Recommended Router for Fibre Optic

kerrso05 · Jun 21, 2011, 17:07:58

At the moment I am thinking of moving to Fibre Optic but I have just been told by Idnet Support that my recently purchased (all singing all dancing) Router (Belkin Play Max) cannot be used for Fibre Optic. (Is this correct?) So I was wondering what Routers those that have moved to Fibre Optic would recommend.........it would be good if I could use one that could team up with my Belkin NN adapter (at least some of my recently purchased equipment wouldn't become redundant)

Support recommended the Netgear WNR1000 which can be purchased from them at £62.40 + VAT + Postage.................but I think it can be purchased for much less elsewhere.......how good is this router? I used to use the Netgear DG834 and it was very reliable

What is the general opinion of Fibre Optic.......is it good. At the moment I get 2.5Mbps so if I was to get even half of the recommended speed of 32Mbps for Fibre Optic then it would be outstanding. Are the recommended speeds possible or is this "pie in the sky" stuff?

Your expert thoughts on this matter would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Rik · Jun 21, 2011, 17:15:39

ADSL modem routers are generally no good for fibre, as the signal is delivered over ethernet from the BT modem. The Netgear is good for the job, but many members are using the Billion 7800N, which offers more advanced features.

Most people's experience of fibre has been good (I'm still waiting

), but no-one would deny there have been teething problems with stability (often down to faulty BT modems) and speed, which seems to be down to a lack of capacity on the network for the large amount of data that people can pull down via fibre. This tends to affect those using the net around midnight in particular.

Support will be able to give you a reasonable prediction of the speed you're likely to achieve, but we can't do it from your current router stats as the distance to the cabinet should be substantially lower than that from the exchange. I'm 'promised' 36M, about 10x my current speed, but then I have a long line to the exchange and a short one to the cabinet.

Lance · Jun 21, 2011, 17:43:42

Many members do see 30mb+ so the speeds are certainly possible.

Glenn · Jun 21, 2011, 17:48:15

My estimate was 28/6 but once connected I received the full speed profile 38717/10000, my cabinet is around 500m away.

kerrso05 · Jun 21, 2011, 17:50:25

Rik..thanks as usual. The Billion seems a tad too expensive (Amazon are selling it for £120 http://tinyurl.com/6agxfpp) as the Belkin Play Max which I only recently purchased (2 months old) cost about £90 and this is now going to become reduntant..........so didn't want to pay over £100....something cheap and cheerful and of course reliable.

You say in your reply that you are waiting.......are you waiting for your Exchange to be upgraded to Fibre? Support say that I should achieve speeds around 32Mbps.........which would mind blowing.......certainly faster than 2.5mbps that I achieve with ADSL2+

Glenn · Jun 21, 2011, 17:50:29

I currently use a Buffalo Airstation Nfiniti WHR-G300Nv2 which can be purchased for around £24.

Rik · Jun 21, 2011, 17:55:28

Quote from: kerrso05 on Jun 21, 2011, 17:50:25
You say in your reply that you are waiting.......are you waiting for your Exchange to be upgraded to Fibre?

Yes, Harry, it's due at the end of the month. But then, it was also due at the end of March and the end of December, so I'm not holding my breath.

kerrso05 · Jun 21, 2011, 18:32:02

Quote from: Glenn on Jun 21, 2011, 17:50:29
I currently use a Buffalo Airstation Nfiniti WHR-G300Nv2 which can be purchased for around £24.

Now Glenn that looks more like the job £24.....amazing price.......and is it reliable and do you think it would connect to my Belkin NN adaptor? Have you had any problems with it on Fibre Optic? Were can you get it for that price?

Thanks

Glenn · Jun 21, 2011, 19:07:18

Ebuyer have it for £20.99. It's worked fine in the 8 - 10 weeks I have had it, the main issue I have had, is with the BT supplied modem, I'm on my 2nd.

kerrso05 · Jun 21, 2011, 19:22:25

Thanks Glenn.................I have just recently bought from them an excellent new Monitor and found their service second to none (except they charge for postage for Northern Ireland......but it was extremely quick) The reviews are fantastic Five Star Reviews*****

If I do purchase this router, should I install it before I change to Fibre optic or should I just wait until I change over (maybe the BT engineer would help me to set it up.......or maybe not!!!)

I read that you have been having problems with the BT Modem (overheating)......has that been sorted? and how long were you without the Internet during this fault?

Thanks

Glenn · Jun 21, 2011, 19:26:20

My line was down for 9 days, but most of that was because I was away from home, then BT had trouble getting here due to the Swinley Forest fire, most roads were closed.

kerrso05 · Jun 21, 2011, 19:30:55

OK.......this one you can't blame BT on.....they can't get into your house if you are out or away from home.

What about installing it before the Fibre Optic install or do you think I should wait and is it easy enough to install?

Thanks

PS if the BT Modem overheats is it advisable to leave it on when you are sleeping or out of the house for long periods eg. Holidays?

