Better than Linksys

Author's Rating:

Pros: Good range, stable, pleasing design, DD-WRT compatibility, low cost.

Cons: none

The Bottom Line: 
This is the new standard to beat in consumer grade routers!

Author's Review
The Linksys WRT54G might be the popular standard in home routers, but the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 turns out to be a better alternative.

I've been a longtime fan of the Linksys WRT54G--not because it was great out of the box, but because it could be flashed with the free dd-wrt firmware. You can't do that with a lot of routers. I've installed many dd-wrt modified WRT54G routers in homes and small businesses over the past several years, but I noticed users on the dd-wrt forum have been switching from Linksys to the Buffalo router and raving about how much better it is. So I had to try it and see for myself.

What a surprise!! Range is better, and connections are more stable. The Buffalo uses the same Broadcom chip as the Linksys (which is why dd-wrt works on both), but the addition of an amplifier (the 'HP' stands for "high power") gives it better range than I ever got from a Linksys. Signal strength on all these consumer grade routers tends to wax and wane during use, but the Buffalo's signal strength is more consistent and seems more stable.

I didn't spend a lot of time evaluating the stock Buffalo firmware (because I was going to use dd-wrt), but did happen to notice it was more configurable than the stock Linksys firmware. However, you can leave most of the options at their defaults and it will pretty much work out of the box. Change only what you want, and as you become more familiar with the firmware, you can tweak other options. First and foremost, you're going to want to configure wireless security, but the point is there's not a steep learning curve just to get the router online and working.

The more options there are, the more confusing it can be for a networking newbie, so I wouldn't recommend dd-wrt for a neophyte. On the other hand, I always found the Linksys options too limited, so the options in the stock Buffalo firmware are probably a nice middle-ground for those new to
networking but possessing some technical aptitude. With this router you can start with the stock firmware, knowing that you have the option of switching to more sophisticated firmware as you learn more about networking and routers. Not all routers allow that.

(For those interested in dd-wrt, the firmware upgrade was quick and easy--see section 6.5 of www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation).

The Buffalo's case design is aesthetically pleasing. The Buffalo is physically smaller than the Linksys, and can be oriented horizontally or vertically with a small plastic stand (included). The power transformer is inline between the 2-prong AC cord and the DC plug to the router, which means you don't have a blocky power brick taking up more than its share of power outlets on your surge protector.

The box includes the router, antenna, power supply, vertical-mount stand, wall-mount adapter, and an ethernet cable. There is also an installation CD, but I never use them on any of these home routers. Just plug it in and go. The defaults in the router and in Windows usually work as-is. Open your browser, go to the router's IP address, and tinker with as much or as little of the configuration options as you want.

In recent months I have replaced four aging Linksys routers with dd-wrt modified Buffalos, on both cable and DSL lines, and the owners have been very pleased with the improved performance.

Needless to say, I'll be using more of these Buffalos in the future.