ASUS RT-N53 Black Diamond Dual Band Wireless N600 SOHO Router, DD-WRT Open Source support, Fast Ethernet, 5 Guest SSID, Parental Access Time control for $42.99 AR w/FS

can anyone explain why you'd need multiple SSIDs? don't they all run through the same router?

To allow guests to log on without having to give out your password. Also,you can use it to setup separate N and G network so the N devices don't get dragged down by the G devices

You should also be able to set up rules to limit access to the LAN, more restrictive firewall settings and limit bandwidth of computers connected to one of your extra SSIDs. You may also be able to use different encryption methods if you have an old device that doesn't support WPA2, and don't want to have the entire network go back to WEP.

In addition, this is not a feature unique to this ASUS router; any router that can run DD-WRT should be able to broadcast multiple SSIDs.

does this router really support DD WRT?

Quote from bestco : can anyone explain why you'd need multiple SSIDs? don't they all run through the same router?

dual band... say you have a laptop with a 2.4/5ghz wifi card and a desktop with a 2.4ghz card... how are you going to know which band you are connected to? you get more control over which band you are using

guest SSIDs (virtual lan)... ie you can setup your home computers and NAS/HTPC to one SSID... if a guest comes over and needs to borrow your internet you can let him on a guest SSID and he cant access your NAS/data/printer/etc

firewall rules... you can setup the SSID for your home computers to be behind a safe firewall while you put your gaming PC and gaming consoles on another SSID with lax firewall for better online gaming connections and server setups

Quote from godlyatheist : To allow guests to log on without having to give out your password. Also,you can use it to setup separate N and G network so the N devices don't get dragged down by the G devices

What are the differences between this and the Asus RT-N56U?