D-Link (DIR-825) vs Netgear (WNR3500L)
Note: “time flies”, other models, fixed problem, or new ones. But the requirements are still the same:
- reasonable price
- 2.4GHz N is a must, and 5GHz range will be a nice option
- 4 (four) bars of signal behind 2 walls
- Gigabyte local network connection if you have a few computers or any multimedia device connected to the local network or Internet
Year old story was:
If you have Windows 7 and Linux computers on the local network and you would like to share resources between them, but MAC address of your wired or wireless card is not started from 00… you might have a problem.
Reading overview, it seemed to be the perfect solution: “The D-Link® Xtreme N™ Dual Band Gigabit Router (DIR-825) uses dual band technology (2.4GHz & 5GHz) … This allows you to check e-mail and browse the Internet using the 2.4GHz band while simultaneously streaming High-Definition (HD) movies and other media on the 5GHz band”.
In theory, the idea, itself, is great: to separate wireless traffic when your kinds are on-line and you need to do something at the same time. But, there are few problems:
- In the real life, I have never seen five bars on my dual-band card (5GHz) and was loosing a connection just two dry-walls behind (15…20 feet).
- (minor) additional software is required to use USB devices.
- The router does not see any upgrades on the server, so if you are not lucky and did not get the router with the-latest-the-greatest firmware, you will never know about it until you visit the manufacturer’s web site.
- Well, if you did not upgrade your firmware, you might waste hours or days trying to figure out why you cannot ‘reserve’ IP address for your computers, or why it’s possible for one network card but not for any. Finally, you will learn on Internet, that this router have had this problem with MAC address for months and the upgrade might help you to solve this problem
- Do not think, that all your problems are left behind: Linux computer will not be accessible from Windows computer having the network adapter with the “wrong” MAC address.
Quick solution was only to look for another router. So minimum requirements were:
- Price below $100
- Must be Gigabit wired and N-wireless networks
- Nice-to-have USB
