new DSL MAX broadband router?

[browolf]

thinking of getting a new dsl router for max. since existing 3com one has always been a bit iffy and i've been having some problems since upgrade to max. use bittorrent a lot but stay within cap. took me years to get my 3com one tweaked right. it used to run out of something after too much bittorrent traffic and the internet would just stop working even tho it was still connected.

 

my line has been well unstable since i got 8mb and my isp's suggesting its the router; seems like a good time to look for another one

 

so anyways i've heard the he Netgear DG834 and DG834G and D-Link DSL-G604T are good.

 

what would you recommend?

 

Hijacked your poll and added 'other' - Ric

[tickmike]

Hi Browolf.

I use a Speedtouch 536v6.

At Home My Set-up = ADSL.. BT Max via BT phone line 3.5Kl long>NTE5 Master socket face plate > Speedtoutch 536v6 Router (next to master socket) >RJ45 LAN cable to Smoothwall (firewall) http://www.smoothwall.org/ > LAN Switch>LAN>Home Network.

 

I got some useful help from:-

 

http://www.kitz.co.uk

 

http://www.dslzoneuk.net

 

http://forums.vnunet.com/index.jspa?categoryID=1

 

Join the Broadband forums .

 

I use ECLIPSE isp and I would recommend them for school and home http://www.eclipse.net.uk

 

Michael.

[pete]

I've been using a Netgear DG834 for 3 yrs now on a 1mb line. Never had a problem with it.

 

It does sit on a ups, which probably helps.

[Ric_]

I don't use ADSL MAX but I have found that the X-Modem M3 from ADSL Nation (see http://www.adslnation.com/products/xmodem-m3.php ) has dramatically improved my ropey connection - I live out in the sticks!

 

I use it with an IPCop box and it works like a dream but it will function standalone too, dishing out IPs and wotnot if you plug it into a switch.

[steve]

I'm on my second DrayTek, upgraded for wireless, and they are rock solid.

 

Go for months on end without reboots. Only problem is the price.

[alonebfg]

i got the DG834G and i have had nothing but problems with it locks out drops conection have had to do 5 firmware updates on it since i got it and if you have more than two pcs on it we lose wireless connections am lookinf at getting a linksys myself hopping its better.

[Ric_]

Forgot to add... steer clear of the Linksys gear... I have been VERY disappointed with what I have seen (I had a WAG54G IIRC but have also seen others in use). I had to regularly (read several times a day) reboot the router and the speed was appauling too.

 

I've seen the Draytek kit in use and it does look impressive. Once bitten, twice shy though so I will now only use 'proper' equipment (hence the IPCop box and an enterprise-level 3COM AP).

[CyberNerd]

GF has a d-link. ok but seems crashes on 'extended' bittorrent usage. has latest firmware etc.

As for linksys - http://openwrt.org/ provides alternative firmware (base linux o/s) for many of their devices.

best I've seen is a Cisco (don't recall the model) that is set up at a local skills centre. It has all the trimmings, is 100% reliable but cost £250 ex.

[john]

Netgear DG834G on 8MB ADSL

[browolf]

draytek stuff looks nice; but the cost....my 3com was perfectly ok on 2mb. im borrowing a linksys to try out and an adsl filter to try with the test socket. kitz reckons the DSL-G604T can hold up a really low line.

 

i have wierd line noise...see file

[Nij.UK]

I have to reboot my linksys router on a daily basis, i think its something to do with the high usage of bittorrent. I need to change it i think, but at the moment im on NTL and am moving house, and NTL dont supply there netowrk there, so will wait and get ADSL one.....

[browolf]

i had to tweak hidden settings on mine that helped me stop having to reboot pretty often from high bittorrent usage

 

does the linksys wag45g support 8mb? they're pretty cheap on ebay.

[Ric_]

@browolf: I don't think that the WAG54G supports MAX and I wouldn't buy another if you paid me (unless you paid me enough to cover the cost of the router plus the cost of a decent one).

