What broadband routers work really well with SL?

I keep getting packetloss and really high pings whenever my roommates are using the 'net. I have asked them not to use filesharing, etc.

I am told that Linksys routers are sort of "dumb" when it comes to multiple people playing UDP-based games over the same connection. I have a Linksys router, and I think maybe my roommates are playing UT or whatever it is they like at the same time I play SL, and the router doesn't handle this well so I get bad results.

I know that there are people on these forums who have switched routers and been able to play SL without further trouble. What brands have you folks tried, which aren't worth getting, and which are the best? Are there any specific models anyone can recommend (with first-hand knowledge that they work well when multiple users are playing UDP-based games)? Whatever router I go with has to support 802.11b wireless.

I use a Cisco 675 DSL router, fed into a LinkSys befsr41 (if I'm reading it correctly print is small!) 4-port switch. And LinkSys LNE100TX NIC. My switch is NOT wireless, I've heard only bad news about LinkSys's wireless router (which I think is befsr41w or something, like one letter different than my model).

I know linksys has an iffy rep, but I've had zero problems with my setup. I played 3-boxes on EverQuest for >1 year with zero noticable affects due to lag. And typically have a 2nd box running (rarely when playing SL though). Could be something with SL though, it defintely seems pretty bandwidth hungry. I'm often "stuck" flying FlightSim with my nephew (10 year old pilot in the making) and brother and I host the games as well as host teamspeak, with no apparent problems with bandwidth. My "premium" usworst DSL is variable from 256k to 1.5M (up) (I average around 500-650k 99% of the time) so that might matter too if you're DSL limit is low, like my Mom's is (compariable to ISDN :p).

I suspect your roommates are bandwidth abusers and should be beaten liberally with a <2.0, 4.0, 10.0> cube prim.

Boso

edit:
I believe DLINK makes good *wireless* routers. You might look for some reviews. Maybe check out dslreports.com or other hardware sites.

I have a Netgear 4 port switched router (RP614). I was having a lot of issues with it cutting off internet access and just being crappy in general. I installed the latest firmware on it about a week ago and haven't had any problems whatsoever since. My access to everything under any circumstances is now snappy, fast, and overall happy-like.

Many consumer NAT boxes need flashed if they're more than a year or two old, especially if more than one person in your home plays online games frequently.

Stay away, far away from Linksys routers if you plan on having more than one person play Second Life using NAT or if you want your VPN to run reliably.

I have to *kick* my Linksys routers several times a day. It's not worth it. If you have Linksys/Cisco stock, dump it while you still can.

I've got a 3com (USRobotics?) router serving a cable connection up to my two computers, and it's always been wonderful. Cheap too!

Lumi

I've got a DLink router, with DSL connection. I've had no problems with this. It works with my Xbox too.

well if you use the latest linksys firmware huns.. and a little 'creative' wiring.. you can ensure that your computer has higher network priority than theirs does... aka set the QOS value for high priority for the port your computer is connected to... it will do wonders for SL

I don't think this thing supports QOS. I'm pretty sure I would have to bring up a linux box to do any kind of packet shaping. It does have the latest firmware, I saw to that.

I do know that one of my roommates is using BitTorrent. I asked all of them last week not to use filesharing since it eats all the upstream. I really hate having to turn on packet logging, 'cause I don't necessarily want to know what sites they visit, but my hand has been forced. Lately it's so much horse****, I get nasty lag and sometimes even packetloss because of them... then I turn on packet logging, figure out what filesharing service they are using, block those ports... then they figure it out, go to another set of ports... the router only supports blocking of five port ranges.

I'm seriously considering pulling the plug... if they can't respect my rules they can shebang it on dialup for all I care.

Original series SMC 7004BR. Running 1.90e firmware, which was updated last, oh, a couple years ago. No problems for me, though I am probably the only person running UDP apps. Sharing amongst 5 users though.

I have a linksys befsr11 and it cuts out on me 4 or 5 times a day, i have to unplug the power cord and plug it back in to reset it, its using the latest firmware too, i've tried all the different firmwares but its still cant handle UDP on NAT.

I have a friend who has a d'link and she has had 0 problems with it.

Edav what model D'link do you have, I have only heard good things about these routers.

Oh GOD. BitTorrent. They might as call it, Broadband Killer. That'd be a more apt name, really. Yeah, watch your upstream; most ISPs cap upstream somewhere between 128kbps and 256kbps. If you're on a typical provider, it's probably clsoer to 128kbps-- that's 16kB/s up. Hell, the default BitTorrent client can't even be turned below, like, what is it? 12kB/s? It's an absolute connection killer. If your roomie doesn't start using a BitTorrent client that prevents upstream usage and sets a reasonable downstream cap (maybe 256kbps down), you should go ahead and see if you can block BitTorrent ports altogether.

I use a DLink (DI-804) router and don't have a problem. Also, you folks with BitTorrent issues may want to grab a different client, I know mine can limit the upload stream all the way to 0.