So my family is looking for router suggestions. We currently have a Linksys WRT300N and quite frankly, it's a piece of crap. I think my parents fall into this whole "latest, greatest and fastest" thing so having an N-band router would be nice.

We're also a pretty internet-intensive household. Here's a rundown with all the stuff we have:
- one desktop, connected through ethernet
- one Toshiba Satellite A100, connected through wireless
- one Macbook Pro, connected through wireless
- one Macbook, connected through wireless
- one D-Link DVG-1120 VoIP gateway, connected through ethernet

All of this is going through one Motorola SB5101 cable modem, thanks to Rogers internet.

The main problems we're having is the signal constantly dropping out, then the Macbooks usually have troubles getting an IP assigned when coming out of sleep (or after the connection dropped out). Sometimes this downtime ranges from a few minutes to a few hours.

Suggestions?

as of late i don't recommend anything but linksys. odds are if you were configure the router you could make do with the one you have now.
we've been running the WRVS4400N with no problems and the giga-bit Ethernet is pretty sweet too

If the Toshiba works fine over wireless but the Macs don't I think you've found your problem. In my experience Macs are always crappy with wireless, it's even documented they don't support all modes and encryption types.

I have the cheapest, crappiest D-Link wireless router you can buy and the only device I ever have problems with is my ibook. It has the same problems you are seeing if it connects at all.

Other than that, try changing channels (use Netstumbler to find out which ones your neighbors are using) and make sure you are using TKIP if you have WPA on.

Actually, I just realized the Toshiba uses the ethernet as well, but I'll toy around with the wireless to see how it is.

But yeah, I've heard crappy things about Apple's wireless too.

ive had good luck with my linksys WRT54G.

i wouldnt got using 802.11N quite yet. keep in mind that IEEE has not yet ratified 802.11n and it is therefore not a solid standard. the WiFi Alliance has started certing n-series chips BEFORE the protocol standards track has completed. bad idea IMO. the world does not need malfunctioning/insecure wireless gear floating around. on top of that, many of the 'n' chipsets still have other issues.

just heard something about osx and a recent bug that was fixed with an update. are you having problems transfering files from system to system by any chance? always seems to cut out at the same spot?

Gigabit speeds are incredible. I got almost 4x the speed of my previous previous router when I replaced it with a gigabit. But wireless-n is not necessary yet. It has a MUCH broader range than the G band, but its wireless speed can only be fully utilized by another computer using a wireless-n device. I would recommend getting a wireless-g with gigabit routing, unless you want to be future-proof or money isnt an issue.

I always found that wireless routers kinda sucked mainly cause of the weak signal transmission. I always bought real access points mainly for the much better output power and options. I've been running a D-Link 2100AP for 3-4 years without any problems whatsoever. The damn thing NEVER crashes, has some very nice configuration possibilities, and the output is great. My exterior walls are think brick and i'm in my neighbors back yard and my signal reception is great. It gives approx 1/4 watt output stock and with little modding can push 1/2 watt.

My boyfriend runs a D-Link WBR-2310 router along with a Linksys HGA7S 7dBi antenna and the combo is disappointing. The 2310 is not a bad router, it has a nice interface and seems stable, but even with the antenna attached, the output it still far superior on my 2100AP. However, I have sold a lot of the 2310 and very little have come back so far (in a one year period).

One of my friends runs a WRT54G and I do firmly believe that it's an extremely shitty router. The fucking thing overheats with the wireless on as soon as you ask a little too much from it. It was really funny cause when his patio door was open it would work fine but when we closed it, it would crash. Although, he did flash it with openWRT and it has been much MUCH better but I still think it sucks.

Posted by Professor Chaos One of my friends runs a WRT54G and I do firmly believe that it's an extremely shitty router. The fucking thing overheats with the wireless on as soon as you ask a little too much from it. It was really funny cause when his patio door was open it would work fine but when we closed it, it would crash. Although, he did flash it with openWRT and it has been much MUCH better but I still think it sucks.

thats brutal.

i think linksys has quite a bit of QA deviation. we use linksys voip MTAs at work and the quality seems to be inconsistent at best. ive rarely had to reset my WRT54G. i had an original linksys 4-port NAT router that lasted 6 years before succumbing to one too many power flashes. the replacement was a combo wireless+NIC, kind of a half-assed WRT router. it sucked large. constantly needed to be reset (so i gave it to my sister, hah!) from there i bit the bullet and bought the WRT54G and have had zero problems since.

ive actually had poor experiences with dlink and ovislink equipment. and i wont allow anything branded smc or belkin in my house. ive ping flooded microsoft NAT equipment into bricks. punishing equipment is FUN!

ive said it before and i will say it again. IPCOP. its free and very functional. there are addons for it that will make the system do anything you want from content filtering to using it to put in a public wifi antenna and keeping your internal network secure at the same time

PFSense is also a good option.