Which wireless router?...

I currently have a Netgear DG834v4 which I've had for about 3 years. It has been very reliable and stable for me, but I don't really ask much of it. It usually syncs at 8 meg or just under on my line which if memory serves is 2.1km from the exchange.

I've just bought a new smartphone and realised how much I now need a wireless connection here. I know I know, why didn't I buy a DG834G in the first place? I've no idea

Anyway, I was wondering what you guys would recommend. I'm on a tight budget so I don't really want to be spending more than £50 or £60. My ISP seems to recommend routers with Broadcom chipsets which my current router has.

I could get a new 'N' wireless router.. perhaps a D-Link 2740B or maybe a Netgear DGN1000. Or perhaps I could just stick with what I know and pick up a second hand DG834G off Ebay. I know that the DG834 routers are now considered ancient though.

Any suggestions appreciated.

I have been using a second hand DG834Gv3 for years with wireless. It's fine. I'd buy one from eBay but try to be sensible about the seller.

No point in having wireless faster than 8Mbs unless you plan to regularly transfer large files between PCs.

In reply to a post by Frink:

It usually syncs at 8 meg or just under on my line which if memory serves is 2.1km from the exchange.

If you're on a normal ADSL 20CN connection then 8128 is the maximum you can sync!

So it might be worth posting some more details and stats

The 'v4' has a Broadcom chipset which I'm a fan of - but depending on your line stats a wet bit of string can do! If your line attenuation (length/quality) is low then you have a lot more choice.

Or you can just add a wireless access point (WAP) to your existing router which will give you wireless and not mess up your ADSL connection...

Oops, forgot to mention that my line is bog standard ADSL max. Still on 20CN here.

The router has sync'd at 8128 once or twice, but usually syncs at just under these days.

Edit: the router is currently reporting downstream connection speed as 8000kbps, downstream attenuation as 33.0db and downstream noise margin as 6.0.

Edited by Frink (Thu 10-Nov-11 19:31:36)

In reply to a post by john2007:

a second hand DG834Gv3 ... from eBay

But get a Gv4 or GT.

You could just plug a Wireless Access point into your existing router. Though getting a second router does mean you would have a spare.

Edited by RobertoS (Thu 10-Nov-11 23:01:28)

You might be able to get one FOC from your ISP perhaps by agreeing to stay with them for another year. I got a free DGN2200 which does wireless N from Plusnet.