Need a new ADSL2+ Router

Hi there,

I'm looking for a new ADSL Modem and Router, after having numerous problems with my existing thompson router. Issues like DHCP not responding, DNS faults and wireless dropouts have made me decide it's time to replace the thing. I've also heard that I can get better speeds if I go for alternative kit.

Ideally I'm looking for a standard 4 port router with built-in ADSL2+ modem to use on O2's 20 meg service. Gigabit ethernet would be nice, as would 802.11 B, G and N.

I'd like it to be easy to set up and simple to configure and tweak. But above all, I'd like it to provide rock solid stability without being rebooted constantly

So, any suggestions? I've about £100 to spend, but I can be flexible. Any and all ideas are hugely appreciated!

Billion 7800N is excellent.

Ticks all the boxes you have provided but a tad over the price.

It is getting on a bit these days, it has Gigabit switch but only 100BaseT WAN port which can be a limitation if you want to use it on FTTC and your line can support 80Mb/s downspeed. Max routed throughput seems to be around 60Mb/s

In reply to a post by greenglide:

Max routed throughput seems to be around 60Mb/s

That's rapidly gaining the status of an urban myth... it's only true if the processor is having to handle QoS as well as everything else, which I'd guess most users won't bother with.

I usually get speedtests like this (~70Mbps profile), and others manage much more than that, see the speedtest this user gets.

edit- ignore strike-out part, duff search.

Edited by billford (Thu 14-Jun-12 16:29:42)

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by greenglide:

Max routed throughput seems to be around 60Mb/s

That's rapidly gaining the status of an urban myth... it's only true if the processor is having to handle QoS as well as everything else, which I'd guess most users won't bother with.

I usually get speedtests like this (~70Mbps profile), and others manage much more than that, see the speedtest this user gets.

It was what Billion support got on their testing reported in their forum!

They reckoned that 60Mb/s or so was a hardware limitation and they would need to "look at this" for future versions.

Using QoS was limiting throughput to 30Mb/s or so.

Since I hope to use my 7800N on FTTC "soon" with an full speed connection I will be very, very happy to be proved wrong!

In reply to a post by greenglide:

It was what Billion support got on their testing reported in their forum!

Really? This is the latest testing I see.

Looks pretty comprehensive to me... Reading the entire thread, I'd agree that some people are having speed problems^*, but the test results I linked to would indicate that it isn't the router that's causing them.

As does my own "real life" speed test... ignore the other one I linked to, it was the result a duff search


^* Including Billion support by the sound of it

Edited by billford (Thu 14-Jun-12 17:03:31)

Just to demonstrate that my speed test wasn't a one-off, you can see the history since I first got FTTC here:

http://www.speedtest.net/results.php?sh=14b9d5b2ecf7...

The first month or so at 40Mbps was with a router other than the Billion, from there it's all Billion with firmware versions from 1.06c to 1.06e. (It's not giving me any problems so I haven't bothered with "f" or "g")

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I've ordered the Billion from Amazon, so it should be here tomorrow. I'll keep you updated with how I get on. Meantime, if you've got any tips for how to get the best out of it, I'd be hugely grateful!

Tbh I'm not sure I can help a great deal- mine has only been used on FTTC, and iirc all I had to do was connect it up, go to 192.168.1.254 in my browser, select the EWAN port on the "Quick Start" menu, enter the username and password for my ISP and the basic details for the wireless LAN and away it went.

So the ADSL section is "here be monsters" territory as far as I'm concerned .

I think there's a start-up wizard that runs if you connect using Internet Explorer, but as I use a Mac I can't comment on that.

Port forwarding, tweaks to get IPv6 working the way I wanted etc etc came later...

It's possible to tweak the SNR margin on ADSL for extra speed if your line is stable enough- there's a post in this forum about it somewhere but I can't find it .

If you want to get the most out of it, or have any difficulty with setting something up, joining the Billion user forum would be my best advice, though there are some very knowledgeable users here too.

In reply to a post by billford:

It's possible to tweak the SNR margin on ADSL for extra speed if your line is stable enough- there's a post in this forum about it somewhere but I can't find it .

Ah, found it

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/dslrouter/t/4097623...

So Billion started a new thread rather than updating the original one?

Sounds great though so I will stop worrying!

Thanks

In reply to a post by greenglide:

So Billion started a new thread rather than updating the original one?

No, it's the original thread, that post just happens to be at the top of page 3.

Scroll up a bit and you can select the earlier pages.

I have a Billion 7800N on ADSL2, replacing a 2Wire 2700. Quite honestly it works fine "straight out of the box". I have always had fairly poor connection - no modem has been able to hold on for more than a week or so without a re-sync due to fluctuating snr. The Billion just sat there for nearly 6 weeks with a rock solid connection, and was only defeated by a power outage!

I was concerned thet the Billion would not cope when we (eventually) get FTTP at 100Mbps, but it seems that it will be there or thereabouts. Mind you by the time BT gets its act together it will probably be time ro replace the Billion anyway

In reply to a post by bgriffiths:

and was only defeated by a power outage!

Mine runs from the UPS

I was concerned thet the Billion would not cope when we (eventually) get FTTP at 100Mbps, but it seems that it will be there or thereabouts. Mind you by the time BT gets its act together it will probably be time ro replace the Billion anyway

Mine copes with anything I throw at it on FTTC, but with FTTP I'd think it would be on the edge of its capability... otoh (although I haven't checked) I'd think that domestic (or even low-end SOHO) routers with gigabit WAN ports and enough processor grunt to keep pace with them are thin on the ground

Edited by billford (Sat 16-Jun-12 13:47:47)

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by bgriffiths:

and was only defeated by a power outage!

Mine runs from the UPS

Somewhere in the depths of these forums is a discussion of the problems I had with my modem/router (specifically the 2Wire 2700) on an APC battery backup. Basically what happened was that when the battery kicked in so much interference was generated that the adsl error count rocketed and the connection just collapsed. So the UPS was relegated to the "spares" box in the shed.

I think I remember that thread... and was a little surprised- APC are a reputable brand, and it's what I use with no problems.

But interference is a funny beast, what will kill one person's setup stone dead may have no discernible effect on another's

Edited by billford (Sat 16-Jun-12 14:04:22)