Decent modem/router for ADSL2/2+

Hi

After my recent question about the compatibility of my old router with an
ADSL2/2+ connection, it turns out to be a moot point as the said router will
now not connect at all. In fact, its syncing LED flashes at the normal rate
to start with, then slows down and eventually stops. Even the 4-port switch
part has stopped working. It is an ex-router!

So, for about £50 (maybe a bit more) what is a decent ADLS2/2+ router with
4-port switch, wireless not required? Perhaps with a good long line length
sensitivity. Definitely one that shows router stats (my even older Netgear
DG814 doesn't do this).

So far I'm looking at:
ZyXEL Prestige 660HW-T1
NETGEAR DG834G
Linksys AG241
Billion BIPAC 5200

> After my recent question about the compatibility of my old router with an
> ADSL2/2+ connection, it turns out to be a moot point as the said router
> will now not connect at all. In fact, its syncing LED flashes at the
> normal rate to start with, then slows down and eventually stops. Even the
> 4-port switch part has stopped working. It is an ex-router!
>
> So, for about £50 (maybe a bit more) what is a decent ADLS2/2+ router with
> 4-port switch, wireless not required? Perhaps with a good long line length
> sensitivity. Definitely one that shows router stats (my even older Netgear
> DG814 doesn't do this).
>
> So far I'm looking at:
> ZyXEL Prestige 660HW-T1
> NETGEAR DG834G
> Linksys AG241
> Billion BIPAC 5200


Consider spending a bit more and look for a Draytek 2800 on eBay. The basic
version without wireless fetch around £60.00 and is superior to any of your
shortlist. Note that the 2600 series don't support ADSL 2+.

Peter Crosland

"Grumps" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi
>
> After my recent question about the compatibility of my old router with an
> ADSL2/2+ connection, it turns out to be a moot point as the said router
> will now not connect at all. In fact, its syncing LED flashes at the
> normal rate to start with, then slows down and eventually stops. Even the
> 4-port switch part has stopped working. It is an ex-router!
>
> So, for about £50 (maybe a bit more) what is a decent ADLS2/2+ router with
> 4-port switch, wireless not required? Perhaps with a good long line length
> sensitivity. Definitely one that shows router stats (my even older Netgear
> DG814 doesn't do this).
>
> So far I'm looking at:
> ZyXEL Prestige 660HW-T1
> NETGEAR DG834G
> Linksys AG241
> Billion BIPAC 5200

I've been using some Edimax routers recently, and these are very good value.
For example see:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=584405

These provide:

1) DDNS client - so you can always find out your ISP-dynamic address from
elsewhere.

2) Access control option - so that you can nominate those IP addresses from
which you want to allow remote access (good for security!)

3) Port forwarding - so you can specify which application you allow to
communicate with the "home" computer.

4) DHCP pool summary - so you can identify the internal computer for which
you wish to set up port forwarding

.... as well as all the basic features you would expect.

Many more expensive routers miss out on some of these features.

It would be nice for it to have a built-in ping facility so it could test
connectivity to a local PC, for example.

VPN support would be nice, but a little too much to ask for £18.99 plus VAT,
I think.

--
Graham J

"Graham J" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4854d987$0$10638$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Grumps" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi
>>
>> After my recent question about the compatibility of my old router with an
>> ADSL2/2+ connection, it turns out to be a moot point as the said router
>> will now not connect at all. In fact, its syncing LED flashes at the
>> normal rate to start with, then slows down and eventually stops. Even the
>> 4-port switch part has stopped working. It is an ex-router!
>>
>> So, for about £50 (maybe a bit more) what is a decent ADLS2/2+ router
>> with 4-port switch, wireless not required? Perhaps with a good long line
>> length sensitivity. Definitely one that shows router stats (my even older
>> Netgear DG814 doesn't do this).
>>
>> So far I'm looking at:
>> ZyXEL Prestige 660HW-T1
>> NETGEAR DG834G
>> Linksys AG241
>> Billion BIPAC 5200
>
> I've been using some Edimax routers recently, and these are very good
> value.
> For example see:
> http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=584405
>
> These provide:
>
> 1) DDNS client - so you can always find out your ISP-dynamic address from
> elsewhere.
>
> 2) Access control option - so that you can nominate those IP addresses
> from
> which you want to allow remote access (good for security!)
>
> 3) Port forwarding - so you can specify which application you allow to
> communicate with the "home" computer.
>
> 4) DHCP pool summary - so you can identify the internal computer for which
> you wish to set up port forwarding
>
> ... as well as all the basic features you would expect.
>
> Many more expensive routers miss out on some of these features.
>
> It would be nice for it to have a built-in ping facility so it could test
> connectivity to a local PC, for example.
>
> VPN support would be nice, but a little too much to ask for £18.99 plus
> VAT,
> I think.

