Best ADSL Router

uxbod · Mar 05, 2008, 10:53:21

As always I like to squeeze as much performance out of what I buy. So what is the best ADSL router around at the moment ? I don't require WiFi or firewall as I have Cisco kit to handle that.

I currently have a Vigor 2600 which is about 4 years old so perhaps a upgrade may be in order as new performance enhancement of ADSL are introduced.

Thoughts ?

Rik · Mar 05, 2008, 10:58:53

There isn't a best router, tbh, since the introduction of Max, we've increasingly seen that what works for one person is useless for another. That said, the best performers overall seem to be:

2-Wire 2700HGV
Netgear DG834
Speedtouch 585

I had a 2600 before Max. It was brilliant on a fixed-rate product, but just didn't hold the line well once I moved to rate-adaptive. I switched to the humble Netgear, and that did a solid job, but the 2700 has added 1000k to my profile.

merlin · Mar 05, 2008, 11:01:20

a 2wire (yes thats the makers name) 2700, seems to be the hot favourite at the moment, they seem more stable than most ,and usually add more speed , even to poor lines

cheap as chips on ebay. (except for one seller known as "digi dave" who did seem to have a dodgy batch)

IF you can get a new one ,rather than second hand, it comes with a stand for vertical use, as it does have a large footprint

uxbod · Mar 05, 2008, 11:09:04

Can only see BT branded ones for the 2700. Is there a UK reseller ?

Rik · Mar 05, 2008, 11:17:42

No, eBay only. The only official channel to get one is to become a BT business BB customer.

uxbod · Mar 05, 2008, 11:20:07

Hmmm, me thinks that is not going to happen

will keep an eye on *bay for one. Thanks.

merlin · Mar 05, 2008, 11:21:39

bt branded is good to go !! go buy

uxbod · Mar 05, 2008, 11:24:06

does not appear to be many on there at the moment. is the 2700HGV the same ?

Rik · Mar 05, 2008, 11:26:20

This seller has had a good rep in the past. The HGV has VOIP, but it only works if you're with BT.

Inactive · Mar 05, 2008, 11:28:59

Indeed Rik, but she doesn't have any listed now, may be worth sending her a message.

Rik · Mar 05, 2008, 11:30:58

I wonder if the supply is drying up?

uxbod · Mar 05, 2008, 11:31:51

Done. Thanks.

Niall · Mar 06, 2008, 18:24:54

Don't forget the Zyxel routers. They're great routers that are highly configurable. Some have had problems with them for Xbox Live, but the one I have (660H I think it is, I've just given it to my sisters other half) works fine with everything. It has no wireless options though. They're possibly a little OTT for the novice, but with patience can be set up nice and securely, plus you can control bandwidth allocation to each device on the network

Den · Mar 06, 2008, 18:34:42

The 2700HGV can be bought direct from the BT shop on line (new) for £92.82 inc V.A.T. and you dont have to have your broadband with BT.

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 18:35:33

That's new, isn't it, Den? I wonder how that will affect the eBay supply?

Den · Mar 06, 2008, 18:39:37

No, it's not new, just had not looked before then thought I would.

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 18:41:14

Mind you, the price is very steep these days. Maybe a couple of years ago it would have been alright, but not now.

Simon · Mar 06, 2008, 18:43:30

That's quite expensive for a router, isn't it? They might be good, but are they that good?

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 18:47:17

Not if you can get them from eBay for £20-25...

Simon · Mar 06, 2008, 19:07:57

Pedant!

Mind you, a new one might work better, without the need for all the buggering about with poisoning or firmware.

Lona · Mar 06, 2008, 19:21:23

Here's my router which I've had from day one on BB. It has never let me down. I paid over £56 and Amazon are doing it for just over £31.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-Wireless-G-ADSL-Gateway-Annex/dp/B000IG78QA/ref=pd_sbs_ce?ie=UTF8&qid=1204831165&sr=8-1

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 19:23:00

Quote from: Simon on Mar 06, 2008, 19:07:57
Pedant! Mind you, a new one might work better, without the need for all the buggering about with poisoning or firmware.

I suspect it would still need the tweaks, unless they sold them as unlocked.

