cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Router Purchase Advice

Robskiwarrior
Grafter
Posts: 74
Registered: ‎22-02-2008

Router Purchase Advice

Hi Guys,
I came here for some knowledge - I need a new router, I don't want the plusnet one (sorry guys but they are terrible lol) So some tips would be awesome Cheesy

Main requirements:
ASDL2+
Decent Wireless.
I'm not too stingy but I want to limit the budget to £100 max - so under 100 would be awesome, cheaper the better though Tongue
Anyone got any recommendations?
27 REPLIES 27
HairyMcbiker
All Star
Posts: 6,792
Thanks: 266
Fixes: 21
Registered: ‎16-02-2009

Re: Router Purchase Advice

I can recommend the netgear 3500 series, long (ish) in the tooth now but good wifi and gigabit ports for under £40. (refurb).
Townman
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 22,918
Thanks: 9,536
Fixes: 156
Registered: ‎22-08-2007

Re: Router Purchase Advice

Not so much an answer, but some thoughts for you to help others to assist you...
What is the charateristic of your 'location'?  Big house, thick walls, more than two levels, do you want to be able to use WiFi / BB from the garden?
Media streaming - do you intend to download media / stream media around the house - e.g. to a TV?
Do you have a need for dual band?
Do you want a guest wifi capability?
Future proofing your investment - do you want it to have forward capability for IPv6 / FTTC connection...?

These are the questions which I am considering, in looking for a new router / modem myself, though I do have the additional (specialist) requirement of an in-built Radius server which to date I have not been able to find a product to fulfil.

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Robskiwarrior
Grafter
Posts: 74
Registered: ‎22-02-2008

Re: Router Purchase Advice

What is the charateristic of your 'location'?  Big house, thick walls, more than two levels, do you want to be able to use WiFi / BB from the garden?
Not too big but thick outer walls - just a decent strength would do.  We should be able to get it from the garden where the router will sit anyway.
Media streaming - do you intend to download media / stream media around the house - e.g. to a TV?
Nope - not yet, but again I don't want to skrimp on bandwidth... Cheesy
Do you have a need for dual band?
It would be nice but not a requirement, I like getting the stronger options though.
Do you want a guest wifi capability?
Naaa no need for this Smiley
Future proofing your investment - do you want it to have forward capability for IPv6 / FTTC connection...?
Well I would like something that would last, but do most routers last over 2 years these days anyway? Cheesy
dfunked
Grafter
Posts: 196
Thanks: 6
Registered: ‎15-10-2011

Re: Router Purchase Advice

I can't recommend it personally, but this looks like pretty decent value for money;
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/tp-link-td-w8968-300mbps-wireless-n-usb-adsl2-modem-router-32-99-ama...
offbeatdave
Grafter
Posts: 134
Registered: ‎24-09-2012

Re: Router Purchase Advice

Netgear 3500 working well for me on ADSL 2+
Have custom firmware (amod with modfs) on the router and portable USB HDD which turns it into a mini DLNA server so I can stream to assorted devices such as the XBox 360, WD TV Live, o2 Jogglers etc.
This custom firmware also lets me fiddle with target SNR margin. My official line's target is 6db, but I have the firmware set to run 2.5db below this, which means that in practise it hovers either side of the 3db point with a slightly quicker sync speed (currently 18500kbps).
It seems to maintain it's connection too (currently touching the wooden table and computer desk) - it's now 117 hours since last disconnect/reconnect which was a result of PN line speed updating to match the sync I'd achieved 70 hours previously.
Robskiwarrior
Grafter
Posts: 74
Registered: ‎22-02-2008

Re: Router Purchase Advice

I wouldn't mind going for the custom firmware idea - there are some really nice ones.
I have seen that TP router - I think my father in law has the previous version of the same model.  It works well for him... mmmm
MisterW
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 14,573
Thanks: 5,408
Fixes: 385
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: Router Purchase Advice

There's a new TP Link one due out this month with Gigabit LAN ports and the facility to use one of the LAN ports as a WAN port ( so FTTC capable ).
See here http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=14931

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Robskiwarrior
Grafter
Posts: 74
Registered: ‎22-02-2008

Re: Router Purchase Advice

Mmmm now that is very interesting.... good price too
flaminmoses
Grafter
Posts: 270
Registered: ‎09-02-2012

Re: Router Purchase Advice

thing im looking for right now is advanced QoS options where you can enter values (for upstraem and downstream seperatley) rather than the router having a simplified interface for it.
still want dual band
usb disc options
CX
Grafter
Posts: 750
Thanks: 4
Registered: ‎16-09-2010

Re: Router Purchase Advice

I would have recommended the Draytek Vigor 2850n since it covers the QoS and USB aspects, but the wireless can only do 2.4GHz OR 5GHz; not both simultaneously. I don't know if you need simultaneous dual band. I own a 2850Vn and the QoS and bandwidth capping works very well (even for downstream). With multiple users browsing and/or downloading, the Draytek does a far better job of sharing the available 2Mbps bandwidth than I ever had with my previous Netgear or BT Business Hub. It took a bit of configuring to get the rules set optimally, but it works very well. As for wireless, the range is excellent, but I have had to set mine to 2.4GHz because although I have a few 5GHz devices, I also have several more which can only do 2.4GHz. I haven't tried USB with a hard drive since I am using it for a 3G dongle.
There is also the Vigor 2830n, if you don't need VDSL support directly (with hindsight, I would probably buy the 2830 over the 2850 since I now plan on using the Openreach modem once FTTC arrives anyway). They also have some consumer-targeted models such as the 2750.
You can have a play around with a virtual Draytek router on their web site, to see what features are available:
http://www.draytek.com/user/SupportLiveDemo.php
Robskiwarrior
Grafter
Posts: 74
Registered: ‎22-02-2008

Re: Router Purchase Advice

Virtual router - that's a really nice idea that more companies should use - maybe their firmware would be better then Cheesy
Thanks for the tips - I will check them out Cheesy
flaminmoses
Grafter
Posts: 270
Registered: ‎09-02-2012

Re: Router Purchase Advice

not too fussed about both 2.4 and 5 working at the same time.
can wire up the pc and the ps3 is wired already
will take a good look at that one.
tijara33
Pro
Posts: 1,360
Thanks: 50
Fixes: 6
Registered: ‎22-06-2012

Re: Router Purchase Advice

Smiley My Asus RT-N56U has made an amazing difference to my FTTC speed. I'm now getting my predicted speeds via wirleess 1 floor & 3 rooms away.
flaminmoses
Grafter
Posts: 270
Registered: ‎09-02-2012

Re: Router Purchase Advice

ive currently got the rt-n56u
cant moan too much but need a bit more
the vigor 2850n looks the one