, frequently updated, highly configurable firmware that provides tons more options than stock firmware, I'm just wondering if the WRT54GL will be able to pump out the same high strength signal that a MIMO router could. I know the GL has 2 antennas (the Netgear only has 1) and I know you can up the signal strength, but even at, say, 70-80mW (recommended maximum), would it be enough to provide a strong signal all over the house (would it be enough to have a significantly stronger signal than the WGT624v3?)

[Mak213]

Hello,

Calc i have isntalled a simialr router for my neighbor. It is a WRT54G. It is in their finished basement and i am on the 2nd floor on the other side of the duplex and i can get signal. So they are powerful. I think that should be powerful enough if the WRT54G can go thru 2 floors and several walls/floors to get the signal where i am.

I get roughly 45% signal upstairs. It is even better downstairs.

Cheers,
Mak

[CalcProgrammer1]

That's good, the WRT54G/GL have 2 antennas, so they probably put out a better signal and are more sensitive for receiving as well. I am going to DD-WRT it if I get one, so I can turn the output up even more (50-70mW, maybe up to 80). It sounds like a great router and my friend has one of the earlier 54G revisions and he says it's a great router. The new 54G revisions cut back on the hardware, so that's why I'd get a GL.

I'm debating whether to get a WRT54GL or a WRT150N. The 150N is MIMO and draft-N. I think MIMO would be good because it covers a longer range and my new laptop does support wireless N. The 150N is $69 while the 54GL is $61, so price wise they're pretty close, and the 150N is also DD-WRT compatible. If the range would be better on the 150N I'd go with that.

WRT54GL:
Newegg.com - LINKSYS WRT54GL IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless-G Broadband Router - Wireless Routers

WRT150N:
Newegg.com - LINKSYS WRT150N Draft 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.3, 802.3u Wireless – N Home Router - Wireless Routers

[Mak213]

Hello Calc,

I can not comment on the 150 since i have never used it. I do know that the WRT54G had the latest firmware and also has 2 antennas as well. But for looks the 150 is better.

Cheers,
Mak

[CalcProgrammer1]

Yeah, it would have the latest firmware, but apparently the older 54G's had more RAM and Flash memory than the newer ones, preventing full installations of 3rd party firmwares like DD-WRT on newer models. The WRT54GL is sold as a "high end" model with the higher RAM and Flash memory, I'm guessing as Linksys' way to profit off of supporting other firmwares, as there doesn't appear too big of a difference between the latest G and GL versions.

However, the 150N looks promising, it has multiple radios and antennas (MIMO) for long connections, Wireless-N, and also full unofficial firmware (DD-WRT) support. For only $8 more, I think I should go with that one. Only thing it's missing is Gigabit Ethernet, but none of my current PC's support that anyways, so no big deal.

[Saxon]

I don't know if this is any good but the WRT54G can be riged to run POE so if you decided to add a second AP or even use it as a second network it might be useful to you.

Edit here is the link:

WRT54GS POE-12V Mod — www.TechIdiots.net - www.ElectronicInsanity.com

[CalcProgrammer1]

I was thinking about the possibility of using two routers to extend range, but I think it'd be best just to go MIMO, also since I'd need two WRT54G's. I'm thinking of just getting the WRT150N since it already extends range and is only a bit more expensive than the GL.