Just put the old router back in for petes sake. There's nothing wrong with the internet connection. For whatever reason the wireless side of things is letting you down.
Any ISP is going to be the same, most ISP supplied routers have even worse range than the BT HomeHub, so chances are if you switch ISP and use their router it'll be even worse.
I think on IDNET you probably were using an old wireless G router or a draft N device. Some of these had a much higher output wirelessly than the newer N routers, especially the US models which got sold by some ISPs back in the day... There is strict enforcement on output power and regulation by the EU so the newer N devices can have less range than some of the older G kit. In the US wireless equipment is allowed to broadcast much higher output, hence why in the US you see their big houses, yet 1 router covers it nicely.
As far as the new routers go, the HomeHub is very good and is above average range wise. It's quite possible though that the netgear is putting out much more than the new HomeHub which is restricted under regulation. That's my only real explanation for an older device being better.
You could spend £100 on a router, I doubt the range would be much better than the HomeHub. Output is restricted ultimately. If you got a US device it's likely to be better range, but then you're going against the EU enforcement.
Edited by ukhardy07 (Fri 26-Jul-13 08:42:24)