Wireless router recommendations needed

I'm a pretty non-technical person soon to have to take the giant step into wireless broadband because I'm going to be getting a laptop to supplement my ageing desktop, so I'm going to need a wireless router which can also maintain the wired connection to my desktop. I have 4mb broadband from Namesco, my house is a pretty average 3 bed semi, the laptop is likely to be used fairly close to the likely location of the router, and with growing kids chances are there will be more mobile devices around in the not-too distant future. If anyone could be kind enough to suggest some models which would meet my needs it would be appreciated because I'm not sure I can trust what the staff at PC World will suggest. Thanks.

First question, who is the ISP and what sort of internet connection do you have (ie is it ADSL, fibre to the cabinet, cable, etc)?

The type of broadband could be key to recommending a router.

Virtually all routers that do wireless, will also do a wired connection.

Getting a good router is the right idea, however they are relatively cheap to replace and so long term planning for growing children and their mobile devices is probably not necessary.

Personally I have been very happy with the Netgear routers I have had on ADSL and FTTC, They have been relatively cheap, very reliable and easy to set up.

What do Namesco provide if anything?

Namesco provided a ZyXEL Prestige 600 router foc when I signed up with them; I must admit I haven't checked what they might provide in this situation though can't see that it would be free. I'll have a look at what Netgear have to offer, thanks.

My ISP is Namesco, it's ADSL and as BT are bombarding me with literature about BT Infinity, I imagine that they've installed fibre as far as the box at the end of our road. Would any more info help?

Also if it might be helpful I just ran the speed test on this site and I'm getting 7mb download, 0.8mb upload.

Are you thinking of moving to fibre? If so then most ISPs would provide a wireless router with it (and buying an ADSL router if thinking of moving to fibre soon would be a waste of money).

If staying with ADSL then you have a few options. You could actually just buy a Wireless Access Point to add wireless to the current router (such as an Apple Airport Express - although the Apple isn't cheap).

Alternatively you buy a replacement. The netgears already suggested can be OK but I admit I am not that impressed with the latest netgears (always really like the older ones). Billion can be a good make so maybe this or this.

If you want to future proof yourself for Fibre then a bit more money would get you this which support both ADSL and Fibre (I have the non-wireless version of this and it works really well). There is also an Asus that gets mentioned on these boards as being an excellent (although somewhat expensive) router.

You can go for the ASUS RT-AC66U if your budget allows, best damn router I've ever owned. And it should be for almost $200. ASUS RT, with a new standard: 802.11ac. The main features of this ASUS RT-AC66U IS its great wireless speeds, reaching up to 1.3Gbps in the 5GHz band and up to 450Mbps in the 2.4GHz one

Edited by deleted (Sat 02-Nov-13 13:37:17)

That Router already appears to have WiFi (Wireless), admittedly of an older generation, "WP", "WAP", from 2007.

I suggest that you try the laptop onn that first, waiting until you decide about any Broadband improvements, when you are likely to be supplied "foc" with a (more) up-to-date one, matching your choice/availability of higher-speed Broadband.

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

That Router already appears to have WiFi (Wireless), admittedly of an older generation, "WP", "WAP", from 2007.

Some ZyXEL P600 series routers have wireless, some do not. Unless there's a W in the first part of the model designation (e.g. P660HW-61), there's no wireless.

Thanks for that information.

Is there an easy way, apart from labelling, to differentiate, eg the P600 illustration I saw had an external aerial on it - apart from no aerial, would it have a blanking plate or similar, where otherwise the aerial socket would be?

Or by logging in to its Admin?

There will only be wireless options in the router's user interface if the router has wireless hardware.

Agreed.

But that ("internal" Admin-accessed) wireless interface, requires some knowledge and experience apparently beyond the OP's "I'm a pretty non-technical person soon to have to take the giant step into wireless broadband".

So are you aware of any "obvious" external hardware aspects to alert him to the presence or absence of WiFi facilities in that router, as you appear to have some detailed knowledge of it.

As his router is "elderly", labelling could have all too easily "disappeared" etc.

If it is the WiFi version, it would be cheaper for him to at least try that router with his laptop.

Also it would better prepare him for a new router, whether purchased by him; or provided via an FTTC package.

As well as checking whether your existing router has WiFi or not, your Speed Test Results of 7 Mbps suggest that you may be some distance from your exchange.

With FTTC the critical length is from your gree/grey distribution cabinet somewhere relatively close to you; but according to a SKY Web Page, if more than 300 metres, is likely to have adverse effects on any FTTC provision.

I suggest that you should find out that distance information and also go through the Phone Line Quiet Tests etc, to ensure that you are getting good service at present; and that your phone line from that cabinet to your house is capable of giving good service under FTTC conditions.

Depending on your PHONE provider, the Quiet Test is accessed by ringing 17070, followed by selecting Option 2 (Option 4 if from SKY) - and some phones may not give access to it.

For the Exchange via Cabinet to House distance, try-

http://windows.mouselike.org/be/?DoAction=BrasChecker

You may get a response-

"Fetch BRAS Info anyway"

Click on that.

The Line Length is given if available, in the middle line of the bottom block-

"BT Recorded Line Length to Exchange (m): xxxx"

The Cabinet to House Length will be distinctly less than that, say around 10 to 25% of that.



You now have to locate the Cabinet, to get a better idea of that important-for-broadband final length.

http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSLChecker.Teleph...

If available, the Cabinet Number is in the top line-

"Telephone Number is 0123456789 on EXCHANGE (Exchange Name) is served by Cabinet x"

This may NOT be the geographically nearest, the number is usually painted on it "somewhere".

You may already know its location - but try to confirm the number.

The Phone Line Route may NOT be the obvious one!

My Cabinet is about 25 metres directly "north" across the road from my front door; but I know definitely from when helping a Phone Engineer trace a fault on it, the line.

From the front door, it goes about 50 Metres "east" to a very small cast junction box on the foundations of another house, before crossing the road "somewhere", about 25 Metres, then returns west to the Cabinet - another 50 Metres.

And apart from the small Junction Box, all is underground, so not visible or obvious.

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You'll learn a lot!