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 19:23:56

Quote from: lona on Mar 06, 2008, 19:21:23
Here's my router which I've had from day one on BB. It has never let me down. I paid over £56 and Amazon are doing it for just over £31.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-Wireless-G-ADSL-Gateway-Annex/dp/B000IG78QA/ref=pd_sbs_ce?ie=UTF8&qid=1204831165&sr=8-1

Er, £34.99, Lona. You've not been taking your 'medicine' again have you?

Gary · Mar 06, 2008, 19:24:17

Some of the Fritzbox routers are well over £100 pounds but they have a lot of features

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 19:25:09

So are Drayteks, Gary. And then there's... Cisco!!

Gary · Mar 06, 2008, 19:25:40

Quote from: Den on Mar 06, 2008, 18:34:42
The 2700HGV can be bought direct from the BT shop on line (new) for £92.82 inc V.A.T. and you dont have to have your broadband with BT.

I noticed the evil that is Dabs had them a while ago for the same price, but since they are owned by BT, no surprise there

Gary · Mar 06, 2008, 19:26:25

Quote from: Rik on Mar 06, 2008, 19:25:09
So are Drayteks, Gary. And then there's... Cisco!!

We wont even go there Rik, unless you doing that bank job with me later 8)

Lona · Mar 06, 2008, 19:26:57

QuoteEr, £34.99, Lona. You've not been taking your 'medicine' again have you?

What's a few quid among friends. Actually I put the wrong url up then went in and modified it but forgot to change the price.

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 19:27:26

Quote from: Killhippie on Mar 06, 2008, 19:26:25
We wont even go there Rik, unless you doing that bank job with me later 8)

I've got the striped T shirt ready, Gary.

Rik · Mar 06, 2008, 19:27:52

Quote from: lona on Mar 06, 2008, 19:26:57
What's a few quid among friends. Actually I put the wrong url up then went in and modified it but forgot to change the price.

You'll fit in just fine here.

Gary · Mar 06, 2008, 19:28:44

Quote from: Rik on Mar 06, 2008, 19:27:26
I've got the striped T shirt ready, Gary.

I have mine too

Simon · Mar 06, 2008, 22:44:04

Quote from: lona on Mar 06, 2008, 19:21:23
Here's my router which I've had from day one on BB. It has never let me down. I paid over £56 and Amazon are doing it for just over £31.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-Wireless-G-ADSL-Gateway-Annex/dp/B000IG78QA/ref=pd_sbs_ce?ie=UTF8&qid=1204831165&sr=8-1

I remember you getting that, Lona. Must have been about the same time I got my Netgear, in the days when Pipex were good.

Simon · Mar 06, 2008, 22:49:46

Quote from: lona on Mar 06, 2008, 19:26:57
What's a few quid among friends.

Don't say that, Lona, they are experts at spending other people's money round here! They have already cost me a printer, several routers, and a digital camera!

Niall · Mar 06, 2008, 22:50:51

Quote from: Killhippie on Mar 06, 2008, 19:25:40
the evil that is Dabs

Evil, dirty, dirty retailer.

My mate worked for them for a while and was escorted off their premises because he was moving jobs to a small rival, and mentioned it to someone that worked at Dabs. Paranoid much?

Simon · Mar 06, 2008, 23:21:25

Actually, I've never had a problem with Dabs. $:-\$

Rik · Mar 07, 2008, 00:53:36

So it's the dibs which trouble you is it??

Mytheroo · Mar 07, 2008, 03:03:02

I'm down to just one or two dabs a weekend now.

Gary · Mar 07, 2008, 07:51:50

Quote from: Simon on Mar 06, 2008, 23:21:25
Actually, I've never had a problem with Dabs. $:-\$

I have never had a product from Dabs that's not had to go back Simon, and the fact you have to rely on email is just a pain in the backside as well, sometimes you need to call someone to sort things out, I received a digital camera for someone and it broke within a month, I wonder how their stock is treated or where it comes from, I won't touch them with a barge poll after two Sony computers failed to even boot

and a monitor turned up with a green hue you could not get rid of and the box looked suspiciously like it had been opened, the other thing is it takes to damn long to get refunds sorted as well.

uxbod · Mar 07, 2008, 08:36:47

Quote from: Niall on Mar 06, 2008, 22:50:51
Evil, dirty, dirty retailer.

