HELP - Best value wireless modem/router/firewall/print server?

fagun

PLEASE give me some advice.

I'm looking to replace my freebee Safecom USB modem with a wireless ADSL modem router so that OH's can use BB on her work laptop.

I'm looking for value for money but also future proofing.

We're currently on 1MB but hopefully upgrading to 8MB sometime soon. Only a home PC and OH's work laptop currently.

OH's work don't recommend any particular brand or provide support - although they say that DLINK DSL G604T, Netgear DG834G / DG834Gv2 and Linksys WAG54G / WAG354G definitely are known to work.

Safecom have two models that come with a Print server - which is tempting me - GWAMRU-54108G (£48 on ebuyer) and SWAMRU-54108 (£58). I haven't worked out what the difference between the two models yet.

Anyone have any suggestions / recommendations?

I know that some of the other brands are better quality. but I'm a MSEr - so want value for money.

Thanks in advance

fagun

Please - can anyone help?

wolfman

You're asking for a lot in one package. Not many have the ability to act as a print server (usb print server at that).

I know Draytek's (like the Vigor 2600+ and 2800) will easily do all the above, but they retail at £120+. Great kit though, got one myself.

The Linksys WRT54G is very good especially as you can install custom firmware with added functionality on it. It's purely a router though, and I doesn't have the ability to act as a print server. I've not seen the WAG54G, so don't know if you can install custom firmware on it.

The Netgear DG834Gv2 and DG834GT are good. They were problematic early on, but the most recent firmware releases from Netgear seemed to have sorted all of the more serious problems. I bought one for my parents (DG834GT), and am after months of frustration, now happy with it. Neither though can act as a print server.

fagun

Thanks wolfman. I don't need top of the range kit, just something reliable and value for money.

Do I need it to act as a print server? It seemed like a good idea when I did the research, but not for the extra cost. I don't need it at the momnet, so this all for the future.

Re. Linksys - what custom firmware?

Would you buy safecom? I have no problems with my USB modem (other than it being slow to connect sometimes - not sure if its BT or the modem).

ManAtHome

I have a Safecom modem which seems to work when others dont, but only a single LAN port, no wireless or print server. Aside from the Draytek mentioned above, only other one with a print server I've seen was a Buffalo (think that's been discontinued now though).

PC World seem to have deals on Linksys (most of the time) and Dlink and Netgear (quite often), dunno how they compare with Smartcom price-wise though.

A few PC World deals:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/852034
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/459034
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/123014

ps - print server will probably cost you an extra £50+ and the USB ones can be a picky about which printers they support.

fagun

Thanks ManAtHome

DonnyDave

I got myself a US Robotics MAXg ADSL2+ Router Wireless Gateway Modem incl Print Server from Amazon a few months ago. Details here. It is currently priced at £78.65.

fagun

Ta Dave, though a bit more than I want to pay

wolfman

fagun wrote:

Re. Linksys - what custom firmware?

The firmware is open source, so some clever people have taken it apart and written their own version. OpenWRT is one example, there are about 2 or 3 decent choices.

wiraone

Most if not all the Linksys third party firmwares are for WRT series and not for the WAG ones. OpenWRT has a beta firmware release for WAG series but it is still far from being usable to public .. OpenWRT team is still working on the Wifi part right now.

fagun

Ta - sounds like Linksys is the recommendation