Just to add to that NEVER NEVER flash your router with a firmware IF it does not fix security vulnerability'(s) it's just not worth Bricking your Router for added features that do not fix security vulnerability'(s)

just me 2 cent thought on flashing your router

Umm Doc don't you mean WPA2?

WEP in all of its iterations has been antiquated and completely useless for many years now.  For instance I can crack a "WEP-secured" network in litereally seconds.     Attempting to crack a WPA-secured network however could take months if not years (depending on the type of key used, the beacon broadcasting setup etc. etc.)

Also,  Wireless watcher and programs like it will only give you that much info if the "offending" systems are set up correctly.  In other words systems with netbios disabled and employing other spoofing tactics might even show up on that list as a partial duplicate of your own system.  The guys that know what they're doing will find it easy to hide from such programs, and in my experience those are really the only people who are any danger to your network in the first place.

EDIT:  Damn, right behind you Dr. Guy......hehe.   FYI WPA can also be hacked (certainly not as easily/quickly as WEP but it's really only WPA2 which is considered secure at all these days).

Few thing I notice in this thread:

WPA2 is easily cracked, take a look at WPA2 GFX cracking.

Flashing to a DD-WRT firmware is something you do want to do, it will add a ton more options for securing and monitoring your network, remember flashing your firmware will ANY FIRMWARE UPDATE will run the risk of bricking your device, same thing as flashing a bios/efi anyone that says different is just wrong, keeping in mind QC with regards to the developer. I have flashed back and forth between router firmware custom and stock with no ill effects many times but I do know and realize the risks, for me it is worth it, I mean it is a cheapo router. It happens.Google Flashing Firmware.

Recommending a 300-500 router for home use is ludicrous, I understand what you are trying to say but stop and think most ppl spend from 300-1000 on a  home system, do they need a router like that? No overkill, plus TBH do you think the average user will know how and use the features that they are spending the extra money on? IMO doubtful.

Good read for those that need it though really, since most ppl have no idea whom is on their networks. Secured or otherwise.

My typo. Meant WPA/2.

Flashing - only after software update, and is irreversible. Should ONLY be done if WPA/2 is NOT available after the software update.

Probably a good recommendation in theory and for those who can afford it, but also probably out of reach for most folks...

Agreed IF there is a need, does the average userall this? No the average user surfs the net , reads FB and emails, does some light gaming and utube or streaming, these are the facts. Sure there are user that use more or less but on average.

do you need a 500 PSU? No you dont. And personally I would love to see some specs and reviews on a500 bones PSU.

Do you NEED a 500 dollar UPS? No There are plenty of decient APC for a avarage home system runs half that at best.

Do you NEED a 500 monitor? Again while it is nice No you do not need to spend 500 on a monitor

Do you NEED to spend 500 on a GPU? Again no since we are taling avarage I feel pretty safe to say most ppl do not spend 500 on a GFX card.

Do you NEED to spend 500 on a CPU? Again no

Personally I feel this thread was for the average user, not what some would call a power user, ect, ect but for average users, do average users need all this? Again NO, Does the average user need a 500 router? Again No, you dont try and sell a Sports car to a family of 5, you sell them something they can use that isnt going to break the bank.

And TBH I break almost all your criteria Jafo so I have no problem with spending cash on a system, just that most wont or will have no need.

Case

Lian-Li PCX-2000

PSU

Seasonic X-850

CPU

2600K @ 5Ghz

Heatsink

Cooler Master V-10

Mainboard

Asus P67 Sabertooth

Memory

4x4GB Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3-1600

VGA

 2x Asus 6970 DCII in crossfire

Storage1

Corsair P64 SSD

Storage2

5x WD 500GB Blue / 2x WD 1.5 Green

Display

Dell U2711

Grr the internet written word does not always convey what you are trying to say....

I was not in a anyway implying anything about the forum just those that would benefit the most out of this thread/app/discussion.

The posting of my rig was not for validation DR but merely to convey that I personally dont have a problem with spending that amount of money on a computer but that MOST ppl will not. Just as for MOST pl a 500 router is not the thing for them, it doesnt mean they dont they do but thats why they are targeting business and enterprise not home users.

I personally think that's a little overkill - there are some good routers in the $100-$200 range that are good for inexperienced folks (imo anyway), but I am curious, what routers in $300-$500 price range would you recommend?  And why?  You certainly have more experience than me.  Thanks!

@Pacov

Quick example?  D-Link DSR-500N  (around $300) and is one hell of a robust entry-level router/firewall for any small business.  Why would I buy it?  Because its hardware is actually capable of leveraging some of those "security features" talked about earlier in this thread (it can use intrusion detection definitions which can be automatically updated),its hardware won't be overwhelmed by having to deal with inspecting multiple concurrent connections, its various security features can be tailored to a specific use and not only on or off, it has multiple WAN ports so you can load-balance it or have WAN failover (say you're like me and have connections to 2 ISP's because you don't trust the 99.99% uptime with either) and it's not too complex to be configured by the average joe.  Perfect for the average joe in fact!    

@Everyone

What I never understood is that people figure on spending around $500-$1000 bucks on a computer that will eventually hold all of their family photos, all of their personal correspondence, be the connection-point to all of their online financial dealings and yet spending between $300-$500 bucks to help protect all of that?   Hell no!   bullocks!  Seriously........if people want to use the el cheapo $60 Best Buy sale deal-o-rama to protect their networks so be it.  I'm just telling it how it is....

Sigh.......

Since a router is also just a very basic computer running some software why spend more than $40 on your actual home computer?  To say "price has nothing to do with how good the router security is" is so flagrantly ignorant on the subject of routers and security I don't really know what else to say that I haven't already said previously in this thread.

Cost most certainly impacts the type/quality of hardware in your home computer as it does the hardware used in a router (the hardware which is used to run its security software).

Therefore cost most certainly impacts how well (if at all) your home computer or in this example a router can perform its duties.

I cannot give more explanation as to why I've made the suggestions I've made than I've already posted in previous replies to this thread.

Let's see, my closest neighbor is a mile away and between the gate and the dogs, you can't get within a half mile of my house...do you think I need to secure my wireless?

So?  Next you're going to tell me that that $40 router can also use that software in the same way and to the same effectiveness as the $300 router.  Really......I think you might also want to go buy some farmland near Chernobyl with that kind of logic. 

You keep missing the point.  While you may be able to get a $40 router to accept the same software a more robust router comes with, you will not ever get that $40 router to actually use that software properly and to the same capacity to which the $300 router is designed to operate it at.  Meaning, you may be in fact handicapping your $40 router as it will start dropping packets, or just passing packets through anyway because the shitty hardware in it can't actually DO what you are telling it you want it to do.  How can you not be understanding what I'm trying to tell you?!?