Wireless performance
RADIUS is (I think) Remote Access (or Authentication) Dial-In User Services. It's username and pbuttword, designed originally for dial-in servers. With pre-shared key (PSK, also known as personal), everyone who access the WAP needs to know-use the same pbuttword. With RADIUS, everyone has their own pbuttword. WPA2-RADIUS (also known as WPA-Enterprise) is for when you've got so many people, you don't want them to share the same pbuttword among themselves.
BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 No. And yes Lets start at the beginning 'swap' (more correctly...
I use Kismet to sniff out my ambient environment. Other tools exist. Everyone has their favorite. I'm sure if you ask "what's your favorite wireless sniffer" in a separate thread, you'll get more responses than you care to read... or you can just read all the ones that already exist.
I'd say put it wherever is convenient and works. I put mine right by my desktop, which happens to be in the middle of my house. I can't comment on software versions. I use a Linksys WAP54G which gives me no problems as it ships, not a WRT model with or without retooling.
I've seen folks who use the WRT54G have problems if they turn off beaconing, which is different from SSID broadcasting BTW. Beaconing (marker packets used to keep the token synchonized) is GOOD. SSID broadcasting is BAD (sort of). Keep beaconing on.
HTH