Drop outs and poor signal with Plusnet router. But ASUS unreliable?
I recently swapped out the Plusnet router.
Whilst the signal range was reduced from my old ADSL modem/router, I wouldn't describe it as particularly poor range. What caused me the most problems was that wireless stations would simply drop out and I would have to reboot the router to get them to connect again. Now whilst this may not seem like a big deal, it's annoying when I want to use my iPhone to control the sky box, or home cinema system and they aren't "on the network" anymore. Strangely, this issue only seemed to affect equipment that was always connected by wireless, such as the sky box etc, but the transient devices, like cell phones, that frequently left WiFi range then reconnected later didn't suffer the same issues.
When it got to the point that I was spending more time rebooting the router than actually using it, I went hunting for a new router.
I looked at the Asus, couple of Belkins and some Netgears. I wanted to get the Netgear R6250 AC1600 which PC World had on offer at the time for £129 (it's dropped again since then). This router had Gigabit ethernet, in addition to AC wireless, which would have been perfect for Apple devices in use. However, the PC World I was in, had only one in the shop, which had been previously purchased and returned because it was "Not suitable". PC World deemed that they could slap a sticker on it saying previously owned (good, happy with this) but then still ask full price for it - not even so much as a fiver off for a damaged box.
I'm sorry, but I don't pay full price for an open box - regardless how long it may have been open for.
I finally settled on a Netgear WNDR3799 router, which has dual band WiFi (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz) and 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, perfect for what I needed, although I don't get the AC additional speed for the Apple devices. Picked it up at the same PC World, in a sealed box, for £70, although it seems to be up at £90 at PC World now. Prices at Amazon start at around £60.
Have to say the network here has been faultless since I installed it. No wireless stations dropping off the network and the range is about where it was on my DG834G ADSL router. If I'm honest, I like Netgear routers. The user interface, whilst it has been updated, still feels familiar and easy to navigate. If I have to level one single complaint at the router, it is that the user interface does not render in Safari on my Mac and I had to install Firefox to manage the router. Other than that, I'm really pleased with the £70 investment, it's a big improvement on the free router.
Whilst the signal range was reduced from my old ADSL modem/router, I wouldn't describe it as particularly poor range. What caused me the most problems was that wireless stations would simply drop out and I would have to reboot the router to get them to connect again. Now whilst this may not seem like a big deal, it's annoying when I want to use my iPhone to control the sky box, or home cinema system and they aren't "on the network" anymore. Strangely, this issue only seemed to affect equipment that was always connected by wireless, such as the sky box etc, but the transient devices, like cell phones, that frequently left WiFi range then reconnected later didn't suffer the same issues.
When it got to the point that I was spending more time rebooting the router than actually using it, I went hunting for a new router.
I looked at the Asus, couple of Belkins and some Netgears. I wanted to get the Netgear R6250 AC1600 which PC World had on offer at the time for £129 (it's dropped again since then). This router had Gigabit ethernet, in addition to AC wireless, which would have been perfect for Apple devices in use. However, the PC World I was in, had only one in the shop, which had been previously purchased and returned because it was "Not suitable". PC World deemed that they could slap a sticker on it saying previously owned (good, happy with this) but then still ask full price for it - not even so much as a fiver off for a damaged box.
I'm sorry, but I don't pay full price for an open box - regardless how long it may have been open for.
I finally settled on a Netgear WNDR3799 router, which has dual band WiFi (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz) and 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, perfect for what I needed, although I don't get the AC additional speed for the Apple devices. Picked it up at the same PC World, in a sealed box, for £70, although it seems to be up at £90 at PC World now. Prices at Amazon start at around £60.
Have to say the network here has been faultless since I installed it. No wireless stations dropping off the network and the range is about where it was on my DG834G ADSL router. If I'm honest, I like Netgear routers. The user interface, whilst it has been updated, still feels familiar and easy to navigate. If I have to level one single complaint at the router, it is that the user interface does not render in Safari on my Mac and I had to install Firefox to manage the router. Other than that, I'm really pleased with the £70 investment, it's a big improvement on the free router.
