Netgear or Linksys for Squeezebox - your vote?

95bcwh · « **on:** 5 Feb 2006, 12:35 am »

Hi,
I'm in the market looking for a wireless router for my new SB3. I have been searching around at different forums, it appears to me that many people bought Linksys, and maybe that's the reason why I also saw significant number of posts complaining about Linksys nightmare. I have not read anything about Netgear though, but from a SB3 FAQ website, it seems that Netgear WGR614 has proven track record with squeezebox too. Hence before I grab one, I would like to have the members of this forum to do a final vote..

I must say both brands are on sales right now, CompUSA is selling Netgear WGR614 at $29.99 and Linksys WRT54G can be bought from Circuitcity at $39.99.

Thanks
RV

mgalusha · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 12:39 am »

Based solely on how many Linksys and Netgear routers I've see fail, I'd pick Netgear. I've had to replace (or help someone replace) about 6 Linksys and 2 Netgear. Matter of fact I literally teed up a failed Netgear router yesterday and hit it with a driver (as in golf club). It was glorious.

I've personally had great luck with the DLink stuff but I don't know how well it works with the SB. I have a Belkin at home and my SB3 seems to work OK with that as well.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 12:49 am »

Don't pick the WRT54G, you MUST get the GS version, or an older Firmware 4 version of the G, else you may well suffer the frustrations I did, with daily reboots...

The WRT54GS is working well at my house, and last night at my brother's house, it was a snap to use.

We botched the friggin SP2 firewall fix for around 1.5 hours... but that is another story!

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 12:51 am »

oh damn, i just picked up a wrt54g today. haven't opened the package yet. damn it! i might as well return the bloody thing.

thanks for the heads up guys!

95bcwh · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 12:53 am »

Because I'm absolutely new in this wireless thang..(I have never used wireless network before!), I would like to know if the signal will suffer when you have a squeezebox in one of your rooms and the wireless router is sitting outside somewhere and you have your door closed?

Oh by the way, yes, while i have read many horror stories about the WRT54G, most WRT54GS owners seems to be happy, one post that I read even claim that this GS is as potent as viagra

!! maybe I should get the GS.

gitarretyp · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 01:04 am »

I have a netgear wgt526 with which i've been happy and haven't had any problems.

Dave G · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 01:16 am »

My Linksys WRT54G v. 5 router has been problem-free. Easy to set up and easy to use.

Dave

randytsuch · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 01:27 am »

Quote from: 95bcwh

Because I'm absolutely new in this wireless thang..(I have never used wireless network before!), I would like to know if the signal will suffer when you have a squeezebox in one of your rooms and the wireless router is sitting outside somewhere and you have your door closed?

Oh by the way, yes, while i have read many horror stories about the WRT54G, most WRT54GS owners seems to be happy, one post that I read even claim that this GS is as potent as viagra !! maybe I should get the GS.

The farther away the signal is, and the more walls it has to go through, the weaker the signal will be. But, I have my router upstairs, and my SB3 downstairs, and I have no problems. Unless you live in a mansion, I would not expect any signal problems.

Randy

gbeard · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 01:58 am »

I had a Linksys Access Point that worked fairly well but ldeveloped some problems and then locked up and died during a firmware update gone bad. I think it was my fault so I don't necessarily blame the hardware.

When I went to replace it I found a new router, the linksys SRX 200, which uses a newer techology that is supposed to expand its range and enable the signal to be received through walls more easily. I can report it does work better than the AP. It is relatively expensive though. $130 or so.

Cheers,
Gb

bpape · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 02:03 am »

I run all Linksys Router with WAP, and Linksys switches. Never had a lick of trouble with any of them. SB synced right up on the network and has been working perfectly since. Took all of 5 minutes to get the SB up and going and 3 of that was typing in the damn encryption key.

