Routers

[RA-1972]

Does different routers affect your connection speed at all ?

[Rik]

Yes is the simple answer, but finding the one which works best for you is less simple.

For me, a Netgear DG834 gave me a sync of around 2800, and a profile of 2000, 2500 on a good day. A 2-Wire 2700 HGV has increased my sync to 3600 and my profile to 3000.

[RA-1972]

ok ty mate , got 2 routers and seems slightly better then the other , i will swop back and see what my speed test is like then .

[Rik]

The Draytek Vigor 2600+ router used to be considered the Rolls Royce back before Max, but for me it wouldn't hold the line once I moved to Max. Speetouch is a good brand to try, but as Max is so 'line dependent' and the best results come from matching the chipset at the DSLAM, there's no single right answer anymore.

If you have friends with different brands, try to borrow them to see which works best for you. Just remember not to switch too frequently, or the BT software will think your line is unstable.

[RA-1972]

Ok thanks i will swop before i go to bed .

[Lance]

What ever you do, don't use a speed test to compare the two routers! You need to look at the stats from your router (sync, noise margin and attenuation), If your not sure, post both sets here and we'll take a look for you!

[Sebby]

And the other thing to mention is not to do too much "swapping". The exchange can get very upset if you do lots of re-syncs (it may see it as instability) and it can ultimately cause you to achieve lower sync.

[madasahatter]

I never realised that the choice of router could have such an effect on speed. To be honest, I thought that it was totally down to the line, wiring etc, and the router just dealt with whatever it received.

Is it the different firmware that they use, or the hardware, is it just that some routers cope with certain lines better than others, or is it just that some routers are created more equal than others?

[Rik]

It's a combination of things. The chipset used in the router can have a big effect, particularly if it matches the chipset at the DSLAM. Some routers seem to be able to negotiate better, so the find and use frequencies which are less susceptible to noise and, therefore, go faster and hold the connection better. Then there's the electronics and firmware used in the rest of the router - a router is, after all, a modem connected to a dedicated computer. The latter provides the firewall service and handles distributing data to the connected computers. The better and faster it does it, the faster you go. Finally, I guess, some things are just designed better, more shielding, better components etc. It can all add to the service your receive, the more so for long lines.

[madasahatter]

Right - so it' s a "suck it and see" situtaion with regards to finding the right router for you? Or are there any kind of "rules" or guidelines that can be applied when considering which router is the best for your particular connection?

[Rik]

Before Max, there were certain routers that I could have guaranteed would work well for you. Since Max, life has been a lot less predictable. It's pretty safe to recommend Netgear and Speedtouch, they'll do a job for most people. The 2-Wire 2700 is highly thought of by most users with long lines, but it doesn't have an official support channel (hence we have a board dedicated to it). The Draytek range were great pre-Max, but for me they didn't cope with Max at all well. Some people like Billion, Zyxel or Belkin. I'd avoid the latter myself, but that's just personal experience. I don't like D-Link, others do.

Ideally, if you can borrow routers from friends, you'll get the best answer for your line. If not, then I'd suggest the Speedtouch 585 or the Netgear DG834G if it's your first router, the 2700 is a bit daunting if you've never set up a router before.

[DeViTTo]

Right - so it' s a "suck it and see" situtaion with regards to finding the right router for you? Or are there any kind of "rules" or guidelines that can be applied when considering which router is the best for your particular connection?

Try and find reviews of makes and features  found in routers. Ask people on this forum as you have done what Routers they use.

You might want to consider not just the internet only but features that support your internal LAN.

Dont allways rule out Cable modems though some of which offer better performance than staright ADSL ones.

For example I run a Dlink DIR655 which gives me a gigabit hub in which to hang my internal network off. A feature most ADSL routers lack. Also it's superb wireless N router. I use it in conjunction with a Draytel Vigor 100 which is an ADSL2 modem.

It does mean more expense, but I wouldnt go back to my old Netgear DG834G or old NokiaIP55 (webramp). I get better pings than the netgear and more control over my internal Lan usage with the excellent Qos and Streaming engine included in the DIR655. Check out reviews, it might be too much for you to consider but dont rule it out. Also a lot of people buy these by mistake for ADSL and find they cant find solution to get it working or want a one box solution. So consiquently they can be found brand new on Ebay where I found mine for £70
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/Reviews.asp?ProductID=4264

[Sebby]

As Rik says, there are some routers that are proven to be good. Personally I'd say go for a SpeedTouch 585v6; it comes highly recommended by many users, both here and on Think Broadband.

[madasahatter]

Thanks for your replies guys.

I already use a Netgear DG834G - had it for about 3 years now - it's always done the job fine and I've not had a minutes bother with it.

Was just wondering if any other might actually be better for me (seen the speedtouch 585 mentioned on here a few times), and if changing to max might be more worthwhile in terms of speed increase with a different router.

Seems like there's no real definitive answer without actually trying one, and being a tight wad I don't really want to shell out if there is gonna be no real benefit. Ho hum.

[Rik]

See how you get on first, if you have problems, we can take a look at your stats and give some advice based on what's happening.