Looking to upgrade to WRT54GL

Posts: 400 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: May 05, 2005 Posts: 400

Would this be the best router for compatibilty with the PAP2 and also for it's QOS functionality?

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:37 pm Post subject:

Best? Hard to say. There are a lot of good routers out there.

The WRT54GL certainly has my recommendation as a router, though. I have its older cousin, the Linux-based WRT54G V4 (identical to the WRT54GL you are considering). The new WRT54G units are capable enough, but the aftermarket firmware like HyperWRT Thibor or Tomato or DD-WRT are what make the WRT54GL a serious networking contender.

If you get the QoS set up properly (see my self-help pages below), the WRT54GL is a VERY capable router, especially for its relatively low price tag.

Posts: 400 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: May 05, 2005 Posts: 400

Thanks Nate. I will definately use your setup guide specifically for QOS.

Posts: 400 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: May 05, 2005 Posts: 400

I purchased the WRT54GL but haven't experimented with after market firmware but this wireless router has worked flawlessly for a week with no power cycles or adjustments. Wellllll..one adjustments. I had set access restrictions for my teenage daughter and didn't realize I needed to included the other computer and phone adapter. So Sunday morning I was in a panic that the PA was not connected and wouldn't connect until I remember that I had messed with the access restrictions. Removed the restriction and viola![font=Arial] [/font]

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject:

The stock firmware is no slouch, certainly, and you may find it meets your needs. I actually have never run mine with the stock firmware, once I discovered (at the time) HyperWRT Tofu. I then went to HyperWRT Thibor (Thibor basically took the project over), then back to a new firmware written by the author of Tofu called, oddly enough, "Tomato".

OK, so these guys don't have a great marketing department working up cool names for them, but they are very good at making up firmware... Smile

Another popular alternative firmware that many people rave about, but I have never tried, is DD-WRT. DD-WRT is very, VERY feature-rich, but I don't need any more features than HyperWRT and Tomato offer, and DD-WRT is (as you might expect) reportedly somewhat more complex to run.

Posts: 400 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: May 05, 2005 Posts: 400

Once I feel like poking around I might upgrade the firmware but for now I'll take a wait and see if there is something else I might want or use. I wish I had invested in one of these earlier. Great router. BTW your attachment was very helpful.