Broadband Router Selection in England

Hi,

My friend will back to England. She will join BT broadband. Which
broadband router can be installed to make the connection? Linksys,
Netgear or ONLY BT Voyager XXXX?

I have some questions. In HK, broadband MODEM and router are
separtely provided by ISP. How about UK? Are they integrated? Which
mode is used in UK? PPPoE? Thanks!

Ming

In message <(E-Mail Removed) >, Ah Ming
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
> My friend will back to England. She will join BT broadband. Which
>broadband router can be installed to make the connection? Linksys,
>Netgear or ONLY BT Voyager XXXX?
>
> I have some questions. In HK, broadband MODEM and router are
>separtely provided by ISP. How about UK? Are they integrated?

Usually yes...

> Which
>mode is used in UK? PPPoE?

.... because the UK (with a very small number of exceptions) uses PPPoA,
which can't be bridged to an external router.

There are ways you can use a separate modem and router, but unless you
have a particular reason for wanting to do so, they're best avoided in
my opinion.


We use G.DMT Annex A (ADSL over POTS) in the UK - as I said, usually
using PPPoA.

The choice of equipment is much wider than you mention - ZyXEL and
Westell produce some excellent gear which is, in my opinion, well worth
a look.


I would also reconsider BT Broadband - assuming you mean that rather
than the BT Yahoo service (which is, in my opinion, better but still
rather poor). There are plenty of other ISPs offering service over the
BT Wholesale network with, in my opinion, often more attractive
packages. BT Broadband is a 'no frills' service which has a usage cap
and doesn't provide any mail services.

If you go to ADSLguide <http://www.adslguide.org.uk> and particularly
the forums there, there is lively discussion of ADSL ISPs and equipment.



David
--
David Wood
(E-Mail Removed)

nothing wrong with using separate modem and router, and is very easy to set
up.


"David Wood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:K7zN$(E-Mail Removed)...
> In message <(E-Mail Removed) >, Ah Ming
> <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>> My friend will back to England. She will join BT broadband. Which
>>broadband router can be installed to make the connection? Linksys,
>>Netgear or ONLY BT Voyager XXXX?
>>
>> I have some questions. In HK, broadband MODEM and router are
>>separtely provided by ISP. How about UK? Are they integrated?
>
> Usually yes...
>
>> Which
>>mode is used in UK? PPPoE?
>
> ... because the UK (with a very small number of exceptions) uses PPPoA,
> which can't be bridged to an external router.
>
> There are ways you can use a separate modem and router, but unless you
> have a particular reason for wanting to do so, they're best avoided in my
> opinion.
>
>
> We use G.DMT Annex A (ADSL over POTS) in the UK - as I said, usually using
> PPPoA.
>
> The choice of equipment is much wider than you mention - ZyXEL and Westell
> produce some excellent gear which is, in my opinion, well worth a look.
>
>
> I would also reconsider BT Broadband - assuming you mean that rather than
> the BT Yahoo service (which is, in my opinion, better but still rather
> poor). There are plenty of other ISPs offering service over the BT
> Wholesale network with, in my opinion, often more attractive packages. BT
> Broadband is a 'no frills' service which has a usage cap and doesn't
> provide any mail services.
>
> If you go to ADSLguide <http://www.adslguide.org.uk> and particularly the
> forums there, there is lively discussion of ADSL ISPs and equipment.
>
>
>
> David
> --
> David Wood
> (E-Mail Removed)

In message <i7zad.300$(E-Mail Removed)>, Piers James
<nospan-(E-Mail Removed)-nospam> writes
>nothing wrong with using separate modem and router, and is very easy to set
>up.

Do you want to qualify that any more?


PPP Half Bridge mode on Conexant based kit upsets some routers that
don't like the very short DHCP lease they're given. You can work round
that if you have a static IP address, but it's not perfect.

The D-Link and X-Modem ADSL modem products don't work with some routers.

Using a separate no-NAT router works fine, but you need a routed IP
block to get this to work.

Westell kit offers various modes that allow you to use public IP
addresses on the LAN side, but in at least some, the firewall doesn't
work.

Double NAT is best avoided as it can make port forwarding, setting
firewall rules and accurate interpretation of firewall logs difficult or
impossible.


This is why I said it's probably better to avoid a separate modem and
router unless you have a good reason to run in that configuration (such
as wanting or needing a particular router that doesn't have an
integrated modem, and being prepared to track down and implement a
solution that works with that router).



David
--
David Wood
(E-Mail Removed)

Ah Ming wrote:
> Hi,
>
> My friend will back to England. She will join BT broadband. Which
> broadband router can be installed to make the connection? Linksys,
> Netgear or ONLY BT Voyager XXXX?
>
> I have some questions. In HK, broadband MODEM and router are
> separtely provided by ISP. How about UK? Are they integrated? Which
> mode is used in UK? PPPoE? Thanks!
>
> Ming

BT broadband (the ISP) is separate from BT (the phone company). You can
get ADSL on a BT (the phone company) lines from many different ISP's,
including BT broadband (the ISP).
Which to choose depends on her needs from an ISP and view on paying up
front charges.
With some ISP you can use your own choice of equipment, so you have what
you want.
Any UK ADSL kit works on BT lines.
Combined router/modem/firewalls are the consensus choice around here and
from the usual brands, cheaper and often supplied by ISP's as a bundle
are USB modems.