Thanks.
I guess I should've mentioned that VPN and port forwarding are essential.

"Peter Crosland" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> After my recent question about the compatibility of my old router with an
>> ADSL2/2+ connection, it turns out to be a moot point as the said router
>> will now not connect at all. In fact, its syncing LED flashes at the
>> normal rate to start with, then slows down and eventually stops. Even the
>> 4-port switch part has stopped working. It is an ex-router!
>>
>> So, for about £50 (maybe a bit more) what is a decent ADLS2/2+ router
>> with 4-port switch, wireless not required? Perhaps with a good long line
>> length sensitivity. Definitely one that shows router stats (my even older
>> Netgear DG814 doesn't do this).
>>
>> So far I'm looking at:
>> ZyXEL Prestige 660HW-T1
>> NETGEAR DG834G
>> Linksys AG241
>> Billion BIPAC 5200
>
>
> Consider spending a bit more and look for a Draytek 2800 on eBay. The
> basic version without wireless fetch around £60.00 and is superior to any
> of your shortlist. Note that the 2600 series don't support ADSL 2+.

Thanks.
I'll look at the Draytek models.
What features have they got that are superior to my, growing, list?

>>> After my recent question about the compatibility of my old router with
>>> an ADSL2/2+ connection, it turns out to be a moot point as the said
>>> router will now not connect at all. In fact, its syncing LED flashes at
>>> the normal rate to start with, then slows down and eventually stops.
>>> Even the 4-port switch part has stopped working. It is an ex-router!
>>>
>>> So, for about £50 (maybe a bit more) what is a decent ADLS2/2+ router
>>> with 4-port switch, wireless not required? Perhaps with a good long line
>>> length sensitivity. Definitely one that shows router stats (my even
>>> older Netgear DG814 doesn't do this).
>>>
>>> So far I'm looking at:
>>> ZyXEL Prestige 660HW-T1
>>> NETGEAR DG834G
>>> Linksys AG241
>>> Billion BIPAC 5200
>>
>>
>> Consider spending a bit more and look for a Draytek 2800 on eBay. The
>> basic version without wireless fetch around £60.00 and is superior to any
>> of your shortlist. Note that the 2600 series don't support ADSL 2+.
>
> Thanks.
> I'll look at the Draytek models.
> What features have they got that are superior to my, growing, list?


A comparison of the various Draytek models is here.

http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/comparison.html

They really have unmatched facilities and quality as far as home/small
business are concerned. Unless you want to go to the expense and
complication of something like Cisco you will not find anything better.
Added to the fact they are easy to set up and have a knowledgeable user
group.

Peter Crosland

Grumps writes:
> > Consider spending a bit more and look for a Draytek 2800 on eBay. The
> > basic version without wireless fetch around £60.00 and is superior to any
> > of your shortlist. Note that the 2600 series don't support ADSL 2+.
>
> Thanks.
> I'll look at the Draytek models.
> What features have they got that are superior to my, growing, list?

I wouldn't recommend a Draytek 2800. I have a Draytek 2800VG, and it's a
dog on ADSL2+ (Be). I have the Draytek, a Speedtouch 585v6 and 780WL,
Billion 7300G, and a Sky-branded Netgear DG834GT with the UberGT
firmware.

The DG834GT outclasses all the others - better sync speed, superb line
stability (I'm on an extremely short line - about 100-150 meters) - I
can't remember the last time it resynced, it's probably been months now.
The Speedtouches in particular are not very stable at all - they
reconnect every few days, which might not be noticeable for some people,
but it is to me. The Billion 7300G is cheap 'n' cheerful, slower sync
than the GT but much more stable than the Speedtouch range.

However, I don't use the wifi aspect of any of my ADSL routers - I have
a separate AP for that, so I can't comment on the GT's wifi
performance/stability.

For the Draytek 2800, the ISP has to mess with the INP settings, and the
stability sucks anway. When it (regularly) reconnected, it took a long
time to reconnect (3mins+) despite following Draytek's guidelines. Also,
the original PSU died, but Draytek replaced that for free seeing as I
had a different suitable PSU which worked fine with it.