My mate worked for them for a while and was escorted off their premises because he was moving jobs to a small rival, and mentioned it to someone that worked at Dabs. Paranoid much?

In IT it is not uncommon to be walked off the premises. I have had it done to me at a couple of place, its quite a laugh really. One place I got a whole months gardening leave when I resigned. I did have 'root' access though to a lot of systems

somanyholes · Mar 07, 2008, 08:59:08

i'd be quite tempted to get a cisco tbh, especially if you are still thinking about putting the asa in. you can get something like an 837 off ebay cheap enough. If you are using an asa i can't see the point of having a natted routers features, not a fan of the two wires myself, though people on here like the line stats.

uxbod · Mar 07, 2008, 09:02:16

Yeah I have the got ASA5505 now, and also a 1130AG AP to sit behind it

Locking down my whole network so will see what Cisco have to offer aswell. Just need it to provide the ADSL routing function as everything else is performed by separate units. I appreciate when using separates you get a little extra latency but the higher level of security outways the performance loss.

Do appreciate everyone's posts

somanyholes · Mar 07, 2008, 09:05:40

get cisco then mate, all your doing by having another natting/partial security device is adding latency and troubleshooting issues. the asa will do everything you need on the security front. As you have said all you need is a routing device nothing else.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/837_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40

cheap enough as you can see, i get decent speeds with one of these.

Rik · Mar 07, 2008, 10:15:21

Quote from: uxbod on Mar 07, 2008, 08:36:47
In IT it is not uncommon to be walked off the premises.

It's very common in sales, too.

Simon · Mar 07, 2008, 11:16:04

Quote from: Killhippie on Mar 07, 2008, 07:51:50
I have never had a product from Dabs that's not had to go back Simon, and the fact you have to rely on email is just a pain in the backside as well, sometimes you need to call someone to sort things out, I received a digital camera for someone and it broke within a month, I wonder how their stock is treated or where it comes from, I won't touch them with a barge poll after two Sony computers failed to even boot and a monitor turned up with a green hue you could not get rid of and the box looked suspiciously like it had been opened, the other thing is it takes to damn long to get refunds sorted as well.

You've obviously had some bad experiences with them, Gary. I can only speak as I find, but have to say, I haven't used them recently, mainly because of the rise of Ebuyer.

somanyholes · Mar 07, 2008, 11:19:54

Quotemainly because of the rise of Ebuyer.

thank god you can actually ring them up now

was a real pain before with their enotes which where terrible most of the time.

uxbod · Mar 07, 2008, 11:50:54

Well got my eye on a Cisco 877 (without) WiFi

Cisco all the way through the network then which is nice.

somanyholes · Mar 07, 2008, 12:09:29

even better

Lona · Mar 07, 2008, 18:37:18

QuoteI remember you getting that, Lona. Must have been about the same time I got my Netgear, in the days when Pipex were good.

It is indeed my one and only router I've ever had. It's running 3 pc's plus a wireless connection to laptop and has never let me down.

My daughter has a netgear which I got her on Ebay for £28 and it works fine also.

Rik · Mar 07, 2008, 18:41:17

You're not running a 'net cafe on the side are you, Lona?

Lona · Mar 07, 2008, 19:13:55

Quote from: Rik on Mar 07, 2008, 18:41:17
You're not running a 'net cafe on the side are you, Lona?

Never thought of that, I could make a fortune.

Hubby, Son and me.

Rik · Mar 07, 2008, 19:17:13

I hope you're charging them by the byte.

Simon · Mar 07, 2008, 21:09:45

What are your speeds like, Lona? Any better than Zen?

Lona · Mar 07, 2008, 21:49:42

I have to say my speeds are not as good as Zen. I was getting 5.1 with Zen but just 4 with idnet but it's early days yet so I'm not complaining.

Simon · Mar 07, 2008, 22:08:49

I'm sure that could be improved on, Lona. It may be a short term result of the move. If you know how to get the stats from that router, you might want to post them, for one of the techies to have a look, and also try a test at http://test.speedtester.bt.com:50301/ if you can get it to work.