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Thread ID: 122102	2011-11-30 21:12:00	the "what router to get" topic again	dugimodo (138)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1246508	2011-11-30 21:12:00	So this morning my internet kept dropping off and my router kept resetting itself. I dragged out an old one and problem solved, kinda, the old one is a D-link and only connects at 8M and has no wireless. If it hasn't settled down tonight I'm replacing it. So I thought I'd ask again what routers people reccommend, my first impulse is to buy one of these; www.pbtechnz.com after reading previous threads and Chills blog post it seems like a good option. However there are some extra features I would kinda like if I can find a good router that has them. Has to have: Good ADSL2+ performance and relaibility Ethernet port Good stable Wireless (OK I could add an acess point but all in one routers are cheaper) Would like to have: USB port for printer sharing USB port for budget NAS type use Torrent support (not too fussed but I've seen routers that can DL to attached USB without a PC) 4-8 port switch - but only if It's GigE otherwise I'll just attach it to my existing Switch VDSL.. is it worth considering future proofing? if fibre ever comes my way at a reasonable price I'm abandoning ADSL My history with crap routers for any who are interested: Started with a Nokia M10 ADSL1 modem - rock solid and huge (still in my garage somewhere) Moved to the Nokia M11 4 port one on an XTRA plan, sent back to Telecom when I changed ISP's - still pretty reliable Bought a D-link 4-port ADSL2 router off trademe, and actually this has been very relaible. Again though only ADSL1 support (ADSL2+ in theory but it doesn't work) Now the trouble starts "Upgraded" to a thompsom 4 port wireless router by taking telecom up on the "free" offer, falls over at least twice a month. Gave it away. Bought a 2nd hand WAG160N off a guy at work, has been much more stable.... until today. I read bad things about this one So whats next	dugimodo (138)
1246509	2011-11-30 21:22:00	Belkin N600. Its worth a bit but the performance is amazing. It does disconnect itself to clear the cache every week though (I dont mind that..not sure about you). As for Fibre -> ADSL..well eventually they're going to get Fibre to Wireless networks. How? No idea. Just heard it from a Telecom Employee.	EmoCat (16620)
1246510	2011-11-30 21:54:00	Wireless? Got nothin on a physical cable... The Linksys kit is great, provided it doesn't have both WiFi & ADSL. If it's one or the other, it's usually superb. If it has both, it's almost definitely crap. Kit with gigabit network ports aren't terribly cost-effective, you're better off getting a router and just attaching it in to your switch for the better part. I persnoally wouldn't worry *too much* about FTTH just yet, or VDSL2. They'll supply you with kit for it when the time comes, or at least recommend something. As it stands there's not a lot of VDSL2 selection in the NZ market at the moment from what I've seen either, and Telecom are recommending the Thomson VDSL2 router (I can't remember the make / model details). Given your experiences with the Thomson TG585 that they're giving away free, you can see why I'm hesitant to recommend the VDSL2 Thomson router either... Some of the D-Link routers have issues with the new DSLAMs when in ADSL2+ modes, so that would explain why you couldn't get yours to work. So, anyway, what to get: NetComm NB6Plus4Wn Or, if you want to tinker, get a Linksys AM300. I was recommending the Draytek DV120, but they've apparently got issues with the ikanos line cards that are in some DSLAMs also (I've contacted the supplier in NZ and the vendor in Aus, they're trying to do a firmware upgrade to fix it). Symptoms include close to 50% packet loss... So, steer clear of them for the time being and get yourself a Linksys AM300. There's not a lot of point trying to get an "all-in-one" that also does USB and Torrents, they don't usually work terribly well for what you want. Printing usually is OK, but USB Mass Storage is usually not so hot (I'm generalizing, there are a few routers out there, but because I don't bother with them, I can't tell you any of the "good" models). Something that's worth keeping in mind: If you go "all-in-one" then that's cool, it's easy now. However if you're really keen on upgrading to VDSL2 in the future, or you like the prospect of FTTH, then it's well worth looking at getting yourself an AM300 (To run in halfbridge, basically becoming a 'dumb device') and something like a Linksys WRT54GL to act as your "router". I say this because you can then get a VDSL2 modem in the future and run it in either half-bridge or a PPPoA -> PPPoE Passthru mode, pop it in, in-place of the AM300, and your network doesn't change. Your WRT54GL will be able to handle speeds of up to 100mbps, so it's a nice incremental upgrade that doesn't require you to piss around with your network and redo things like setting up your DHCP range, static DHCP leases, re-doing your wifi etc... You also have the added benefit that you can run something like Tomato or Gargoyle to do things like QoS, you can do per-device bandwidth quotas, you can even get a specific version of Tomato that has a torrent client that will download and save across the network to a windows file-share. That then covers off everything except for printer sharing. Just my 2c worth ;) Go with the AM300 + WRT54GL :D	Chilling_Silence (9)
1246511	2011-11-30 22:07:00	My 3 PC's are all using wired Ethernet, the wireless is Just for the TiVo, Kindle, and smartphone, and ocassionally used with a usb adapter when I'm setting up new PC's (saves running a cable across the floor). The TiVo could use wired also, but there is only a single port in the lounge and the Media PC stole it (could put a cheap switch in there I guess) Are AM300's still available? none of the places I usually buy from stock them. I do like the Idea of Gargoyle, and could have used the quota features when I had a flatmate, but I'm leaning toward the easy option of a NetComm NB6Plus4Wn as suggested.	dugimodo (138)
1246512	2011-11-30 22:40:00	Either way, the WRT54GL being the 'persistent' device means you shouldn't have to go through and set it all back up again when it comes time to upgrade ;) If the AM300 isn't available, then that throws a bit of a spanner in the works I guess :-/ The DV120 is still the most rock-solid ever, but if there *are* issues with the ikanos line cards (It's still unconfirmed what the specific issue is at the moment) then yeah, that'd kinda throw them right into the "Do not go there" bin...	Chilling_Silence (9)
1246513	2011-11-30 23:00:00	Tried the WAG160N again, it's gone off to LaLa land somewhere, I can't even access it's GUI now. Checked the D-link, it's a DSL-504G and only has ADSL1 support. I want to fix this today so I'm stuck with what www.pbtechnz.com has to offer or maybe DSE or one of the big appliance stores so it looks like the NB6Plus4Wn wins by default being the only model available worth considering.	dugimodo (138)
1246514	2011-12-01 00:05:00	pbtech.co.nz is their proper website :)	Chilling_Silence (9)
1246515	2011-12-01 01:12:00	No, the Hamilton branch is the one I linked. They have their own website. Went and grabbed the NB6Plus4Wn, and a TPlink print server, and a CM storm trooper case, expensive router failure this one :)	dugimodo (138)
1246516	2011-12-01 02:21:00	Haha nice :D Odd about the website, coz I can place orders for pickup at Hamilton on my account through the main website? Oh well...	Chilling_Silence (9)
1246517	2011-12-06 08:39:00	Happy with the Netcomm so far. 1 question, is trellis the same as interleaving? From my DSL status; Line Mode ADSL2+ Line State Show Time Line Power State L0 Line Up Time 04:07:49:22 Line Coding Trellis On Line Up Count 1 Statistics Downstream Upstream Line Rate 16387 Kbps 945 Kbps Attainable Line Rate 19548 Kbps 945 Kbps Noise Margin 12.2 dB 15.9 dB Line Attenuation 13.5 dB 7.1 dB Output Power 19.2 dBm 12.4 dBm Looks like it is to me, have e-mailed Telecom to ask if it can be turned off.	dugimodo (138)
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