Glenn · Jun 21, 2011, 19:44:20

I configured my router before the BT guy arrived, he only took around 45 mins to do his work. My router didn't overheat, it failed with the DSL light flashing, it never got very warm as others have had. It's easy to install, just access it via a browser using 192.168.11.1 then follow the easy start-up guide to add your username & password.

kerrso05 · Jun 21, 2011, 20:12:29

Thanks Glenn.........so you would recommend Fibre Optic? I'm looking at the Home Plus Fire Package from Idnet. Do you think my Belkin NN Adapter will work with the buffalo?....it should shouldn't it? I'm thinking of paying the full sum upfront to get the discount price of £26.19 a month (I don't know what my wife will think of that but that is for another day!!!)

Does anyone have a picture of the BT Modem that they install........is it an ugly brute and is it better to have it installed on the wall or does it have feet so that you can install it upright and I take it, this can be placed close to the Router and no interference will effect these two pieces of equipment?

.Griff. · Jun 21, 2011, 20:20:49

Quote from: kerrso05 on Jun 21, 2011, 20:12:29
Does anyone have a picture of the BT Modem that they install........is it an ugly brute and is it better to have it installed on the wall or does it have feet so that you can install it upright and I take it, this can be placed close to the Router and no interference will effect these two pieces of equipment?

While I'm posting please don't take this the wrong way but you keep referring to it as a "fibre optic" install. That's incorrect. It's technically a VDSL2 install (Fibre to the cabinet/DSLAM and VSDL2 over existing copper to the property).

pctech · Jun 21, 2011, 20:27:53

Griff that looks like a DG834G you've got connected to the modem there or am I mistaken?

.Griff. · Jun 21, 2011, 20:33:31

Quote from: pctech on Jun 21, 2011, 20:27:53
Griff that looks like a DG834G you've got connected to the modem there or am I mistaken?

It does look like a 834G doesn't it Mitch but it's actually a WGR614 that Idnet used to recommend for FTTC.

It was absolutely useless and I replaced it with a Linksys WRT320N.

pctech · Jun 21, 2011, 20:35:43

If I get FTTP I may prob look at a Linksys though of course that depends who buys them.

kerrso05 · Jun 21, 2011, 21:16:46

Griff thanks for the pictures..........it doesn't look ugly but I see you don't have it wall mounted as it is recommended......do you have any problems with overheating? Also I see that both pieces of equipment are side by side.........obviously no interference.

I had a Linksy modem router years ago and I had awful trouble with it.......so that experience has always put me off them as a company........which I suppose is silly as all manufacturers have problems with different pieces of equipment.

Sorry for calling the installation incorrectly........I'm sure most people knew what I meant but I will try and call it by it's proper title "VDSL2 install"

Thanks again for the pictures

.Griff. · Jun 21, 2011, 21:54:39

Quote from: kerrso05 on Jun 21, 2011, 21:16:46
Sorry for calling the installation incorrectly........I'm sure most people knew what I meant but I will try and call it by it's proper title "VDSL2 install"

I only mentioned it in case you weren't quite sure of what was involved with FTTC. FTTC, Fibre, VDSL are all commonly used on these forum to describe the same thing.

Quote from: kerrso05 on Jun 21, 2011, 21:16:46
Griff thanks for the pictures..........it doesn't look ugly but I see you don't have it wall mounted as it is recommended......do you have any problems with overheating? Also I see that both pieces of equipment are side by side.........obviously no interference.

My modem has never even got warm let alone hot so I must be one of the lucky ones. As for he positioning that's an old photo from the day it was installed. I've since replaced the Netgear router with a Linksys and I've wall mounted both of them (not for temperature reasons rather aesthetics and utilising the space).

kerrso05 · Jun 21, 2011, 22:11:27

Griff, certainly your speed is fantastic.........I'd be glad if I could get half of that speed. The price of the Linksy puts me off slightly off because of the possible redundant Belkin "Play Max" Router......I really don't want to spend a lot of money on this at the moment and that's why the Buffalo interests me more ( as long as the reviews are correct...........but it also gets good reviews on the Amazon site as well)

Does the the BT Modem come with feet/plastic stand so I can put it upright?

Thanks

.Griff. · Jun 21, 2011, 22:16:30

If the Buffalo gets good reviews, and as Glenn recommends it, I'd go with that.

As for the modem it does have small feet/pads in the corners to raise it off the surface it sits on but it doesn't have a separate "attachment" to stand it up so to speak.

Glenn · Jun 22, 2011, 07:08:42

Harry, your Belkin is an ADSL 2+ router/modem, so it won't work as it does now when using an FTTC connection.

kerrso05 · Jun 22, 2011, 08:30:24

Quote from: Glenn on Jun 22, 2011, 07:08:42
Harry, your Belkin is an ADSL 2+ router/modem, so it won't work as it does now when using an FTTC connection.

Thanks Glenn...........so it's for the roof-space

What's your speed like for the VDSL2 install .....is it as good as Griffs figures and do you think I can continue to use the Belkin NN Adaptor?
I hope you don't mind me asking but did you go for the one off payment when switching over to FTTC (and save money)?
I take it you are pleased (in general) with the move

Glenn · Jun 22, 2011, 09:01:19

I went from a 2 - 2.5mb profile on ADSL Max to up to 37mb with FTTC, currently it's running at 24mb and I'm waiting for the profile to recover, but that was caused by BT's problems at the Guildford exchange, which left me without any internet for 38 hours.

I pay monthly, I didn't have the cash available upfront to pay for the year at the time, other bills to priority.

Do you have a link for the adaptor?