What router do you use in you shop?

Everythingpc

Everythingpc

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Not sure if I'm posting this in the correct area. Been looking for ideas from other shop owners on router choice. I've always used off the shelf routers w/DD-WRT for my own use.

Just moved into a small office/shop w/ Comcast business 22/5mb service. I have a WRT54GL w/dd-wrt that is on it's last leg. Not sure if going dd-wrt is the best bet. Considering RV series Cisco small business, pfsense (on an HP desktop or xeon server??) or something elese? I have a 2008 SBS I use for DHCP and VPN so not necessary on router (or maybe it would be more efficent.

Any input/opinion would be great. Just can't decide what to do. It's easy to rec solutions for others but finding the best device for our use is always difficult ;)
 
depending on the router you can get different speeds

i tried 3 NEW routers and kept the router that gave the best speeds a netgear 3700
 
right now I am using 1 dual antenna Encore unit... no complaints yet... can run up to 4 separate networks and works good esp. for the price (I think my cost was like $35).
 
Thanks everyone! So it looks like most are using off the shelf routers. I've been using a Buffalo Technology WZR-HP-G300NH at home (home office up until Jan 1st). Thinking I might just order another for the office. It is DD-WRT out of the box which is nice and seems to be speedy.

Wasnt sure if there was a better option for us (computer shop/techies) but Im thinking it'll do the job.
 
Off the shelf I use a wrt110 as just an access point. My main router is actually a linux computer with nat running in iptables. This is connected to a 16 port switch. Off my switch I have a cable running from the basement to the living room with the wrt110.

Now on the linux router Im running dhcpcd so I can just hook a windows box up and go. My internet is a residental comcast connection.

Works really well. :)
 
For me, I work out of my house. I rarely bring clients computers back here with me. So, I just use the wireless route that my ISP gave me (I did request a better one). I use DSL for internet, because Comcast horrible around here, and there is no Fios in my town. My main PC and my bench PC are hooked directly to the router. My laptop connects wirelessly. I still have 2 open ports for if I add a NAS or something.
 
We run a linux UTM distro called Untangle. It's running on an HP Proliant DL360, with 6x interfaces. It's running dual WAN, our main connections are on a cable internet pipe with 5x static IPs, and our fallback and some other services are on a busines DSL connection with 5x static IPs. We host quite a few servers, services for clients, our N-Central server, and many VPN tunnels going to clients from our office.

For my home...I am often dorking around with many various linux based distros on my 1U SuperMicro Atom D510 server. If that's not in use, I have a Cisco RV082 and a Cisco e3000 that I flip back 'n forth between, right now actually just running on the e3000.
 
I just upgraded my shop router to a Cisco RV110W, it was $79 at Newegg. Nice router with 4 SSIDs and 4 VLANs. I set it up for one VLAN with 1 SSID to be for the workbench and locked down. Another VLAN and SSID is for my office computers and a 3rd VLAN and SSID is setup for a guest network that is scheduled on only during business hours.

Keeping VLAN isolation turned on minimizes the risk of infections across to my office computers and by explicitly blocking port 25 on the VLAN assigned to the workbench minimizes the risk of getting my static IP on a SPAM blacklist.

If you do get a Cisco RV series router, I recommend that you ensure you have the latest firmware.
 
A Netgrear rangemax as the main ADSL router, then I have a cheap TPLINK wireless router which is also connencted to an 8 port switch in the workshop.

Works perfectly.
 
There are any number of nice things to have and blow your money on. Every purchase competes with all other investments or whether to take that money out of the company as profit. With this in mind I will answer your question.

In 18 years we have not seen fit to invest more than the $49-99 for the current state of the art Linksys, D-link or Netgear router.

I'd recommend that you get a N 300MBPS wireless, 4 port. They allow you to forward different ports to different computers within your shop so you can dedicate a server to FTP or IIS or workstation to handle incoming requests by you to your QB's.

If you are a security buff then you can download one of the specialty free open Linux that are already setup as an internet firewall/gateway and put it on any old recycled single core computer in your office. Just stick a 2nd Nic in it and away you go for free.

If you have plenty of old used equipment which I do being a recycle center you can also setup a server to secure your internal network as well as setup a backup server and a restore or imaging server. We came across some free 2003 Windows Servers and licenses so we played with this using Win OS. But a budget operation can do the same thing with freeware servers.

The main thing I can say for extra complication is that it gives you experience for those customer calls using the same products. The flip side is that it is a bunch of extra work maintaining it. When it works it works great! But the rest of the time, oh well. I am a big supporter of simplicity and KIS Keep It Simple. So we are back full cycle to the $49 netgear router. 10 minutes to setup and you are done with it. Now they allow you to backup the settings on the network in case you have to clear the thing back to factory defaults.
 
Thanks Everyone for your input!

Tony, you hit the nail on the head. Have to remind myself time and time again to keep it simple. You can easily go off the deep end to get the latest and greatest with all the bells and whistles.

Thinking of just going with off the shelf Buffalo Router w/DD-WRT for a little extra control/features ($65 on NewEgg). Has Wireless a/b/g/n and can handle multiple SSIDs/VLANs. Have Server 2008 SBS for my VPN into the office which works.

Want to keep it simple. Less to manage and less equip to power.
 
You got it right! I have been using the same WRT54GS with DDWRT on it since 2006 and I paid $49 for it, I also have a old 8 port switch I use. I use SSL PPTP for a VPN.

I love the Linux box hardware firewall idea haha
 
I use a simple china-made router: TP LINK

It is very cheap and been using it for years. If it broke down, I will happily replace it.
 
I use a Netgear DGND3700 N600 Wireless Dual Band ADSL2+ Modem Router. This goes out to my main office to an 8 port netgear switch to my workshop area.
 
E3000 is a strong router and u can get it for about $60 newegg or less if its on sale! Works better than most $100+ routers IMO and has al the features.
 
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