The linksys WRT54GL is a great wireless router firewall. The GL model will load www.dd-wrt.com | Unleash Your Router Linux firmware which is free. The DD WRT firmware has a lot more options including overclocking, power adjustments and security. At $60 the WRT54GL has been compared to much more expensive Juniper firewalls Amazon.com: Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router (Compatible with www.dd-wrt.com | Unleash Your Router
+1 on D-link. Mine has been faultlessly running for 5 years. DIR 655 running on D-Link software via an XP box.
I have used dd-wrt on my routers for the past 5 years. Nice extras. Then again, I'm a firmware tweaker who has tried to get linux running on his toaster
DD_WRT is garbage compared to TOMATO http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato - I used it while I was in Iraq, and managed more than 30 users. You can completely control the bandwidth per user, and you have total control over the router, whereas DD-WRT is seriously lacking. If you doubt me at all, then please try the Tomato Firmware and see for yourself. I am a 100% Polarcloud fan. ANd the WRT54GL is awesome.
First thanks for your service in Iraq. Many consider the WRT54G-TM to be better than the WRT54GL because it has twice the memory and will load the DD WRT Mega Bin file. I will post after I load my WRT54G-TM with the DD WRT image. WRT54G-TM The WRT54G-TM (TM stands for T-Mobile) is also called the T-Mobile "Hotspot@Home" service. It allows calls to be made via T-Mobile's GSM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:GSMLogo.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5d/GSMLogo.svg/190px-GSMLogo.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/5/5d/GSMLogo.svg/190px-GSMLogo.svg.png network or via WiFi Generic Access Network - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Uma_handset_on_wifi.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/73/Uma_handset_on_wifi.JPG/300px-Uma_handset_on_wifi.JPG"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/7/73/Uma_handset_on_wifi.JPG/300px-Uma_handset_on_wifi.JPG (UMA), using the same telephone and phone number (a special dual-mode phone designed for the service is required e.g. BlackBerry Pearl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/Fileearls_002.jpg" class="image"><img alt="Pearls 002.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3b/Pearls_002.jpg/200px-Pearls_002.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/3/3b/Pearls_002.jpg/200px-Pearls_002.jpg). Additionally, once a call is in progress, one may transition from WiFi to GSM (and vice versa) seamlessly, as WiFi signal comes and goes, such as when entering or exiting a home or business. A special router is not needed to use the service, but the T-Mobile branded routers are supposed to enhance the telephone's battery life. This is the only known tweak to the TM version of the firmware. The hardware appears to be like WRT54GL however has 32MB ram and 8MB flash. The WRT54G-TM having a serial number that starts with C061 has these specifications: Broadcom BCM5352EKPBG CPU 32 MB RAM (Hynix HY5DU561622ETP-D43) 8 MB Flash (JS28f640) That is one of the very cool thing about the many of the Linksys WRT series is how Linksys cooperates with the development of 3rd party firmware. Most of us do not admin a network of over a half dozen users much less 30 if we did Tomato or one of the others listed below may be our choice. Major Projects DD-WRT - Based on OpenWrt code. Paid and free versions available.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference">[1]</sup> (Linux kernel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:NewTux.svg" class="image" title="Tux"><img alt="Tux" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png/GNU General Public License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ambox_scales.svg" class="image"><img alt="Ambox scales.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png) FreeWRT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg/28px-Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/9/92/Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg/28px-Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg.png - Experimental firmware based on OpenWrt. Gargoyle Router Firmware - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Gargoyle_logo.png" class="image"><img alt="Gargoyle logo.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/Gargoyle_logo.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/8/8b/Gargoyle_logo.png - A web interface for OpenWrt that places a strong emphasis on usability. Features include an AJAX interface, dynamic DNS, QoS, bandwidth monitoring and access restrictions.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference">[2]</sup> (Linux kernel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:NewTux.svg" class="image" title="Tux"><img alt="Tux" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png/GNU General Public License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ambox_scales.svg" class="image"><img alt="Ambox scales.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png) OpenWrt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/Filepenwrt-8.09_RC1-screenshot.png" class="image"><img alt="Openwrt-8.09 RC1-screenshot.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c7/Openwrt-8.09_RC1-screenshot.png/250px-Openwrt-8.09_RC1-screenshot.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/c/c7/Openwrt-8.09_RC1-screenshot.png/250px-Openwrt-8.09_RC1-screenshot.png - Customizable firmware written from scratch with a JFFS2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia file system for package management aimed mostly toward advanced users.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference">[3]</sup> (Linux kernel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:NewTux.svg" class="image" title="Tux"><img alt="Tux" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png/GNU General Public License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ambox_scales.svg" class="image"><img alt="Ambox scales.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png) Sveasoft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Paid and free versions available. Latest versions available via subscription.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference">[4]</sup> Tomato (firmware) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Tuxt.png" class="image"><img alt="Tuxt.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Tuxt.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/f/f2/Tuxt.png - HyperWRT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg/28px-Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/9/92/Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg/28px-Free_Software_Portal_Logo.svg.png-based firmware. Features advanced QoS as well as Ajax (programming) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Scalable Vector Graphics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:SVG.svg" class="image"><img alt="SVG.