DSK · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 02:04 am »

A little more money but I've had great success with the Netgear RangeMax WPN824 (as has Wayne of Bolder Cables) with my modded SB2. Zero problems or drop outs with the SB2 or my wife's laptop. Supposedly it has better range than most modems (both line of sight and through walls etc), it was independently tested against the Linksys WRT54 and outperformed it (how much effect this has in everyday life I don't know). The router is a floor above the SB2 and a room across from it. Typical signal strength is 85%.

dwc · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 02:08 am »

Here's the router page from the Slimdevices wiki. I'd buy something that someone else has been successful with. Looks like both companies make routers that have been shown to work, with caveats.

-Dan

http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?RouterStatus

tdangelo · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 04:11 am »

My Netgear 624 stinks!!! They have a known problem along with all the 6xx range. I had to power reset it 3-4 times daily.... I got a US Robotics USR5461 for like $55.00 at Compusa - no problems for weeks... YMMV

Tony D.

pm314 · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 04:42 am »

I have the Linksys WRT54GS and have had zero problems with SB or any other wireless device. Seems pretty solid.

Thump553 · « **Reply #14 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 01:45 pm »

I've worked with both the Linksys (WRT54GS, mine) and a Netgear wireless (forget model number) and the SB. Elsewhere here I posted about my travails-I had problems initially with the Netgear but it was 99% my stupidity (inputted incorrect WEP code, SB was telling me it was connected when it wasn't-they should fix this or mention it in the manual that a 169.x.x.x address means you are NOT connected). The Netgear worked only when we shut off the router's extra features. Not mentioned anywhere in the manual-I knew only because I read these forums.

Overall I prefer Linksys to Netgear products, and both well over D-Link. Linksys is a division of Cisco, the granddaddy of and gold standard for wireless. This router has been rock solid for well over a year.

Look at the prices of the network cards also. My experience has been that one company's "speed boost" system won't work in accelerated mode on a different company's router. Of course if you go Netgear and SB, forget the speed boost setup anyway-you must disable it.

jhenderson010759 · « **Reply #15 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 05:33 pm »

I have had both the NG and Linksys products and preferred the Linksys. However, I've since upgraded to the Belkin 108 Mbps Pre-N router. This unit, used in conjunction with the PCMCIA clien adapters has provided far better range and reliability in my home.

I have a PC in the garage. With the Linksys setup, I would rarely achieve >30% signal strength and the connection was unreliable. This, even though the PC is no more than 50 ft away.

With the Belkin gear, I always obtain >90% strength and the performance is excellent.

Papajin · « **Reply #16 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 05:39 pm »

I would never buy another Netgear router again after all sorts of intermittent problems with them. I'd actually (and have) opt for a D-Link which has worked great for me.

duff138 · « **Reply #17 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 06:36 pm »

I'm still waiting for my squeezebox, should be here the 9th, does it make since to try and set up my router now? Or do I need to wait for the squeezebox? thanks

95bcwh · « **Reply #18 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 08:28 pm »

Hmm...interesting.. so while we all agreed that Linksys WRT54GS is less problematic than WRT54G, but when used for SB3, we have to disable the speedboost in WRT54GS!

When is Cisco going to wake up?!

Wayne1 · « **Reply #19 on:** 5 Feb 2006, 09:22 pm »

RV,

Unfortunately you really can't know which rouet will work for YOU until you try it out in your place with your gear and all your neighbor's gear

I use the wireless network to link the SB2 and 4 computers. # of the computers are connectoted to the network wirelessly. With certain routers, I was getting lots of drops and low signal strength. My neighbors networks were interferring at certain times of the day. My wireless 2-4 Ghz phone system was causing quite a few problems.

I went to Best Buy and CompUsa and tried out each of the best rated wireless routers by each of the "big" companies. I kept each one for a week. I had lots of trouble with Linksys and D-Link. I has an inexpensive router offered by AT&T that worked better than the $140.00 "gaming" router offerd by D-Link.

On mgalusha's suggestion I tried the Netgear WPN824. I have had no trouble with it. I consistant ly get 88% signal strength a floor and a half away with the SB2.

I guess what I am trying to say is when you get your SB3, I would go to your local Best Buy, CompUSA or Circuit City and buy a router to try out. Make sure you keep the packing and receipt and see how it works WITH YOUR GEAR. Return the routers until you find one that has the least trouble IN YOUR SYSTEM.