which router and adaptor to buy

Hi guys ,

I was wondering if anyone could help me please.

I`m really out of my depth with all the new router technology , but I think I need to buy a new router and maybe an adaptor.

Currently , i have an 02 box mk 2 ( thompson ) which 02 gave me when i joined them about 12 months ago. I also have a Sweex wireless adaptor. There`s only me in the house using 1 pc tower and everything is connected hardwired to it. I`m synching at about 7 megs max and I don`t need anything more. I use a gaming / interactive site in the states called Second Life an awefull lot , so I need something which can handle the traffic and keep it as stable as possible.

I know there is wireless G and wireless N and the N is supposed to give better speed and range , but that`s pretty much all I know about it. I know 02 use ADSL2+ and I also think they use something called Broadcom.

Any suggestions or reccomendations of any good reliable routers would be really appreciated. Could you also advise me if need to upgrade my adaptor to cope with it aswell.

Thanks for any help or suggestions you guys can offer.

Basically , my 02 box has been getting hot and maybe overloaded under heavy use or stress recently and I think it`s time to upgrade.

Dave

Do you mean the computer is connected wirelessly to the O2 Box and everything else is wired to the computer?

Hi Robert ,

Yep , the printer etc are all hooked up via the usb ports. The only thing that`s wireless is the router.

I tried the router both on wireless and via the ethernet just to make sure my Sweex adaptor isn`t at fault as a matter of course and I have the same problem either way.

Dave

The most popular routers to replace the O2 and Be Boxes are Netgear 834Gv4, (must be v4 as all others do not have the Broadcom chipset that is best for O2/Be SLAM compatability), and the 834GT.

Your Sweetex adapter should work fine with them.

Thanks for your help Roberto.

I`ll take a look at them.

Dave

I've just ordered an 834PN from Novatech at £51.85 with free delivery.

Looks a good deal to me. Normally they are a lot pricier than the other two I think.

That`s a cracking good deal Bob. I don`t think you`re gonna beat that anywhere else.

I`ve decided to get the DG834PN as well , but i`ve ordered mine from Amazon , as I need to ensure it arrives this week due to work commitments. I hate paying for express delivery charges , but when I came to the payment screen they offered me a free months trial of their `Prime` next day delivery service , so it didn`t cost me any more

I`ll hold off on the Netgear WPN111 adaptor and see how my Sweex works with it. I can always buy another adaptor later.

Dave

Well my PN arrived before 10am this morning (6 May) and is up and running happily .

Gives me better throughput than the dead 834N so I am very happy. Connecting on ADSL2+ unfortunately as I find ADSL2 gives me higher sync, but still higher by a fraction than the N did.

Need to talk to Novatech about a minor fault . The PPP LED doesn't work. So I can't load DGTeam yet to try ADSL2 in case they want it back. (I set the N to choose between them and it nearly always chose 2 not 2+).

It will get hot - it's supposed to. But what technical problem is that causing? Does it keep freezing or crashing?

Edit: The reason I ask is that the box you've already got is one of the best on the market. It's very reliable and stable and I do not see how you can easily 'upgrade' it. It's essentially a Speedtouch 585 which is one of the top routers available. If it's crashing, then a simple firmware upgrade might fix that - no need to buy a whole new router.

Edited by deleted (Wed 06-May-09 12:55:41)

Replacement on its way . (Got to pay then refund as I don't want to be without).