Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Mr Hagon]

I currently have a Netgear DG834g wireless router and I would like to upgrade to a newer router. I need wireless for most of the devices I have and it makes sense to go to at least n wireless.

My main PC's line of sight to the router is through internal brick wall so I would like to primarily improve the signal strength and a nice to have would be USB storage on the router. It will be hidden away so looks aren't a problem and I have no plans for streaming media.

I'm willing to invest in a decent router so price isn't so much of a concern. Do I go for another Netgear, so something SoHo such as a Draytek router with lots of external aerials?

Thoughts and suggestions welcomed  .

[cem_devecioglu]

TheBoy is your man

[pscocoa]

Internal brick walls can be a real loss of strength and you may need to consider doing an "internet over mains" link between router and main pc but make sure you buy a unit that meets your speed demands - I use one of these for connecting to TV.
You should really consider this option and with some you can use as range extender - i.e. extend via mains and then gives great wireless signal from that point.
Which ISP are you with?

[TheBoy]

No option to drill a hole, and use a wire? Nothing will beat a wire.

[Mr Hagon]

Internal brick walls can be a real loss of strength and you may need to consider doing an "internet over mains" link between router and main pc but make sure you buy a unit that meets your speed demands - I use one of these for connecting to TV.
You should really consider this option and with some you can use as range extender - i.e. extend via mains and then gives great wireless signal from that point.
Which ISP are you with?

My ISP is Demon.  Router will need to stay where it is as TV etc. connects via wires into router.  Main PC doesn't live near a power socket so I have to drag an extension
lead to the nearest power socket so defeats the object of power based adapters.

[Mr Hagon]

No option to drill a hole, and use a wire? Nothing will beat a wire.

No, sadly not.  Not a case of just going through one wall.  Running a cable will incur the wrath of SWMBO, although if I ever have the carpet up I could probably do that.

Wireless it is for now  .

[Martian]

The Billion BiPAC 7800N gets pretty good reviews, and the antenna are replaceable if the standard 2dbi ones leave any dead spots in the house.

[TheBoy]

Any MIMO ratified N wireless ADSL2+ router should do the trick. I'm assuming your other needs are not too taxing, esle you would have mentioned it. To benefit, the PC ideally needs to be N based as well.

Its the sort of stuff I'm normally sending to landfill, but all I have spare around here currently are BT Homehub 3's, which would need hacking to make them work with Demon. Besides, they are not a particularly good router from a Wifi or stability point of view.

[Mr Hagon]

The Billion BiPAC 7800N gets pretty good reviews, and the antenna are replaceable if the standard 2dbi ones leave any dead spots in the house.

Yes, same router was mentioned on another forum I posted this question on, but have read about it and it doesn't have a USB storage option.  As I have two Windows PCs that I want to share some stuff between it's more than a nice to have and it's a stepping stone to something along the lines of a NAS without the cost of a decent NAS.

[Mr Hagon]

Any MIMO ratified N wireless ADSL2+ router should do the trick. I'm assuming your other needs are not too taxing, esle you would have mentioned it. To benefit, the PC ideally needs to be N based as well.

Its the sort of stuff I'm normally sending to landfill, but all I have spare around here currently are BT Homehub 3's, which would need hacking to make them work with Demon. Besides, they are not a particularly good router from a Wifi or stability point of view.

Yes, I would upgrade both the router and the PCI card in the PC to match.  And yes, I wouln't bother with a BT Homehub, I would rather invest in a decent router with external aerials.

[TheBoy]

Draytek 2xx0 series, such as 2850N (or Vn of you're that way inclined) may do your needs, but they ain't cheap. Draytek have come a long way in the last few years.

A 2850n is liable to be around £180. Add £20ish if you fancy the VoIP option.

[Mr Hagon]

Draytek 2xx0 series, such as 2850N (or Vn of you're that way inclined) may do your needs, but they ain't cheap. Draytek have come a long way in the last few years.

A 2850n is liable to be around £180. Add £20ish if you fancy the VoIP option.

Hmm, think the 2850 series is overkill, so 2710n is more up my street at about £120 + VAT.  A 2850n looks more like over £200 all in.

Will give it some thought.  Thanks for the useful and honest opinion, as ever  .

[Broomies Mate]

Just to throw a potential spanner in the works, 'n' is soon to be old hat.  The 'ac' wireless technology is nearly upon us.  Obviously your current hardware wont support the faster speeds, and without cast iron figures it is difficult to prove how much better it will be, but worth noting if you are looking to spend ~£100 on a Router.

[Mr Hagon]

Just to throw a potential spanner in the works, 'n' is soon to be old hat.  The 'ac' wireless technology is nearly upon us.  Obviously your current hardware wont support the faster speeds, and without cast iron figures it is difficult to prove how much better it will be, but worth noting if you are looking to spend ~£100 on a Router.

Yup, 802.11ac is on the horizon.  However having read a bit about it, it only operates at 5GHz frequency, and I don't have any devices that do.  So would cost a lot more to upgrade all my devices, so will stick with 802.11n for now.  Thanks for the tip tho'  .

[TheBoy]

As an early adopter of the original 802.11a standard, I can say, whilst the band is (currently) less congested, the 5Ghz band doesn't penetrate house walls so well.