Routers...

[AvengerUK]

From a previous post, long lost somewhere...(hence the new thread!) i posted about looking for a new router, well something along those lines!

Basically, im looking for something that may or may not, in the future, be able to handle MAX/holding sync better than my current ZyXel 660H (If i ever risk changing back to max..!) - Which is a fairly cheap router, but it has suprised me with the quaility it provides (Minus the annoying Firewall/NAT port forwarding techneque!)

Thus far, ive narrowed it down to:

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=1408

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=2215

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=2381

Im leaning towards the Billion at the moment - as it seems to offer "the most". However, i also lean towards it due to something i noticed and posted about - which was around 6 months ago on TB - obviously now long lost...

...However, in reading the user manual - i hope to find what im looking for. Will edit in 10 or so minutes...i need to press post before i time out completly!

EDIT: Found it, it is in the picture below. I posted about "Coding gain" some while back, and the views on it were very mixed. However, some users said that, what ever it does, it made the line alot more stable.
So...what do you think?

EDIT: Picture didnt show well...now a link!
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/984/codinggainhm1.jpg

[Rik]

You left a Speedtouch off your list, Avenger. They are generally widely recommended.

I've had good service from the Netgear DG834 v2 and the Netgear DG834G v3 on my line, where my Draytek 2600+ just didn't hold things well when I moved to Max.

[Lance]

To me, it looks like the coding gain, when set, tells the exchange to aim for a target noise margin of 6db + setting. Obvously, a higher noise margin relates to a lower sync but should also mean that increased noise should not cause your line to drop, hence a more stable line.

I could well be wrong though!

[AvengerUK]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coding_gain

That just confuses me more...! - I might ask Billion tech support, mayaswell see if there as good as ZyXels tech support - which is very, very good.

Speedtouch, hmm, maybe...i dont have any experience using one though! - Netgear was sort of pointless of putting on my list, unless its very extremely highly recommended...i dont go for netgear products on the whole

[Rik]

Like Avenger, having read the Wiki piece on coding gain, I am sitting here going "Uh?"

Definitely worth a call to support.

[AvengerUK]

Found some information:

Q: I heard that by setting the Coding Gain, I could gain faster speed. Should I do that?

A: It is best to leave the Coding Gain to its default value, Auto. You can tweak the coding gain settings to achieve slightly higher speeds, however this is not recommended since you will lose ADSL line sync very often and the connection will become very unstable.

------------

Basically seems like a tweaking method, which could be usefull. (Yes, i know speedtouch allows a similar thing!)

Hmmm, soo many choices!

[Lance]

A: It is best to leave the Coding Gain to its default value, Auto. You can tweak the coding gain settings to achieve slightly higher speeds, however this is not recommended since you will lose ADSL line sync very often and the connection will become very unstable.

So this seems to be the opposite to what I guessed then!

[AvengerUK]

Well it has me tempted, Im going to contact support now - and ask if it can be used the acheive lower sync --> more stability.

[Rik]

You would think it could, Avenger, it sounds very much like a built-in version of the DMT tool.

Do you have any friends around you with different brands of router they'd be prepared to try on your line? Ultimately, with Max, that's the best route I've found to a new router...

[old Bill]

I noticed that Idnet have revamped the routers they are now selling.  
http://idnet.co.uk/broadband/hardware.jsp

[AvengerUK]

So they have! whats that netgear (60 quid one) like?

[Rik]

I use a DG834G v3 here, Avenger and, on my line (55db attenuation) it's been very solid, just suffering from the Netgear 'slide' on noise margin reporting.

[AvengerUK]

Not far off my atten there rik - mind you, i bet you get twice the line speed - My line was built by cave men, at best

(59db)

[Rik]

My line was built by BT, not much difference really.

I used to get a 1Mbps 'vanilla' connection at 52db attenuation, 19-20db noise margin. Today I'm synching at 3104, attenuation 55db, noise 3-9db (there's been a lot of sporadic noise around here the past couple of days - possibly power tools being used over the road).

[AvengerUK]

Ive just found this:

http://www.xgate.com

Not thinking of it for myself, however at £70 @ overclockers it may be usefull to someone else...seems a collection of very good ideas!

[Rik]

Interesting, thanks for posting the link.