Need new router?

~Chameleon~

It's me again!!

Due to a few network problems I seem to be having (see this thread) plus the fact I've had ongoing issues with router dropping sight of wireless devices meaning I need to reboot it almost every time I want to print something, I think the time has come to invest in a new one.

I'm currently using a Netgear DG834Gv5 which I've had for 5+ years and was a replacement for an earlier Netgear model, again which lasted several years so I'm keen to stick with this brand, assuming of course the latest models are reliable and robust.

I live in an area which is very unlikely to install anything better/faster than ADSL2+ and have no cable access if that makes a difference. I'm currently running about 15 devices wirelessly as well as a NAS storage device which acts as central back up to all computers and provides complete home media network so needs to be up to the job as well as being future proof, as I like to keep up with technology and the latest gadgets .

So, what should I be looking for? Someone once recommended a slimline Asus router which I thought looked very attractive (ha, such a girly thing to say ) so that might also be a contender.

littleboo

The Asus is a router, not an ADSL Modem/Router. So assuming you are on an ADSL service, you would need a separate ADSL Modem to sit between the router and the phone line.

~Chameleon~

Having read a few reviews it seems Netgear products have rapidly gone downhill in recent years in terms of reliability and customer support, so I don't think I'll be buying one of theirs.

I need an ADSL2+ modem/router and would preferably like it to have Gigabit Ethernet, Wireless-N and a USB port for external device. Any suggestions please other than Netgear please?

DevCoder

Actually the Netgear WNDR* series of routers are excellent (and I test everything from Belkin to Netgear to Cisco)

I am currently testing the DGND3700 which is a combined modem/router with 2.4 and 5ghz bands offering up to 300mb/s per channel or 600mb/s bonded.

Lots of other decent features (easy vpn etc).

Only downside is you cant flash an open source firmware onto it (such as ww-drt) so DynamicDNS, if you need this feature, is limited to DynDNS.org (which now costs).

I'd put netgear second to cisco but then with cisco youll be paying more and youll also need to learn cisco ios to configure it.

John_Gray

You could look at DrayTek.
Personally, I have the Billion BiPAC 7800N (but with VM's amusingly-named 'Super Hub' in cable modem mode).

Neither is cheap.

~Chameleon~

krisdorey wrote: »

Actually the Netgear WNDR* series of routers are excellent (and I test everything from Belkin to Netgear to Cisco)

I am currently testing the DGND3700 which is a combined modem/router with 2.4 and 5ghz bands offering up to 300mb/s per channel or 600mb/s bonded.

Lots of other decent features (easy vpn etc).

Only downside is you cant flash an open source firmware onto it (such as ww-drt) so DynamicDNS, if you need this feature, is limited to DynDNS.org (which now costs).

I'd put netgear second to cisco but then with cisco youll be paying more and youll also need to learn cisco ios to configure it.

It was the WNDR3700 I was looking at but there seem to be many bad reviews about it dropping connection and needing to continually reboot etc. This is one of the reasons I want to upgrade as my current Netgear does something similar but I put it down to old age and becoming overloaded the more devices I attach to it. I was hoping a newer, faster model would behave itself more.

~Chameleon~

John_Gray wrote: »

You could look at DrayTek.
Personally, I have the Billion BiPAC 7800N (but with VM's amusingly-named 'Super Hub' in cable modem mode).

Neither is cheap.

The Billion is another one I'm just reading up about as I've never heard of them but again it seems to have mixed reviews regarding reliability. I know the quality of lines etc can affect it and I'm fortunate enough to have a very strong connection here so maybe I'll be lucky.

DevCoder

Ive also go a WNDR3700 (actually repeating the DGND3700 router) but the WNDR3700 has no inbuilt modem.

The dropped connection issue and rebooting was fixed in a firmware update, but if you did go with it then you could also flash dd-wrt to it which is a great router firmware.

GunJack

If I could afford one I'd have a BiPac 7800.....

~Chameleon~

GunJack wrote: »

If I could afford one I'd have a BiPac 7800.....

This one?? ..... or this one??

Are Billion routers generally well regarded then? I'd not heard of them until starting to research them today.

~Chameleon~

krisdorey wrote: »

Ive also go a WNDR3700 (actually repeating the DGND3700 router) but the WNDR3700 has no inbuilt modem.

The dropped connection issue and rebooting was fixed in a firmware update, but if you did go with it then you could also flash dd-wrt to it which is a great router firmware.

I might be more tempted if it had a built-in modem. I don't like change and have used Netgear for years so familiar with interface etc.