Linksys WRT310N Wireless N Router
So in July, Fred purchased a new wireless router (Linksys WRT310N) for use with Comcast’s high speed internet. Having had used Linksys routers with VoIP for many years, Fred remained confident that the new model would perform nothing less than “awesomely.” Bottom Line: Fred was wrong.
When first installed, the Linksys performed well. Speed tests indicated downloads of 6 – 8 MBs and the wireless N router provided excellent range. Transfer speeds between wireless devices were excellent, VoIP devices performed well, and the 4 ethernet ports allowed non-wireless devices to integrate nicely.
Sometime around October, the home network started to act less that satisfactorily. The internet would randomly become accessible to only certain devices, the wireless signal would randomly “die,” and most annoyingly, the speed of the Internet became significantly slower (as in less than 1MB down and and around 1MB up).
As with most networking issues, the problems can be attributed to many sources. With the exception of Internet speed, most problems would immediately be resolved after rebooting the Linksys router. At first, Fred incorrectly thought that Comcast was to blame for the slow speeds… and yes, it was an incorrect thought. To test this, the modem was connected directly to a device; bypassing the Linksys. Download speeds topped 15MB.
Apple Airport Extreme
After switching back and forth and reproducing results consistently, the connection speed through the Linksys never topped more 1.5MB down. No matter what settings were modified, the speed simply did not increase.
Enter the Apple Airport Extreme (imagine Fred really emphasizing “Extreme,” kind of like Dan Cortese from MTV Sports… and yes it’s an early 90’s reference). With the exception of the iPhone, Fred has been very happy with Apple products. Although the Airport Extreme has only 3 ethernet ports, the router does have a USB port and built in support for USB printing and/or shared drives (with a USB hub, you can do both). The Linksys does not natively support printing or shared hard drives.
Set-up was simple, although different than the Linksys. And, all techs know, different is never a day in the park. That being said, very simple, very quick, and up and running within 5 minutes. Connecting an ethernet switch to one of the Airport’s ethernet ports allowed additional wired devices to connect at Gigabit speed.
Oh, the download? The Linksys WRT310N would hit the wall at 1.5MB. The Airport Extreme? 20MB down, 3MB up.
Speed Test from SpeakEasy.net
Pingback: Fred Posner
15MB download speed with a directly connected modem and 20MB with the Airport Extreme, wow it must amplify the ISP signal! -.-
Pingback: Fred Posner
I noticed the same thing pff. Total bs. While the Airport Extreme is a great router, I don’t know of any router that will actually amp the signal from the ISP.
Pingback: Fred Posner
Cmon guys, you understand the spirit behind the article…I have this router and it absolutely sucks, and the % of degradation is much better with the apple product. Any argument to that main point? or still stuck on the silly details that he got the speeds mixed up
No problems with the WRT310N, 18-20Mb/s down on Comcast using speedtest.net, same as my old WRT54GS. I don’t know how they measure that, since the peak download is supposed to be 12Mb/s according to Comcast, whatever. Anyways, products don’t always age gracefully, and there’s always lemons, even Apple makes lemons sometimes *smile*.
-Roger
Pingback: Fred Posner
Checking back, after going through 2 of the WRT310N routers, I’ve given up. Too many “invalid URL” errors that require a reboot to clear. If it weren’t for that I’d still have one. Definitely fast enough, but I think that Linksys’s Version 2 firmware has some problems.
Ended up with a Dlink DIR-655, pure pleasure after the Linksys to just click on URL’s and not wince. Fine throughput, wireless works well. And I get the gigabit LAN ports, wireless n, and it is stable. No reboots, just works.
Good luck to you if you have a WRT310N, Version 2…
-Roger
Pingback: Fred Posner
Linksys is the worst of the worst. Who normal is still using that piece of junk? And have you tried calling support when you need some help? Yes, you’ll have to wait until they patch you to Djibouti and then you’ll spend additional half hour trying to understand what they’re trying to say. Nothing is as flawed as Linksys, eat it. Why do you have all those third party Linksys firmwares all over the internet (potato and bunch of others)? Because, the one that’s put originally into the device sucks ass, that’s why. Stay away from Linksys!
the WRT310N SUCKS ASS as mentioned here. I have had the stupid piece of crap for a year and have had constant problems. In particular, it cannot maintain a wireless connection of any reasonable speed for more than 30 minutes. I have comcast at 16M but over the last couple of months, have never been able to sustain a wireless connection. It constantly drops to about .5M after about 30 minutes. Also is great fun trying to stream music from a common iTunes library…download files from my office etc. This thing will take a sledge hammer to the heart as soon as I snag a new NON-LINKSYS product. BTW, their product support sucks ass too. I was told that if I had lied and told them a fake date of purchase I would have gotten support. But, since I guessed at my purchase date, they would not assist. Once I found my receipt, my guessed date was proved correct and within the warranty period. So, as per their request, LIE to them and they will help. Great business practice isn’t it?
I too have had Linksys routers in the past (IN THE PAST). A couple of different ones actually. I have slowly migrated to Apple (iMac, MacBook Pro, etc). When I could not get adequate signal strength about 50 feet away, I looked into the Apple Airport Extreme. Much more expensive ($180) but, whoa – well worth it. Easy to set up and fully signal strength wherever I go on my property (and at the neighbors down the street). Linksys don’t live in my house anymore!!