For a techie like myself, I tend to prefer devices which are less of an all-in-one design. These devices though reduces the clutter you may have, but makes the situation more restrictive when you want or need an upgrade. You’ll end up having to either find a new device which has all the functions, or you’ll need to start to break them up.

This is especially true for my home broadband connection. I don’t like to use an all-in-one modem/router/wifi device. Although I don’t have a choice to use one provided by my ISP,  as I need it for the VOIP function it provides, but I still use another router to perform the routing function.

So, I have a 2wire 2700HGV-2, it’s a VOIP/WIFI/DSL Modem/Router rolled into one. I only use it for the VOIP and DSS Modem function. For Router, I use a Linksys WRT54GL (with a 3rd party firmware hack).

Don’t trust my 2700HGV-2 to do everything, as it ends up hanging every other day. With this combination, my overall setup runs more stable. And on top of that, I have a great router that does a lot more.

How about giving you a day by day chart on your internet usage volume, a realtime chart on your network & internet traffic, or the ability to create more SSID for your home WIFI network, for those times when a friend visits, needs to have internet access on his iPhone, but you want to only grant him “guest” access? These are features of commercial routers which are at the cheapest, several hundred dollars.

The Linksys WRT54GL costs under S$88 and DD-WRT (the 3rd party firmware) is free! [donation to the developer is available if you like the firmware]

You just need to download and re-flash the firmware and you’ve upgraded your S$88 router to be capable of features found in a US$399 router!

I’ve been using DD-WRT for a few years now, and I totally like the stability and what it can do for me. In fact, one of my main reasons that I encourage my friends to use it is to setup bridged wireless networks.

My next upgrade to my router will definitely a router capable of running DD-WRT, and provides good wireless N performance.