Need help selecting new router
 

I am not strong in understanding networking and need to get a new router, hopefully someone can provide me with some guidance.
I have an old Linksys WRT54GL and it is failing.
I have a debian desktop, an Xp desktop, some older desktops, a tablet, laptop and Roku. THe debian connects via ethernet and the others via wireless.
I would like to be able to swap in another router with the least amount of effort. I am not interested in flashing new firmware etc on the router.
I have been looking at the Linksys E3200 (n band) and Linksys EA6200 (ac band)

From reading the vendors pages they both seem to indicate the I have to use a windows computer to install the router. I would like to use the Debian computer to setup and manage the router. Would that be a problem with either of those routers?

The EA6200 apparently has the newest AC wireless ban. Does that mean I would also have to buy a special ac band adapter for every wireless access? Can I not just buy a new wifi card with the wireless ac band for the computers that I wish and let the other devices use the g (or whatever) wireless band, at the slower speed?

Which would you suggest and be the easiest to setup? Installing a new wifi cards is not an issue. Do you forsee any problems with either router?

Is there another router that you would recommend that would be very easy to setup and provide better speed than the old WRT54GL?

Thank you very much for any help.
Jerry

bottom line any SoHo WiFi router will have a web interface that ANY OS can access via the web inside your LAN. the easiest way to configure a new router (to change to your personal settings etc...) is to power up the new router, physically connect via ethernet cable 1 computer and NOTHING else.

log into the router (make sure the computer is configured for DHCP) to its default IP: typically 192.168.1.1 or something like that. use the user/pw combo provided by the manufacture.

make your settings, disconnect the old router and power it off, power up the new router and either reboot or restart the network service on your devices. if any are running statics that point to a different gateway you will want to set the new router to match that gateway IP vs reprogramming all of your computers and devices.

Thanks for the help lleb. I will save the instructions.

I agree with lleb that almost every modern router should work with any IP based OS. There are still some issues with ISP provided hardware maybe, but most store bought will or should work. Many you just plug in and go without any need to make custom settings even.

There are some tricks to new routers. Some may require updates or have unique settings like b/g protection set or such but web tends to help you there.

If you want to keep your routers stock OS then many are available. If you want speed it is best to pay extra for the faster models. Faster I mean fast processor, not lan/wan speed. You'd be surprised how much difference a higher end model makes. If you don't care then buy the cheapest.

I like the better models to for more advanced features. Some bogus and some useful. I like the ability to configure wireless so my internal lan isn't directly available and use time of day and day of week settings to limit wireless to only a few hours a day. If you are asleep you don't need some kid trying to hack into your system.

Read also reports of how good the wireless signal is and other problems. Read reports by other users.


You can still get a wrt can't you?

anytime. these are just basics for any SoHo WiFi router.

A lot of routers now come with Windows-based "installation" programs which do little more than have you set up your password and wireless password before connecting you with a router utility. (Really, with a router, you aren't "installing" anything.)

Generally, most of those things can be done through the router's web interface, though, with some routers, it's more difficult than others for initial connection. Since so many Windows users don't know much about security (it's not really the users' fault--security has always been an add-on with Windows), the manufacturers add extra steps to the "install" to lead users to setting up passwords etc. which they don't know to do otherwise.

In so doing, the manufacturers sometimes make attaining initial access through the web interface extremely annoying. (Typical Windows: in trying to coddle the ignorant, they inconvenience the knowledgeable.)

This spring, I set up a Belkin (my Linksys died) and ended up booting my dualboot box over to Windows. It was just easier.

I'm also thinking twice before I get another Belkin.

Thanks frankbell. I never thought about using XP in the dual boot and setting up the router as you suggested.