finding the perfect (linux based) wireless router...

[tmetro-blu-5a1Jt6qxUNc at public.gmane.org (Tom Metro)]

Bill Bogstad wrote:
> Does anybody have
> experience with a router with the following characteristics:
> 
> 2. 801.11 a/b/g/n
> 3. Linux based firmware with a pre-existing third party development community
> 4. Priced << $100

No experience yet, but there does seem to be a router that matches your
criteria. Last fall when I looked for a router that supports 801.11N and
open firmware, I couldn't find any good options. Recently a Linux
Journal article made me aware of the Linksys WRT160NL, which is
supported by DDWRT and OpenWRT:

http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/linksys/wrt160nl

Can be found for $60 to $80:

http://www.google.com/products?as_q=WRT160NL&num=100&scoring=p&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&price1=&price2=&as_occt=any&show=dd&safe=active

And has at least one site dedicated to hacking it:

http://wrt160nl.org/

Given it has a USB port, it gets put to uses other than being a router,
and probably will supplant the Linksys NSLU2 for things like low-end
storage servers, print servers, etc.

I could see adding a Z-Wave interface and using it as a home automation
appliance. (A true open source equivalent of the Mi Casa Verde Vera
(http://www.micasaverde.com/).)


If I'm not mistaken, I think Netgear has rolled out an 801.11N capable
successor to their open source router platform. Perhaps the WNR854T.
It's cheaper than the Linksys, but has no USB port, and people seem to
be complaining about power supply problems:

http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/netgear/wnr854t

Oddly Netgear seems to be trying harder to embrace the open source
community, while hackers seem to favor the Linksys hardware.

I also find it strange now that 802.11G has moved solidly into obsolete
territory that I've seen the "Linux special edition" WRT54GL promoted at
several stores lately. It isn't promoted as a closeout, though that's
probably what they're doing.


> 1. Simultaneous dual-band operation (2.4 and 5 Ghz)

I doubt either product does. Dual band products seem to cost over $100.

 -Tom

-- 
Tom Metro
Venture Logic, Newton, MA, USA
"Enterprise solutions through open source."
Professional Profile: http://tmetro.venturelogic.com/