Recommended Router for Fibre Optic

[kerrso05]

Thanks Glenn

This is the adaptor..............sorry I can't find it on the Belkin site............this is the Amazon site http://tinyurl.com/6yhxg9g

Well 2.5Mbps is the same as me and I'm getting earache from my two daughters about the speed.....that their friends get better speed (probably their friends live next the exchange).........that they can't watch You Tube (what they want to watch that for I just don't know)..........so I have to do something but at the same tine they will have to watch the Bandwidth useage as my monthly allowance will drop by moving over..............it's very much swings and roundabouts.

Thanks

[Glenn]

The Buffalo is an N spec router, so the adapter should work with it (I couldn't find it on the Belkin site either).

Griff posted a link a couple of weeks ago regarding FTTC speed increases, possibly up to 80mbps later in the year.

[kerrso05]

Wow...........those speeds would be mind blowing. I wonder would the equipment be able to handle those speeds

[Rik]

Which equipment?

[kerrso05]

Which equipment?

The Buffalo, The BT Modem etc

[pctech]

You could in theory plug the modem directly into the ethernet port on your PC as that will be a mimimum of 100 Megs and usd use a PPP clent tio authenticate the session but any router will need an ethernet WAN port to connect to the modem.

[Rik]

I suspect the BT modem is able to handle the speeds, Harry, otherwise BT will be very busy revisiting every installation. Routers shouldn't have a problem as they have a minimum 100Mb port.

[pctech]

Probably proceeded by the Fire Brigade.

[kerrso05]

It probably was the BT Modem that I was more worried about........I know the way they like to charge  


yes pctech.........you're right the Fire Birgade ..................hahaha

[Rik]

It would be covered by any upgrade charge if it needs changing, and BT will, undoubtedly charge more for the higher speeds anyway. I'm struggling to think what I would do with them.

[pctech]

Probably more business orientated or to support 'cloud' services.

[Bill]

I'm struggling to think what I would do with them.

I'm sure you'll think of something

[Rik]

 

I'm still getting used to 3.5M, Bill, after years at 2M.

[Anton]

I'm still getting used to 3.5M, Bill, after years at 2M.

Feel that leg room! ;-)

[Rik]

[kerrso05]

OK I have now talked it over with my wife and daughters and have made the decision to go for VDSL2 install and have also decided to pick the Buffalo Router that Glenn recommends (due to the price and very good reviews) but before I order one can someone quickly cast their eye over it's specifications and confirm that this is the correct router to buy....that'll work with the BT Modem.......because somewhere in it's description it says "Cable Router" (as you can see I know nothing about this subject) Also do I have to buy anything else eg. cable etc...
Here is the link to the Router:-

Buffalo Wireless - N300 Cable Router

I have also decided to pay for it monthly..........basically because it would be too much hassle to change/cancel the Direct debit that I have already set up with the Bank and Idnet.....easier all round

Thanks for all your help

[Glenn]

Harry,

I just checked, mine is the G300N http://www.crescentelectronics.co.uk/buffalo-airstation-nfiniti-wirelessn-router-access-point-wireless-router-1.html

[kerrso05]

Thanks again

I have just been on to Buffalo and spoke to a very helpful Lady who told me that I should look out for either WHR or WZR that only these models will work with Fibre Optic and she also said that if I was interested in the N300 model then I should look for Version 2. It appears that the Ebuyer model ticks all those boxes..............would you agree?

Thanks again for all your help

[Anton]

A Cable router is exactly what you need.

In general in the UK routers will be:

1. What PC world would describe as "BT" - I.E. a combined ASDL Modem and router - the type you'd use for self install copper broadband connections. Calling these "routers" is really a bit misleading as they're combined devices.

2. What PC World would describe as "Cable" - a plain router with no modem included. This is suitable for more or less any connection where you have a modem that provides an ethernet port, so that's Virgin Cable or VDSL - I.E. Where the telecoms provider installs a modem for you in your home.

