Help me out here. Should a router always suck away my bandwidth?

[Kane Knight]

I've got a pretty nice connection for the price (read, maximum for what I'm willing to pay), but behind my router, even with nothing else connected (Normally there is stuff, but I'm moving everything in, so pieces are coming in one or two at a time), the time to do even simple things slows way the fuck down.

It's a D-Link Router I picked up when my old router died (DI 624), and it's wireless, but I can't imagine wireless soaking up over half my bandwidth. Actually, when I shut the wireless broadcast off, it was unaffected. So I really doubt that.

So should it really be affected by a router?

Is there a decent option for me that won't do the same?

[Silent]

Try a speed test with and without the router plugged in, see how much of a difference there is. Honestly the router should make very little difference if it's just your computer using the connection.

[Vietnamese Crippler]

I agree with Silent, the router shouldn't eat away any bandwidth and even if it does, it should be miniscule.

And I never trusted D-Link anyway :p

[Kane Knight]

Try a speed test with and without the router plugged in, see how much of a difference there is. Honestly the router should make very little difference if it's just your computer using the connection.

That's how I knew I lhad less than half my bandwidth.

[DS]

Router shouldn't really affect performance unless things connected to it are sucking your bandwidth.

My DI-624 had little problems when I had it and I was using old firmware but when I upgraded the firmware it was pretty horrible.

[Kane Knight]

Any recommendations on a better router (Preferably, one that's relatively inexpensive and works with Nintendo WFC)?

[DS]

Linksys WRT-54GL is the best out there. If you use DD-WRT firmware (open source firmware) for it, which is easy to switch to, you can pretty much get like a $600 quality router out of it.

Make sure it's the GL version though.

[Kane Knight]

But basically, here's the deal:

I've checked my bandwidth with and without the router, and it's significantly different. With my router, for example, it takes forever for a page to load even without other devices using if I'm running utorrent. Fair enough, but sans router, my web browising goes a shitload faster with uTorrent running. I can, for example, still watch videos on youtube, stream music, etc., with no problems.

My bandwidth, while I don't remember the exact numbers, was something like 3 times faster under identical circumstances, the only factor being the router.

[DS]

My DI-624 had a horrible time with torrents when I had the newer firmware. Even with it tweaked for better uTorrent performance it's still crap. If you're really looking for a new router definitely get the WRT-54GL with DD-WRT firmware. You can up the signal output if you need longer range, or decrease if that's the case, change pretty much every setting needed, and the best is the Quality of Service where you can specify what things get higher priority of your bandwidth. So, if you wanted your torrents to get more bandwidth when that's running, you can set it to uTorrent, or even just your IP/MAC address. Good for gaming when the Wii comes up with some good online games too.

It's only like $60 most places. Probably could find it cheaper too.

[Xero]

Just to jump in here for a second, what exactly are the advantages of the DD-WRT firmware? I've heard it's good and have been considering upgrading.

[DS]

Pretty much the amount of options. It gives you just about any option you can want to tweak, like I mentioned earlier with the transmitting power (helps boost wireless signal), quality of service, wireless distribution system, RADIUS, overclocking abilities, etc.

Really, if you have a router that can be changed over to DD-WRT, you should do it. It only improves on what you're already using and doesn't make anything any harder. Here is a good guide on some tweaks for it if you're interested: http://lifehacker.com/software/router/hack-attack-turn-your-60-router-into-a-600-router-178132.php

[Kane Knight]

My DI-624 had a horrible time with torrents when I had the newer firmware. Even with it tweaked for better uTorrent performance it's still crap. If you're really looking for a new router definitely get the WRT-54GL with DD-WRT firmware. You can up the signal output if you need longer range, or decrease if that's the case, change pretty much every setting needed, and the best is the Quality of Service where you can specify what things get higher priority of your bandwidth. So, if you wanted your torrents to get more bandwidth when that's running, you can set it to uTorrent, or even just your IP/MAC address. Good for gaming when the Wii comes up with some good online games too.

It's only like $60 most places. Probably could find it cheaper too.

I upped the firmware because of problems I was having: Now everything seems to be solved, except it now gives me frequent "A network cable is unplugged" messages. I'm really dissatisfied with this router, and I'm rather thankful I didn't pay an arm and a leg.

Also, my Wii can't seem to connect anymore, but that may be the Wii's fault, I'm not sure (It's fucking up in unrelated ways).

So I'll probably check out your rec.

[DS]

Yeah when I first had it, with old firmware, I had no problems with it. I would always get good speeds on everything. Then one day I figured I'd upgrade and I had nothing but complaints from then. I know what you're going through.

[Kane Knight]

Makes it easier to diagnose my problem, I guess.

Any reliable online shops you'd recommend? I normally go Tigerdirect for computer shit.

[Kane Knight]

Also, when I looked there, I saw "Open Source Linux version."

As a total idiot, is this what I'm looking for? I'm running XP, but I don't know if that even matters in this case. Does it just mean the firmware uses Linux, or....

[DS]

DD-WRT is based around Linux so that's what you're looking for. Won't cause a problem with your computer.

For shops, I would suggest NewEgg, Amazon (it's where I got my router with rebate and discount but I don't usually order from here unless there's a good deal), ZipZoomFly, or mwave. Just a couple off the top of my head.

NewEgg is going to be giving you the best price right now at $61.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833124190