My router may be on the way out

[mrapoc]

Well speeds are normally ok, but web pages etc. sometimes take forever to load, resulting in more than normal router restarts (by me, fed up of waiting).

It also randomly decides its gonna start blocking a port I have opened making me have to open config, reinsert ports etc. and reapply   
It also switches between opening the ports for PC and PSP, even though I set it to PC 

Wireless also randomly decides if its gonna let me in, or give me a DNS error  Its almost a joke.
Its a speedtouch 580 with latest firmware (stopped making new firmware a while back) and I got it for £20 + £10 postage off ebay about a year and a half ago. Just wondering which router would be best to replace it (for top gaming pings, good download speeds - torrent friendly - and wireless) and not be crazily £££££ 

Also a good configuration would be helpful....I've seen some configuration pages for Belkin I think! Its stupid having to insert lots and lots of settings 

[Rik]

I've given up making router recommendations since Max arrived. What used to be a cast-iron certainty, is no longer necessarily the case. For example, I had a Draytek 2600+ under 'vanilla' ADSL, but it didn't hold the line well under Max and I now run the ubiquitous Netgear DG834 or 834G. Both have performed brilliantly.

My best advice would be to talk to your friends and see if they will bring their routers round for you to test. In my (limited) experience, Belking would not be high on the shopping list, but I'd look at the current Speedtouch and Netgear ranges, possibly D-Link (mixed reports).

HTH

[CaptainSlow]

I've stopped saying which one I like too as they seem to change in character just after I've said something!

An Assus stayed on for 3-4 Years, then did what you're describing, and a Netgear started being a bit wobbly but still fully functional (later found out it might well have been to do with BT playing silly beggars one week), and I had to get a spare just to cover me if it did die. For the spare I went with a linksys ag241 I think it was, and liked it so much when it arrived and I tested it that I just never stopped using it! Netgear went back in the box, so it's the spare now, which was the opposite of the plan I had! 

I'll quite probably get another Linksys next. They do not cost a whole lot either. Well, mine is wired so that would make it cheaper anyway. They do an add on stackable wireless access point too and I may well go there, as it means that if one side goes down you don't implicitly lose both sides by default. 8)

[Rik]

I've stopped saying which one I like too as they seem to change in character just after I've said something!

I can empathise with that, a recommendation is the kiss of death for most equipment.