The danger when listening to helplines is that they'll assume taking your broadband over a BT line must therefore mean ADSL and then go on to recommend the wrong part to you.

In general a cable router will be fine, but make sure it's a fast one! ;-)

[kerrso05]

In general a cable router will be fine, but make sure it's a fast one! ;-)

Thanks Anton, for explaining that in simple lay-mans terms....I totally understand what you mean..thanks

But, maybe you can explain your last comment "but make sure it's a fast one!"............what should I have looked out for? (mind you, it doesn't really matter now because I have already done the dirty deed and bought the Buffalo)......should I have looked for some rating figures or should I have looked at reviews before purchasing? To be perfectly honest, the whole thing is a bit of of a minefield 

Hopefully, I am doing the right thing......only time will tell but thanks to everyone here who have been very helpful and generous with their advice.......it is much appreciated.

Thanks

[Anton]

But, maybe you can explain your last comment "but make sure it's a fast one!"............what should I have looked out for?

In the old days (!) when it were all fields for miles around, the typical router you'd get at home was plenty fast enough for any speed of broadband. If you think of your connection as a chain:

PC....wireless card...router.....modem.....Broadband.....Server

your connection will only ever be as fast as the slowest link. If you're moving from say a 2mb connection, where that was pretty much certain to be the weak link to a 40mb connection, suddenly your home router, wireless card and PC need to be up to the job.

If you're connecting over an Ethernet wire, it's almost certain to be 100mb or 1Gb, both much faster than the 40mb your broadband will deliver. There are two things to look out for. A router needs to be able to handle 40mb on it's WAN port (the connection to the BT modem) and if you're using wireless, you really need to use one of the various "802.11N" standard wireless cards as the older "802.11B" and "802.11G" standards cant reliably deliver a >40mb connection.

As you say, you've done the deed, and while I'm not familiar with the router itself I'm sure someone on here will be and will confirm it's ok (or not!). Even if it isn't the fastest in the world, you'll still see good speed gains, but just not running it at maximum if that makes sense.

When BT install you, they'll test the speed and tell you what you have. That should be a rough approximation of what you then see in Real life - for example, the engineer confirmed I sync at the full 40mbps and in real life I see 37 which allowing for overheads is really the best I could hope to see.

[kerrso05]

Thanks Anton...........yes the dirty deed is done ...in all respects. I just received the Buffalo  was that quick or was that quick? Ordered in from Ebuyer one day and the next morning I receive it........and I live in Northern Ireland. That's amazingly fast.... in anyone's language.

Glenn it is really small, dinky and rather cute. I have also put my order into Idnet and about a couple seconds later I got an Email to confirm my order. Spoke to James and Miriam before I made my order...........both very helpful and courteous................but what do I expect from a Premium Company. I know I have said this before (many times) but this was the best decision I ever made coming to this Company.......they might be a bit dearer than most but customer service and internet service is second to none. Hopefully everything else will go as sweetly as this........I'll let you know how I get on.

Guys thanks again for all your help

[kerrso05]

Does anyone know how long it takes to get the order through? I thought that I would have heard by now from Idnet. I ordered the FTTC/FTTP installation on Friday last and I thought they said it would take about 4/5 days (but maybe that means work days)...........yes I know I am an impatient little .........although tomorrow would be the five days.

Knowing my luck, I will hear tomorrow that the appointment is for tomorrow.....surely not!!!

[kerrso05]

Well............guess what? I did hear on Friday.........but not from Idnet but from BT saying that an Engineer would be calling with me on Tuesday Morning. Don't know why Idnet didn't Email me, as I requested them to do but hey why should I complain, at least someone has kept me in the loop and it is going to happen very soon. I'll let you all know how I got on and whether or not it was a good idea to go down this route

[Simon_idnet]

Hi Harry

Our portal database still had your old (Eclipse) email address listed. I've now updated that to your idnet.com address for you.

Regards
Simon