"Sam" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Grumps writes:
>> > Consider spending a bit more and look for a Draytek 2800 on eBay. The
>> > basic version without wireless fetch around £60.00 and is superior to
>> > any
>> > of your shortlist. Note that the 2600 series don't support ADSL 2+.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> I'll look at the Draytek models.
>> What features have they got that are superior to my, growing, list?
>
> I wouldn't recommend a Draytek 2800. I have a Draytek 2800VG, and it's a
> dog on ADSL2+ (Be). I have the Draytek, a Speedtouch 585v6 and 780WL,
> Billion 7300G, and a Sky-branded Netgear DG834GT with the UberGT
> firmware.
>
> The DG834GT outclasses all the others - better sync speed, superb line
> stability (I'm on an extremely short line - about 100-150 meters) - I
> can't remember the last time it resynced, it's probably been months now.
> The Speedtouches in particular are not very stable at all - they
> reconnect every few days, which might not be noticeable for some people,
> but it is to me. The Billion 7300G is cheap 'n' cheerful, slower sync
> than the GT but much more stable than the Speedtouch range.
>
> However, I don't use the wifi aspect of any of my ADSL routers - I have
> a separate AP for that, so I can't comment on the GT's wifi
> performance/stability.
>
> For the Draytek 2800, the ISP has to mess with the INP settings, and the
> stability sucks anway. When it (regularly) reconnected, it took a long
> time to reconnect (3mins+) despite following Draytek's guidelines. Also,
> the original PSU died, but Draytek replaced that for free seeing as I
> had a different suitable PSU which worked fine with it.

Thanks for that Sam.
It's individual user's comments that are always worth reading.

Shame about your findings on the 2800 as I was looking on eBay at these;
about £50. Its feature set (incl. instant messenger blocking) looked ideal.

>>> > Consider spending a bit more and look for a Draytek 2800 on eBay. The
>>> > basic version without wireless fetch around £60.00 and is superior to
>>> > any
>>> > of your shortlist. Note that the 2600 series don't support ADSL 2+.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>> I'll look at the Draytek models.
>>> What features have they got that are superior to my, growing, list?
>>
>> I wouldn't recommend a Draytek 2800. I have a Draytek 2800VG, and it's a
>> dog on ADSL2+ (Be). I have the Draytek, a Speedtouch 585v6 and 780WL,
>> Billion 7300G, and a Sky-branded Netgear DG834GT with the UberGT
>> firmware.
>>
>> The DG834GT outclasses all the others - better sync speed, superb line
>> stability (I'm on an extremely short line - about 100-150 meters) - I
>> can't remember the last time it resynced, it's probably been months now.
>> The Speedtouches in particular are not very stable at all - they
>> reconnect every few days, which might not be noticeable for some people,
>> but it is to me. The Billion 7300G is cheap 'n' cheerful, slower sync
>> than the GT but much more stable than the Speedtouch range.
>>
>> However, I don't use the wifi aspect of any of my ADSL routers - I have
>> a separate AP for that, so I can't comment on the GT's wifi
>> performance/stability.
>>
>> For the Draytek 2800, the ISP has to mess with the INP settings, and the
>> stability sucks anway. When it (regularly) reconnected, it took a long
>> time to reconnect (3mins+) despite following Draytek's guidelines. Also,
>> the original PSU died, but Draytek replaced that for free seeing as I
>> had a different suitable PSU which worked fine with it.
>
> Thanks for that Sam.
> It's individual user's comments that are always worth reading.
>
> Shame about your findings on the 2800 as I was looking on eBay at these;
> about £50. Its feature set (incl. instant messenger blocking) looked
> ideal.


Beware of making a judgement on the experience of a single user. At such a
short distance from the exchange one has to ask what other factors might
causing problems rather than a particular router.

Peter Crosland

In message <(E-Mail Removed) >, Peter
Crosland <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>A comparison of the various Draytek models is here.
>
>http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/comparison.html
>
>They really have unmatched facilities and quality as far as home/small
>business are concerned. Unless you want to go to the expense and
>complication of something like Cisco you will not find anything better.
>Added to the fact they are easy to set up and have a knowledgeable user
>group.

Add to this their tech support is excellent too. I see the 2800 has been
replaced with the 2820 nowadays. Just set my first one up. very good
piece of kit - dual WAN functionality for fail over and balancing!
--
Devs
"Punchdown Pete the old Kroner"
Un autre 4 ans!