LINKSYS WRT54GL (wireless)

My wife wants to go wireless to get rid of the cat5 we have leading to all the rooms, plus we have laptops. I also want the connection to be secure as possible, of course. What do you think of my choices below, security wise?

I did some research and it seems you can upload your own firmware to the WRT54GL router that will give it the robust features of a more expensive router. Anyone here own this router or can comment on it?

I also read that you only want to encrypt it enough to keep the bad people out but not so much to where it slows your connection down. Can anyone elaborate on that, too? (nvmd, just found some tutorials)

LINKSYS WRT54GL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124190

LINKSYS WMP54G

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124115

Thank you