What's a good Access Point for FMS Lite?

[terbos]

I've been running two off-season events each year for the last 7 years. On the transition to the new (current) FMS in 2009, I built a network setup with all the pieces except for the expensive WTR610N access point. (The access point alone cost more than the rest of the pieces combined.)

At my events, I always managed to find a team with a WRT610N in their kit which I could borrow for the field. Over time, this has become increasingly difficult to do.

At my most recent event (SCRRF Fall Classic), I tried to purchase and use a DLink DIR-815, but it didn't work reliably. Robots would constantly connect and disconnect from the AP, making the game unplayable. Fortunately, one of the teams in attendance just happened to have a WRT610N with them so the day was saved.

Moving forward, I'd like to get a reliable AP in my FMS kit.

Questions for the group:
1) Is it possible to configure the DIR-815 to work reliably for an event? Maybe I just didn't have it set up correctly. (I was on 5GHz, wide, auto-channel)
2) Is there a recommendation for a replacement for the WRT610N? I tried to locate a refurb one for sale, but they're really not available any more. Is there another currently available AP that is known to work in a competition environment? There are plenty of APs for sale, but I don't want to choose randomly and get bit again like I did with the DLink.

Thanks,
Terry