Do i need to upgrade router?

[97tbird]

We will be moving to a new place soon, and with it, our ISP will probably change to TWC and i plan to get the 15 MBPS turbo boost or whatever package.

Currently i have a an old Linksys WRT 54GL (wireless B/G) with stock FW, and it functions well with the CenturtLink DSL modem...
Rarely I need to reboot it, but i am not sure if it's the router or the actual DSL modem that's misbehaving.

so, with that in mind I have a few "?"s:

(is TWC still DSL or some different 'type' of internet?).

Do I need to upgrade my Linksys ? WIll i see any benefits if i do, even if don't NEED to?

Will it still be okay with TWC's modem? (will there be any potential compatibility
issues?)

 

[dparm]

802.11g has a theoretical maximum of 54Mbps. With typical overhead you might peak at 35-40. Hence your router is still capable of WLAN speeds above what your DSL provider is giving you. No need to upgrade, speed-wise.

Moving to 5GHz (802.11a, or 802.11n 5-GHz mode) will offer improvements in performance in "noisy" areas though.

 

[Quattro Pete]

TWC is cable internet if I'm not mistaken. They'll rent you a cable modem as part of the internet package, or you can buy your own cable modem. That modem will plug right into your existing WRT 54GL, so you don't really need a new router.

 

[dparm]

BTW, buy your own modem. The Motorola Surfboard 51xx is a solid buy. To future-proof yourself, get the 61xx which will later support the DOCSIS 3.0 spec for very high speeds (50-100Mbps and beyond).

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: dparm
BTW, buy your own modem. The Motorola Surfboard 51xx is a solid buy. To future-proof yourself, get the 61xx which will later support the DOCSIS 3.0 spec for very high speeds (50-100Mbps and beyond).

While I have my own cable modem, I'm still not sure if buying your own is always the best solution. He'll pay $60-70 for that 61xx. If TWC charges $3/month modem rental fee, it'll take him 2 years just to break even. And personally, my experience with Motorola cable modems hasn't been that great. They would start conking out within 2 years typically, but maybe this new 61xx is different. But if your rental starts acting up, TWC will just give you a new one. If it's yours, you will have to buy another one.

With that said, I have an older Linksys modem (not DOCSIS 3.0), and it has been working fine for over 5 years now, so in the long run it was worth it to buy instead of rent.

 

[SLCraig]

The surfboard 5100 really is a great modem.
I have had one for years and the thing is ROCK solid. Reboots are never. Only time it ever gets restarted is if the power goes out. And now it's been on a UPS for the last 6-7 months. Best modem I've ever had for sure.

 

[dparm]

My Surfboard 51xx lasted for 6 years. It still worked the day I sold it on Craigslist.

My parents' 51xx is 4 years old. My brother's is 5. They last forever, in my experience.

 

[david_ES2]

I still use a trusty linksys wrt54g bought in 2004, never a single problem. Has the latest linksys firmware. Aside from wireless N i do not see any reason why i would upgrade. Ill use it until wireless G becomes incompatible or obsolete

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: david_ES2
I still use a trusty linksys wrt54g bought in 2004, never a single problem. Has the latest linksys firmware. Aside from wireless N i do not see any reason why i would upgrade. Ill use it until wireless G becomes incompatible or obsolete


Wait until you try 5GHz and have no interference.

 

[beast3300]

I am on Roadruner from TWC and a WRT54GL. Not a single problem. I tried a few other firmwares like Tomato and DDWRT but returned to stock as it seemed the most trouble free. You should be good on that router until it just ceases to function.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: beast3300
I am on Roadruner from TWC and a WRT54GL. Not a single problem. I tried a few other firmwares like Tomato and DDWRT but returned to stock as it seemed the most trouble free. You should be good on that router until it just ceases to function.


What's your CPU usage on the router like when running torrents?

 

[97tbird]

Thanks guys...

I will try it and see - from what you guys have said, It should continue to work well with the TWC modem.

The modem is included in the TWC package monthly rate, anyway, so I'll just use whatever they include - as long as it works with the WRT 54GL that's fine with me.

 

[beast3300]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: beast3300
I am on Roadruner from TWC and a WRT54GL. Not a single problem. I tried a few other firmwares like Tomato and DDWRT but returned to stock as it seemed the most trouble free. You should be good on that router until it just ceases to function.


What's your CPU usage on the router like when running torrents?


From what I remember it was low. I think what caused my problems was it logging activity for all connected on the router. About once a month I had to unplug the router for 30 seconds.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: beast3300
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: beast3300
I am on Roadruner from TWC and a WRT54GL. Not a single problem. I tried a few other firmwares like Tomato and DDWRT but returned to stock as it seemed the most trouble free. You should be good on that router until it just ceases to function.


What's your CPU usage on the router like when running torrents?


From what I remember it was low. I think what caused my problems was it logging activity for all connected on the router. About once a month I had to unplug the router for 30 seconds.


I ask because NAT is a real CPU hog, and the more bandwidth and connections (hence the mention of torrents) you use, the more CPU it sucks back.

I could peg my Cisco 1841 at 18Mbit, that was 100% CPU.

 

[nleksan]

Oh man, I can't wait to see the excited posts on here once people start picking up Dual-Band b/g/n routers...

I went from a WRT610N draft-N router to a Linksys E4200 w DD-WRT and wow! I love the gigabit ethernet ports, the fact that my throughput is now over 275Mbs from my bedroom (modem-Cat6Ecable-E4200) which is on the second floor furthest east room of the house, to the furthest west side of my house on the first floor (house is >6000sq*ft counting finished basement where home theater is, and that alone has six WiFi/LAN-ready devices). Before, I was lucky to get 10Mbs at same spot with a better wireless card.
I should be getting my Asus N66 dual-band 450+450 router in a day or so according to tracking number, and in the same box are 3 +12dBi gain omni dual-band antennas to swap for the stock 5dBi gain ones. The router is brand new, and only a few reviews so far, but all very positive.
I am in the process of overhauling home network to be full-signal strong throughout the house for the 12-15 devices on at any one time, which so far means a Moto Surfboard DOCSIS3.0 cable modem, the new Asus router, 250ft total Cat5A and E cable, an ethernet over powerline 500Mbs adapter and two receivers plus one EoP WiFi AP, 2x 600mW Dual-Band N WAPs/Repeaters/Amplifiers, the E4200 which will become 1st floor router, and a media station hub plus 8port GbEth switch for home theater. It is a lot of work, took six months to get the right stuff chosen, but it will be worth it I think.

Go with the E4200 if you want the best price/performance ratio. It can be had on the egg for as little as $140 plus you get a $20 gift card.

 

[Vikas]

What kind of pipe do you have to the rest of the world? What is the sustained throughput of a DOCSIS3.0 cable modem?

 

[tmorris1]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: david_ES2
I still use a trusty linksys wrt54g bought in 2004, never a single problem. Has the latest linksys firmware. Aside from wireless N i do not see any reason why i would upgrade. Ill use it until wireless G becomes incompatible or obsolete


Wait until you try 5GHz and have no interference.

Depends on where you are. In rural areas there is no interference. Bad thing with 5Ghz in is the range. The higher freqs are more directional and don't penetrate walls as well.