What router? Straightforward wireless modem/router required

I've used a Netgear DG834 V3 (?) for the past 3 or 4 years and it's been solidly reliable.

I'm looking to have a wireless capability so am looking to replace the beast. I could just put a wireless access point but that's yet another power brick and socket!

Given my experience with my Netgear, I'm looking at the DG834G wireless unit. On Amazon there are a number of reviews suggesting wireless problems, though they are all 3 or 4 years old so not entirely sure if they strictly apply to this unit.

Any views, comments and experiences gratefully received.

Tony

I have a Dg834n Netgear router and i am in the process of Migrating to Xilo,i have been informed by Xilo that the router has to be Adsl plus for a llu line which it is.

They also inform me that they have experienced many problems with netgear routers and have told me there may be a possibility that this router and its firmware may play up,they have reccomended a speedtouch router for stability which is something i would have never considered getting because i believe in buying what i think is the best equipment regardless of costs.

I live not even 1kilo from the exchange and i have to say that my connection can be 7 meg download speed 1 minute and 1 meg the next,having said that on several occasions when i have turned of the netgear router when i have these problems it seems to right itself but 10 minutes later back to not so good download speeds.

Funny thing is since i have started to migrate my speeds seem to be more stable than ever before with random speed tests being very positive.

Just done a speedtest and i hit over 7 meg plus and this has never been the case before,even my ping is at the lowest its ever been after having severe ping problems a week ago that made my decision to migrate.

I have always bought netgear and have tried Belkin n routers that i hated and i may have to try something difference once the migration has taken place just after Christmas.

I look at Speedtouch as some cheap not so good router but other say because of Netgear Firmware upgrades that they run a lot smoother and are more reliable.

Edited by time2die (Wed 23-Dec-09 09:09:41)

The more expensive the router, does not mean it'll be any better than a cheaper variant.

We find Speedtouch routers consistently perform well and are reliable. Even companies like Be/O2/Plusnet and no doubt countless others ship these to their customers as default.

A £20-30 speedtouch can easily out perform a £160 router - and we've seen it done many times.

Matt

-
xilodsl.net
t: 0800 848 8468
Official Maidenhead & Milton Keynes Speedtest.net Host
CPW LLU Pre-registration | Our current offers

In fact I've bought a Netgear DB834GT. Arrived yesterday and set it up straight away.

Working fine, wired to my desktop, wireless to my netbook. As with the previous Netgear I'm getting around 5Mbps download, no change; wireless between desktop and netbook I've seen tbbMeter peak up to 30Mbps or so.

That raises a minor point. How can one do a speed test over a wireless LAN? Clearly I could copy a large file across and time that but it would be a bit hit and miss, any better ways?

Tony

So you told me Matt on my migration conversation about a week ago,what i need is not just a basic router because it has to have a built in modem and be wirless n for my girlfriends laptop.

Until my migration takes place then i will reserve judgement on other routers that i may or may not have to look into if problems occur.

Its hard to believe that a router that costs £30 out performs some of the new models of netgear and all the rest and i am not saying i dont believe you but i thought it was a case of you get what you pay for.


How can Netgear justify incredible high prices when other like speedtouch do a better job...............The mind boggles and i suppose its techno freaks like me that go out and pay premium prices for products that are not that good by the sound of it.

Can you reccomend a decent router/modem with N and wireless that is not around £30 and is not speedtouch,something that works well as far as you are aware with the LLU service you provide.

At the end of the day the Netgear 834n might be ok anyway so we will see next Monday Hopefully when the migration takes place.

Edited by time2die (Wed 23-Dec-09 13:30:58)

Although the speedtouch routers are cheap in some cases, I would not class them as basic but they do include a built in modem and most have wireless. Although, we have not used the N variant yet so can't really comment on that one.

One router on one line, can and often does perform different on another line. The same could then be said for a router on one bit of kit at the exchange, can perform differently to being placed on another bit of kit in the exchange.

Vigor 2820n series is a good, expensive router with 802.11n but can drop the line more than other routers on longer lines.

Matt

-
xilodsl.net
t: 0800 848 8468
Official Maidenhead & Milton Keynes Speedtest.net Host
CPW LLU Pre-registration | Our current offers

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

In fact I've bought a Netgear DB834GT. Arrived yesterday and set it up straight away.

Working fine, wired to my desktop, wireless to my netbook. As with the previous Netgear I'm getting around 5Mbps download, no change; wireless between desktop and netbook I've seen tbbMeter peak up to 30Mbps or so.

That raises a minor point. How can one do a speed test over a wireless LAN? Clearly I could copy a large file across and time that but it would be a bit hit and miss, any better ways?

Thats another thing i like about Netgear routers they are easy to set up and configure unlike a Belkin one a bought once that was completly usless and cost in the region of £150.........One of them Black looking bt hub type things..

Cheers Matt i will do a Google search on that particular model,can not say i have ever heard of them before but what do i know.............

That that one out of the Window then Judging by a few reviews i have read and the one link posted below..........Cheers i will do some further research if i need to at a later date.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/wifi-routers/212304/d...

Edited by time2die (Wed 23-Dec-09 13:41:41)

but i thought it was a case of you get what you pay for.

A price is set at what people will pay. You only get what you pay for at the cheap end of the market.

DrT

Stress - the condition brought about by having to resist the temptation to beat the living daylights out of someone who richly deserves it.

We find Speedtouch routers consistently perform well and are reliable.

Not withstanding what you say, I like to tweak/configure and ST routers annoy me no end as nearly every tweak, even changing DNS servers FFS means using the CLI. The documentation for it isn't that great. The GUI is also basic and confusing at the same time.

On my current LLU connection, my Netgear DG 834GT (DGTeam firmware) outperforms both my ST 585v6 and Billion 7402r2 (supposed to be vy good with my ISP - UKOnline). All routers tweaked as much as possible to get best results.

DrT

Stress - the condition brought about by having to resist the temptation to beat the living daylights out of someone who richly deserves it.