New equipment compatibility

[topbox]

Hello all

I have a Lenovo ultrabook running Windows 8.1, a Netgear DGN 1000 router and a small Sonos rig with a Play5 plugged-in to the router and a 'connect' to a Bose in another room. The Bose is the 'most expensive clock-radio in the world' type. I've been with IDNet for years and am now on the basic ADSL+ package. It all works well.

I'm thinking of getting a Netgear RS300 router (over-kill I know but hey-ho) and upgrading to either the 'pro' ADSL+ package  or the equivalent fibre-to-somewhere-near-your-front-door.

Can anyone tell me if there are any reasons (apart from financial) why this would be a bad move?

BTW, I had a quick look at IDNet's site and could see no mention of peak/off-peak download allowances. Have they been removed?

[Steve]

I'm assuming you mean the RS6300? I'm not up on Netgears anymore but it's a high spec router with 802.11 AC WiFi, so if you have devices that support this standard or intend to in the future it should provide improved WiFi performance. In may give better legacy support for your current devices as well. Bear in mind that it is just a router as far as I can tell with no modem, so for your current connection you'll need an adsl modem however if you intend to go for FTTC it's with WAN ethernet input will be compatible with an FTTC modem.

[topbox]

Thanks Steve, yes I did mean the 6300 and I didn't realise it needs a separate modem  It's a long time since I bought a router and I just didn't give a thought.

I'm just looking for a router that's future-proof'ish , simple to set up and relatively fast with a reasonable range.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Bill

[Steve]

Since getting FTTC I've lost touch with adsl modem router combinations. Future proof- it's needs a WAN input to support PPPoE for FTTC, Gigabit Ethernet, Dual band WiFi to support 5Ghz network and AC WiFi compatibility is at the bottom of my list. If you intend to support this standard in the next year or so than may be worth going for but if not dual band N WiFi is sufficient.

The Netgear equivalent would be the D6300 but no idea on it's performance, Gary if he's around later may have some ideas.

[Gary]

The R6300v2 is a great router but as said has no modem, but you can pick a modem up for £13 from amazon. The D6300 is a nightmare, I ditched mine and swapped it via Netgear for the R6300v2 because it constantly droped connection and the web GUI has issues. Also its very expensive and huge. The R6300v2 has fantastic range, good support for legacy devices and uses Broadcoms second generation BCM4708 SoC its been very reliable and lightning fast. You can get this http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TD-8817-Ethernet-Router-Connections/dp/B003FZ3QSK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405504958&sr=8-3&keywords=Adsl2%2B+modems modem from amazon, and tbh having separate modem and router does offer more flexibility I have found to all in one units.

I wouldn't go back to an all in one and before I got FTTC the R6300v2 improved the speed and reach of my wifi and I used a Draytec Modem but they are about £50 although you can pick the up second hand quite cheaply and they are plug and play. As to 802.11.ac most new smartphones for instance now support 802.11.ac and for example Apples range of computers do now pretty much and its  replacing 802.11.n so if buying a new router its a no brainer. The R6300v2 is about £128 now on Amazon, if you do buy one DONT by the v1 and avoid the R7000 and new R8000 they are snake oil and unnecessary for most peoples needs. 

[MisterW]

The R6300v2 is a great router but as said has no modem, but you can pick a modem up for £13 from amazon.

As an Interim measure if you are going to FTTC eventually, you may be able to use the DGN 1000 in 'bridge' mode as a modem http://forum1.netgear.com/showthread.php?t=74700 whilst you are still on ADSL.

[topbox]

Thanks very much all for your help and advice on this subject. It's a lot clearer now so my wife and I can plan our upgrade much more easily and with greater confidence 

[Simon]

Welcome to the forum! 

[Technical Ben]

Sonos are wired input, then hop onto their own mesh wifi network. So assuming they don't have any wifi interference... (As a little secret bit of insider info, the Play5 only supports 1 band of mesh network, and swaps channels, the 3 and 2 can swap bands and channels) then all will be ok.