 

As I mention above, my Linksys had no end of problems and I don't tend to use bittorrent or any other 'complicated' things.

[browolf]

the trouble with bittorent is that it tends to appear like a DDOS to a router. i had lots of problems until i tweaked the DoS Detect Criteria.

 

certain things point towards my problems being the line. noticed its crackly on the phone when broadband goes bad. so im becoming disinclined to buy a brand new one. having trouble finding anyone with a spare router, funnily enough, to test, thought might buy a cheap crappy one.

[webman]

I've got an older Linksys AG241 at the moment and never had a problem with it. It lacks logging features and the basic web filtering doesn't seem to work, but it is a very solid router and copes with my 6Mbit DSL connection fine.

 

Friends have had D-Link G604Ts, Netgear DG834s and asorted Thompsons; and have had no end of problems with them.

 

Also stay clear of Safecom/Origo dual-function devices (eg. Ebuyer Extra Value) - router for the first few months then a paperweight thereafter My first one eventually gave up responding to the factory-reset button and acted as a switch for a period of time

[plexer]

I had 2 origo routers from ebuyer first one had faulty power connector and the second one has done fine apart from a few reboots required every now and then until I replaced it recently with a s/h BT voayger I forget the model.

 

This has so far been excellent.

 

Ben

[browolf]

does anyone know what the following things in my router mean exactly?

 

near end indicator

far end indicator

 

Interleaved Path FEC Correction

Fast Path CRC Error

Interleaved Path CRC Error

Loss of Signal Defect

Fast Path HEC Error

Interleaved Path HEC Error

[Geoff]

Linux box here.

[browolf]

i bought a D-LINK DSL-G604T off efbay. it seems to be fairly well respected and sought after ~ £35

[Midget]

Thomson SpeedTouch 585 v6 here. Seems good, works well on my long line. Wireless doesnt have spectacular range, but has all the encryption protocols.

[browolf]

Still using the same D-Link DSL-G604T. I did have a problem with my phone line. Eventually BT replaced the wire from pole to socket. Router managed to hold a connection at 128k & when the phone was unusable from static.

 

Only 8mb but I'm quite happy with the max speed I get now. Since I disabled dns on it (using a free windows one & bind on ubuntu) don't need to reboot it for months & months! Amazingly you can still get them on ebay for 10-20 quid.

[cpjitservices]

Thomson TG585

 

Not A bad router, its had numerous Line re-syncs from my ISP ranging from 1 to 11 meg and its never missed a beat although I have heard some bad things about it, I'm on an 11 Meg connection and it does fine - I use Bittorrent on a regular basis and its fine it hasnt been turned off or rebooted in months, i got my connection in February and have had it on since. It has a CLI but there's not much need in using it as the Web Interface does everything you want it too.

 

I'd look at getting another If this one died, it's been a great little router.

 

I was downloading on bittorrent last night at 3.5 MB a sec so the router is handling the speeds just fine.

[mrbios]

Stupid answer but the best one i've had is a cisco 867 router

 

Personally always hated dlink and linksys home kit, have a reliable US robotics box once but that was years ago. Netgear are my prefered home broadband router provider, the DG834s were good but they're a bit long in the tooth now, the DGN ones aren't bad either, just don't pay through the nose for the ones that are £100+!

[Steve_T]

Not sure about max support, but have been using a Wag320n for months now, solid as a rock and i average over 10gb a day through bit torrent. Give you a few gig ports too which was nice along with a few other features like shared usb drive etc etc.

[SYNACK]

From personal experience with Netgear and Dlink home routers on rubbish lines avoid both like the plague. I used to burn out a DLink about every 6 months with torrenting (to the point where it would only say up about 2 minutes after boot) and with the tiny NZ data caps that is saying something.

 

Go Draytek, it may cost more but you should not have to reboot it every week/day link many of the alternatives.