We are PPPoA not PPPoE

Bill

David Wood <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<+(E-Mail Removed)>...
> In message <i7zad.300$(E-Mail Removed)>, Piers James
> <nospan-(E-Mail Removed)-nospam> writes
> >nothing wrong with using separate modem and router, and is very easy to set
> >up.
>
> Do you want to qualify that any more?
>
>
> PPP Half Bridge mode on Conexant based kit upsets some routers that
> don't like the very short DHCP lease they're given. You can work round
> that if you have a static IP address, but it's not perfect.
>
> The D-Link and X-Modem ADSL modem products don't work with some routers.
>
> Using a separate no-NAT router works fine, but you need a routed IP
> block to get this to work.
>
> Westell kit offers various modes that allow you to use public IP
> addresses on the LAN side, but in at least some, the firewall doesn't
> work.
>
> Double NAT is best avoided as it can make port forwarding, setting
> firewall rules and accurate interpretation of firewall logs difficult or
> impossible.
>
>
> This is why I said it's probably better to avoid a separate modem and
> router unless you have a good reason to run in that configuration (such
> as wanting or needing a particular router that doesn't have an
> integrated modem, and being prepared to track down and implement a
> solution that works with that router).
>
>
>
> David

Can You provide any model number of broadband router from Linksys or
other providers? Thanks!

On 11 Oct 2004 23:27:25 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) (Ah Ming) wrote:

> Can You provide any model number of broadband router from Linksys or
>other providers? Thanks!

"combined ADSL modem/router" is the phrase to look out for

http://www.linksys.com/international...ist.asp?coid=6 if you
like Linksys, specifically
http://www.linksys.com/international...oid=6&ipid=181 which
is the BEFDSR41W (you can add wireless to it). The AG041 is a simpler
version
http://www.linksys.com/international...oid=6&ipid=537

Netgear DG814, Zoom X3 or X4 etc etc. Ebuyer SAMR-4110 ADSL Router is
cheap at Ebuyer.com

Several ISPs provide a free USB modem which is fine for one PC.

Phil
--
spamcop.net address commissioned 18/06/04
Come on down !

On 11 Oct 2004 23:27:25 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) (Ah Ming) wrote:

>Can You provide any model number of broadband router from Linksys or
>other providers? Thanks!

I have a low opinion of the following review but it's probably better
than nothing:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=456

Take absolutely no notice of any of the prices quoted as these are
utter rubbish and in some cases are almost double what the units sell
for. The reviews are far too short to offer any in depth analysis of
the equipment but the overview of features is quite good and it gives
you some idea of who is making what.

One other thing to bear in mind is that these models are all wireless
(I couldn't find a review of the non-wireless variants) and this may
not be a requirement in your case. However, if it is I would also
caution against taking too much notice of the wireless performance
ratings since they only test line of sight throughput. For instance I
chose between two units described, the Belkin and the Netgear. The
Belkin appears to have (considerably) better throughput, as amply
demonstrated by that site. However there is also a real world. If I
was going to be 2m from the unit I'd not be using wireless - I need
more freedom and that means walls and floors get in the way. The
above review neglected to include this minor fact. The information
below suggests that the tables are turned considerably when walls come
into play with the Belkin getting only a 13% signal behind two walls
compared to the Netgear's 60%.

Since where I usually work from (in the dining room) only gets about
60% from the Netgear the Belkin would be almost unusably slow.

--
Wireless router percentage of detectable signal

Router
1st Wall
2nd Wall
4th Wall

Belkin F5D7630UK4A
80%
13%
0%

Netgear DG834G
100%
60%
26%

Wall 1 comprises double brick construction with bathroom tiles

Wall 2 comprises of double brick construction with kitchen tiles

Wall 4 is the next measurable point, due to an old coal bunker between
walls 3 and 4.

The total distance between the first and last measuring point is
around 6m and shows the problems that can exist in a brick building
when using wireless. Therefore the common advice of locating the
wireless router centrally is very important if you want good coverage.
--

On 12 Oct 2004 in uk.telecom.broadband, Phil Thompson wrote:

>Netgear DG814, Zoom X3 or X4 etc etc. Ebuyer SAMR-4110 ADSL Router is
>cheap at Ebuyer.com

There's also a range available to purchase from www.solwise.co.uk and
Dabs (www.dabs.com), and some (dated) reviews on www.ADSLguide.org

(I take it back - I see a couple of wireless units have been reviewed
after a gap approaching a year... I'd have thought the suppliers would
be falling over themselves to allow ADSLguide etc to review equipment!)

On 12 Oct 2004 in uk.telecom.broadband, Simon Pleasants wrote:

>Belkin F5D7630UK4A
> 80% > 13% > 0%

Does that mean you've already sold/returned the Belkin ? Peter M.