Router Advice

[seaweasel]

Hi everyone

I'm in the process of migrating to IDNet from O2 Home Access (we're stuck with BT wholesale on our exchange) and it's been a while since I've had to look at the current router offerings so I'd appreciate some thoughts on this.

Ideally I'd like to go for something relatively future proof, e.g. gigabit Ethernet, dual radio 802.11 in order to split my N and G devices between 5 and 2.4 GHz, but I haven't found anything that quite ticks all the boxes.

My shortlist is:

Netgear DGN3500 (gigabit, 802.11n dual band, single radio)
Netgear DGN3300 (100mb, 802.11n dual band, dual radio)
Linksys WAG320 (gigabit, 802.11n dual band, single radio)

To be honest, I don't desperately need gigabit ethernet at the moment but as I mentioned I'd like to get the best I can since I don't plan on having to buy another router for a while. Also the Netgear DGN3300 seems in short supply at the moment and I'm hoping to get migrated this week, so it might be out.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,
seaweasel

[Rik]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Do you have WBC (ADSL2+) on your exchange?

[seaweasel]

Thanks Rik. Only ADSL Max at the moment unfortunately, the exchange has a target of Q2 this year for switch to 21CN though which is encouraging.

[Glenn]

 

We have a couple of users with the DGN3300 I believe (is that what Gary brought?) so they maybe able to give you their thoughts.

[Steve]

  I think the DGND3300 fits the bill, dual band is a must if you want to split the G and N. I leave my G devices on the 2.5GHz and run the N devices on 5GHz otherwise everything defaults down to the slowest device. I run an AEBS and a Vigor 120 modem which works fine on a Mac network you may however wish for an SPI firewall if your running Windows.

You can always connect the Gigabyte devices together separately using a gigabyte switch.

[Steve]

We have a couple of users with the DGN3300 I believe (is that what Gary brought?) so they maybe able to give you their thoughts.

Correct Glenn.

[seaweasel]

Thanks guys. I think the DGN3300 is the way to go - gigabit Ethernet isn't a priority just now, I think it's more important to squeeze extra bandwidth out of 802.11 for moving files around.

Airport Extreme did cross my mind Steve but I thought I may as well go for one device to rule them all so to speak. How do you find it in terms of configuration (e.g. port forwarding)? While I'm familiar with all the products, I've never owned any Airport stuff.

[Steve]

I've no real experience of the AEBS on Windows setup, its fairly straight forward on the Mac, the only device I've port mapped was the Windows Home Server, nobody else has asked for any more .The PS3 and Xbox  and the other two Windows 7 machines must work as nobody has moaned.The printer server and USB port work fine as well.

[seaweasel]

I've no real experience of the AEBS on Windows setup, its fairly straight forward on the Mac, the only device I've port mapped was the Windows Home Server, nobody else has asked for any more .The PS3 and Xbox  and the other two Windows 7 machines must work as nobody has moaned.The printer server and USB port work fine as well.

I'm Mac based, but there's one Windows 7 machine in the house. Was having a look at the DrayTek on broadbandbuyer.co.uk, is there much advantage to running the authentication from the PPPoE settings in the Extreme rather than an all in one solution like the Netgear?

[Steve]

In answer to the question I don't think there is any advantage in using the PPPOE settings plus the disadvantage is that getting the modem stats is not straightforward but it is possible.But the router does seem to work well the DGN 3300 was not out when I bought the AEBS.

[seaweasel]

Cool, thanks Steve.

[Ray]