Greetings,
I have a rather complicated setup (for a home network that is), and I?m looking for a router that can handle my needs. I have a DSL connection upstairs with a desktop computer wired directly into my current router. The router has 4 ports, plus antennae for additional wireless access if ever need be. In one of the ports is a 200? long Ethernet cable leading downstairs to a WAP which is used wirelessly by two computers, one desktop and one laptop. In another port is a 75? long Ethernet cable leading downstairs to the other side of the first floor (and another WAP). This connection will likely only be used sporadically, and then only with one wireless laptop. All the computers in the house are running Windows XP. I have a strong feeling that I?m really pushing the envelope for what the typical home DSL/router setup can handle. My current router shut down every time any of the computers tried to use a P2P program to download a very popular file. I think the DSL is also a problem, with so much less bandwidth than a cable connection. Please correct me if I?m wrong there, but I?ve noticed that whenever one computer is doing anything strenuous, the other computers slow down dramatically?often becoming practically useless. Watching streaming video on two of them at the same time is an exercise in futility. I?m hoping that a switch to cable will alleviate some of these problems, but I suspect that without the right grade of router, the problems will persist, regardless of the connection. So I?m looking for a router that can handle some serious use. I?d like to be able to watch streaming video on all of the computers at the same time (if that is indeed possible). My Linksys WRT54G v.5 is clearly not up to the task. I?ve read many complaints about this router?people claiming it doesn?t have nearly enough memory and the fact that it is not upgradeable. But the most serious complaints pertain to the underlying programming language. Apparently, it?s not Linux. It?s some obscure language that is practically proprietary. So firmware authors can?t write fixes for the router?s flaws. Linksys has their own firmware of course, but it doesn?t solve the P2P problem. Seems a little fishy that a huge company like Linksys (Cisco) all of a sudden switches gears and starts producing a mainstream router that can?t seem to handle P2P?and then seemingly bends over backwards to make sure the problem is not cureable. Hmmm. So what will it take for me to stabilize this setup ? Will cable improve things ? (vs. DSL?) What should I be looking for in a router ? (memory ?) Would this setup be too much for a single cable connection ? Finally, are there any recommended sites out there that could help me better understand what I?m dealing with here ? Thanks very much for any assistance you may be able to offer.