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/SVG.svg/200px-SVG.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/c/c7/SVG.svg/200px-SVG.svg.png graphs. The Tomato Manual is available at Wikibooks. (Linux kernel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:NewTux.svg" class="image" title="Tux"><img alt="Tux" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png/GNU General Public License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ambox_scales.svg" class="image"><img alt="Ambox scales.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png) X-Wrt - Extension of OpenWrt with a web-management console<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference">[5]</sup> (Linux kernel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:NewTux.svg" class="image" title="Tux"><img alt="Tux" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/b/b0/NewTux.svg/50px-NewTux.svg.png/GNU General Public License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ambox_scales.svg" class="image"><img alt="Ambox scales.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png) Minor Projects AutoAP — AutoAP is an add on to DD-WRT that allows routers to continuously scan for and connect to open (and predefined WEP) wireless networks. BatBox — RAM based distribution for experimenting, does not change firmware. Bluebox — Automatic open Internet scanning and bridging software that runs on WRT54G with OpenWRT. [1] ChilliSpot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Captive portal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia software that runs on WRT54G and other platforms, available under GNU General Public License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ambox_scales.svg" class="image"><img alt="Ambox scales.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/5c/Ambox_scales.svg/40px-Ambox_scales.svg.png. Coova - OpenWrt based but with focus on Wireless Hotspot functionality. EarthLink - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="image"><img alt="Question book-new.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png's IPv6 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ipv6_address_leading_zeros.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Ipv6_address_leading_zeros.svg/300px-Ipv6_address_leading_zeros.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/7/70/Ipv6_address_leading_zeros.svg/300px-Ipv6_address_leading_zeros.svg.png Firmware — IPv6 feature added to original Linksys firmware (beta-test version). EzPlanet — Enhanced firmware based on DD-WRT v24 and including Layer 2 Load Balancer. FON - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:FON_Logo.svg" class="image"><img alt="FON Logo.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bc/FON_Logo.svg/199px-FON_Logo.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/b/bc/FON_Logo.svg/199px-FON_Logo.svg.png - ChilliSpot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia-based worldwide Hotspot network. After unsuccessfully attempting to develop a version that supports 2 SSIDs (one private, one public), FON abandoned the WRT54G series, and now distributes a router called La Fonera, which does support 2 SSIDs. Freifunk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Freifunk.net.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Freifunk.net.svg/220px-Freifunk.net.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/c/c9/Freifunk.net.svg/220px-Freifunk.net.svg.png - German software supports wireless mesh networks with Optimized Link State Routing Protocol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/Filelsr-hello-packet.png" class="image"><img alt="Olsr-hello-packet.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/Olsr-hello-packet.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/b/bb/Olsr-hello-packet.png, based on OpenWrt. HotSpotPA - Captive portal hotspot system with credit card billing, based on OpenWrt.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference">[6]</sup> Meraki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Mesh Networking Wifi AP developed thru Roofnet project, based on OpenWrt. Neighbornode - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia OpennetFirmware - Firmware based on OpenWrt and parts of Freifunk. PacketProtector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - OpenWrt-based security distribution that includes IDS, IPS, VPN, and web antivirus capabilities. Tarifa — Based on stock WRT54GL firmware.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference">[7]</sup> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TinyPEAP - Secure wireless authentication feature added to Linksys firmware. UseMyNet - Captive Portal and Hotspot software that runs on OpenWrt. WiFi-Box - No documentation available as of January 2006.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference">[8]</sup> WiFiDog Captive Portal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Computer-globe.svg" class="image"><img alt="Stub icon" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d1/Computer-globe.svg/38px-Computer-globe.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/d/d1/Computer-globe.svg/38px-Computer-globe.svg.png - WiFi Dog by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ile_Sans_Fil, a Captive Portal software that runs on the OpenWrt platform. WifiTastic — Hotspot solution for home or small business use. Features credit card billing. Runs on the OpenWrt platform.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference">[9]</sup> Wirds.net A project which uses Freifunk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Freifunk.net.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Freifunk.net.svg/220px-Freifunk.net.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/c/c9/Freifunk.net.svg/220px-Freifunk.net.svg.png firmware with ChilliSpot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia captive portal and worldspot.net authentication.
Great links, stg58. Thanks! And let us know how that TM router works out in the long run. A lot of the new routers have failed under my watch, having used more than a dozen, but the WRT54GL never failed. Of course, the added features of the TM look promising. I may have to test one out some day. Maybe some day DD-WRT will actually have a QOS which works well enough to warrant another go, but I am probably going to stick with Tomato.
I loaded up the TM version with the mega version of DD wrt and it works about the same as the L version with more features and options But I am a bit of a memory hound so if 1 is good 4 is better..... So I have a ready spare if needed.