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[kidego71]

First of all...I guess I should have come here before I ordered it.  I always do research before I buy and this was no exception.  EVERY review I read gives it great to outstanding marks!  Based on that I bought it from Newegg and it should be here Monday.  I am replacing a Linksys WRT160N that NEVER works correctly and Ive only owned it for about 2 months..NOTHING can be as bad as my current router.  I have been on the phone and PC chat with Linksys so many times its crazy..and it still doesnt work.

Now some questions I have for any mods that are here :
First...I have read that I should update the firmware first...before I try to install it on my network..is this correct?  What FW version should I be looking for...
Which frequency is best?  I have an Xbox 360 (wired) PS3 (wireless)Wii(wifi)a Dell XPS 710 desktop(wireless) an Alienware M15X laptop and a Dell XPS Studio 1340. I also have  Brother wireless all in one printer.
I do not have a cordless phone...do I set it for 2.4 or 5ghz?  Seems that people are getting  better results with 5ghz.
After reading all the complaints on this forum, it makes me wonder how this thing got such high marks with reviews...but there are millions of people in the world..and noone has the same set up..there are too many variables.
Thanks for any help =)

[pittaman]

The Wii is a B/G only device - It CAN'T do 5ghz.... Must to 2.4...

That being said, you can run a mixed mode, but your N performance will suffer... I run the router I replaced (wrt54g) as a G access point with a diffrent SSID, that way I can have a 2.4ghz G connection, and an N only 5ghz connection.

Also - Not all N adapters are Dual-Band... Make sure when using 5ghz that your adapter supports it!

[anon]

First of all...I guess I should have come here before I ordered it.  I always do research before I buy and this was no exception.  EVERY review I read gives it great to outstanding marks!  Based on that I bought it from Newegg and it should be here Monday.  I am replacing a Linksys WRT160N that NEVER works correctly and Ive only owned it for about 2 months..NOTHING can be as bad as my current router.  I have been on the phone and PC chat with Linksys so many times its crazy..and it still doesnt work.

Now some questions I have for any mods that are here :
First...I have read that I should update the firmware first...before I try to install it on my network..is this correct?  What FW version should I be looking for...
Which frequency is best?  I have an Xbox 360 (wired) PS3 (wireless)Wii(wifi)a Dell XPS 710 desktop(wireless) an Alienware M15X laptop and a Dell XPS Studio 1340. I also have  Brother wireless all in one printer.
I do not have a cordless phone...do I set it for 2.4 or 5ghz?  Seems that people are getting  better results with 5ghz.
After reading all the complaints on this forum, it makes me wonder how this thing got such high marks with reviews...but there are millions of people in the world..and noone has the same set up..there are too many variables.
Thanks for any help =)

...hmmm, well best of luck.

[kidego71]

The Wii is a B/G only device - It CAN'T do 5ghz.... Must to 2.4...

That being said, you can run a mixed mode, but your N performance will suffer... I run the router I replaced (wrt54g) as a G access point with a diffrent SSID, that way I can have a 2.4ghz G connection, and an N only 5ghz connection.

Also - Not all N adapters are Dual-Band... Make sure when using 5ghz that your adapter supports it!

I also ordered the Dlink Extreme N adapter.  Ive never had luck with mixing products so when I replace the router I replace the adapter as well.
Thanks for the info.  Can you address any of my other questions by chance?

[pittaman]

Wanna post a link to the adapter you bought?

I made the mistake of buying the Xtreme N PCI card, only to find out that the damn things isn't dual band, so my 5ghz N was useless... I had to buy a Netgear USB adapter... I hate Netgear....

[Syaoran]

Updating the firware in the router should only be done if you have issues with it.  Your best bet though would be t just return it and buy something else.  This router is an absolute nightmare.  Gaming and packet loss over WiFi make you hate this device. 

[Puffnstuff]

Yeah you should apply for an rma the moment the package arrives at your door and send the router back to newegg unopened.  You're still going to take a 15% hit for restocking but that is better than being saddled with a crappy unit like the 4500.  Then you should spend some time researching the user forums for whatever model you might be considering for purchase BEFORE you buy.

[Syaoran]

Don't RMA it if at all possible!  I'm on my second replacement (which is an A2) and I still have packet loss issues and the WiFi kicks devices off every 24 hours.  You can definitely notice the significant drop in signal strength with the 1.2x firmwares as well.  The last guy I talked to from their RMA department tried to get me to take a DIR-655 as a suitable replacement for my DGL-4500.  There's no way I'm taking an $80 less product as a replacement (I consider this insulting).  I also explained to him the DIR-655 has almost all of the same issues as the DGL-4500.  I'd ask for a DIR-855 but those don't seem much better off either.  Personally, I'd gladly bite the 15% restocking if I could send it back for a refund. 

[kidego71]

Wanna post a link to the adapter you bought?

I made the mistake of buying the Xtreme N PCI card, only to find out that the damn things isn't dual band, so my 5ghz N was useless... I had to buy a Netgear USB adapter... I hate Netgear....

Its http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=656.dualband.and seems to be precisely for THIS router.  Does anyone have horror stories for this too.

I think it sucks that you guys have had all of these problems. If I have the problems listed here, I wont be in any worse shape than I am now...looks like it will just be more of the same. This Linksys router/adapter is complete trash.

[anon]

This place has some decent info on things network related --> http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/

Also the DIR-655, 825, 855, and DGL-4500 share a lot of the same h/w and f/w. So it would come as no surprise that all seem to have similar problems.

[kidego71]

Ok...so I got my router today...it is the A2 version with 1.12 FW....should I leave it be, or update the F/W before I get started?

[Puffnstuff]

http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=5580.0

[kidego71]

http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=5580.0

So I guess that is a no then.  With respect, Im not reading through 17 pages 

[kidego71]

Well installation and connection went without a hitch.  Everything (360,PS3,Wii,Laptops,Printer) all connected flawlessly....NOW the only issue Im having is my gaming..playing WoW Im getting an average latency of 700!  Thats worse than my ****py Lynksis router...its gotta be something on my end...any suggestions?

[anon]

Does the game suggest on certain ports needing to be open?