Help me pick a new router

Hi everyone.

I upgraded from a Cisco 837, to a Cisco 1700 with an ADSL WIC to an Cisco 1841 with the same ADSL WIC. I'm on a long line (55dB) and I used to sync in the hi 6000s and now that's down (after nearly 3 years tho!) to the low 4000s. I recently put a new WIC in and it's still the same. I thought about upgrading the WIC to a HWIC but the cost is too much considering what I've already spent!!

So I'm considering selling the 1800 with the 2 WICs installed and getting something else but it's got to have a few specifics and I wondered if anyone can recommend one. I need the following:

ADSL2+
Needs to have SNMP support for the ADSL Line MIB.
Has to be able to handle NO NAT as I have 2 routed IP blocks.
Ideally needs 2 INDEPENDANT lan ports, if not must be able to VLAN 1 lan port.
Needs to work well on a crappy line.
Needs a reasonbly good firewall.

Anything thing else - usb sockets/print serving, wireless etc will be a bonus but not required.

Anyone got any ideas?


Pete

If your concern is the performance of the line having dropped it would seem that the line is the problem and not the router. You may well get exactly the same result in terms of speed with any new router you choose. Given that you've tried two WICs and the performance was identical it doesn't really suggest it's your router "going off".

It would be cheaper to ask for provision of a new second telephone line and see if that's any better.

Edited by caffn8me (Thu 22-May-08 17:01:41)

I really do think it is the line that slowly dying, and thus I can't justify having a very expensive router using WICs designed a long time ago on there - rather than I think the router is the issue. If I can find another router costing 1/6th of this that has the few features I need (I barely use the features on the Cisco) then I'd be happy.

I thought about getting a second line as my ISP supports line bonding, but that works out pricey to maintain and I seriously doubt the second line would be much better.
The problems go back to something BT did on the 4th July last year at 18:30 as the line degraded massively at that time and has never recovered. My ISP has spent months battling with BT to resolve it but they can not see the problem.

Oh well - a newer chipset router might help getting my stable line back at a reasonable speed - I hope

If your line attenuation is 55db then I'm afraid you are always going to have problems maintaining a high sync.

A speedtouch 585V6 may suit you

I'm not suggesting a second line for bonding, I'm suggesting a second line with a fresh install may work better than the first and you can switch to it and cancel your first. Unless you're going to sell the Cisco it isn't currently costing you anything.

The 2wire BT 2700 adsl modem router gateway business hub is raved about by those on long lines for its stability and with it being a business model is very well built and offers more configurations that are not normally on home routers.

Not sure if it has everything you are wanting, but I would think it does and it can be bought cheaply off ebay too.

http://www.dsl-warehouse.com/product_info.php?products_id=188

The above page has a guide you can download.

Edited by deleted (Fri 23-May-08 01:43:21)

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I'll take a look at the 2Wire and the 585v6 - although I did see the 780WL which (if it can work the way I want) would be ideal then I could get rid of the seperate router, WAP and ATA in one go!