Recommendation for wireless ADSL router

Can anyone recommend a good wireless ADSL router (ie ADSL modem with 4
Ethernet ports and a wireless access point)? I see that PC World sell the
Linksys WRT54G-UK for £150. This includes Norton Internet Security with a
60-day trial period - I presume this means that you don't get the normal
one-year subscription (which then has to be renewed annually) that you get
with the off-the-shelf product. And I presume it doesn't have a hardware
firewall.

Is the Linksys good? Are there any other products that I should be
considering? Many 802.11g (54 Mbps) access points say that they are
backward-compatible with 802.11b (11 Mbps) wireless adaptors (eg PCMCIA). Is
this completely true or are they any catches? I noticed a US Robotics
wireless adaptor that claimed that it was 802.11b but could support up to 22
Mbps.

Any recommendations for PCMCIA wireless adaptors as well?

Martin Underwood wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a good wireless ADSL router (ie ADSL modem with 4
> Ethernet ports and a wireless access point)? I see that PC World sell
> the Linksys WRT54G-UK for £150. This includes Norton Internet
> Security with a 60-day trial period - I presume this means that you
> don't get the normal one-year subscription (which then has to be
> renewed annually) that you get with the off-the-shelf product. And I
> presume it doesn't have a hardware firewall.
>
> Is the Linksys good? Are there any other products that I should be
> considering? Many 802.11g (54 Mbps) access points say that they are
> backward-compatible with 802.11b (11 Mbps) wireless adaptors (eg
> PCMCIA). Is this completely true or are they any catches? I noticed a
> US Robotics wireless adaptor that claimed that it was 802.11b but
> could support up to 22 Mbps.
>
> Any recommendations for PCMCIA wireless adaptors as well?

I've been looking for something similar but I don't think this Linksys WRT54G
router actually has an ADSL modem inside. Bit of a con if you ask me.

"Mark" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bg0t33$jf2jg$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Martin Underwood wrote:
> > Can anyone recommend a good wireless ADSL router (ie ADSL modem with 4
> > Ethernet ports and a wireless access point)? I see that PC World sell
> > the Linksys WRT54G-UK for £150. This includes Norton Internet
> > Security with a 60-day trial period - I presume this means that you
> > don't get the normal one-year subscription (which then has to be
> > renewed annually) that you get with the off-the-shelf product. And I
> > presume it doesn't have a hardware firewall.
> >
> > Is the Linksys good? Are there any other products that I should be
> > considering? Many 802.11g (54 Mbps) access points say that they are
> > backward-compatible with 802.11b (11 Mbps) wireless adaptors (eg
> > PCMCIA). Is this completely true or are they any catches? I noticed a
> > US Robotics wireless adaptor that claimed that it was 802.11b but
> > could support up to 22 Mbps.
> >
> > Any recommendations for PCMCIA wireless adaptors as well?
>
> I've been looking for something similar but I don't think this Linksys
WRT54G
> router actually has an ADSL modem inside. Bit of a con if you ask me.
>
>

I recently got a Draytek Vigor 2600We - its got all the features (modem,
firewall and wireless access point); it was remarkably easy to set up. If
you look around, people are selling them with a bundled wireless PC card for
your laptop. I managed to get the package for just under £200.

Cheers

Nick

>> Linksys WRT54G router actually has an ADSL modem inside. Bit of a
>> con if you ask me.

A braodband router is no use if it has ADSL modem inside - what if you want
it for a cable modem

I second the Draytek Vigor 2600We recommendation, it is bit more expensive,
but it works straight from the box. Unlike the Netgear which after lots of
time and hassle had to be returned, not even the software would load !
Regards,
Martin

Keith Roberts wrote:
>>> Linksys WRT54G router actually has an ADSL modem inside. Bit of a
>>> con if you ask me.
>
> A braodband router is no use if it has ADSL modem inside - what if
> you want it for a cable modem

The point is I do want ADSL inside and will never have a cable connection
(unless I move house, but i'll cross that bridge then).

Does Draytek do a 56mbs ADSL router ?

> One brand not to touch is Dlink (the e-bay products on sale)
>
> I went through 2 NICS and 4 routers/modems a few months ago - every one of
> them faulty - Tech support useless and one particular girl was offensive as
> well as stupid!
> Out of frustration and urgency I ended up with a 604+ - It regularly screws
> up DNS if it gets requests in quick succession over a few minutes but I only
> need it for a few months - then it'll be on e-bay!.

Sadly enough can concur with these sentiments. Was fully Dlink here in
the house until two DOA DSL-604+s and a mate's getting 2 of 3 DOA from a
different vendor made me rethink.

Went with the Netgear DG824m and have never looked back.
Sweet piece of kit...

--
reply to thechachman-n-o-s-p-a-m@yahoo-DOT-co-DOT-uk (remove nospam)

In article <E1%Ua.50399$(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) (Martin²) wrote:

> I second the Draytek Vigor 2600We recommendation, it is bit more
> expensive,
> but it works straight from the box. Unlike the Netgear which after lots
> of
> time and hassle had to be returned, not even the software would load !
> Regards,
> Martin
>
>
>
Thirded !!!

- Steve

Mark wrote:
>Does Draytek do a 56mbs ADSL router ?

I think you mean 802.11g spec (54Mbs theoretical wireless speed) ?
Not yet, probably very soon, but note that it doesn't have any effect on
your internet connection which is only
512kbs (or maybe 1 or 2Mbs if you pay extra £££).

The extra speed is only available between your own computers, unlikely that
you need to pay premium to save few seconds every now and then.
Regards,
Martin

In message <3f24903e$0$46004$(E-Mail Removed)>, fred
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>One brand not to touch is Dlink (the e-bay products on sale)
>
>I went through 2 NICS and 4 routers/modems a few months ago - every one of
>them faulty - Tech support useless and one particular girl was offensive as
>well as stupid!

I'll second that. Support don't answer e-mails despite chasing follow
up e-mail, sales don't answer you when you ask for their help in getting
support to answer e-mails, telephone support never come back with an
answer despite saying the request has been escalated the second, third,
fourth etc. time you call. Avoid DLink at all costs!

My DLink equipment was returned on the basis that no support was
available.

I then did the sensible thing and purchased a Vigor 2600WE ......
absolutely perfect in all respects with several avenues for support.
--
Malcolm.