Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Hi All,

I am thinking about upgrading to a different router as since I have moved to a bigger house I am getting lower signal strength in some rooms and it sometimes disconnects if the signal is that low. The router i'm currently using is a Belkin F5D7230-4 v1000uk Wireless G Router. I only have 2mb Virgin Media Cable Broadband so speed isn't an issue. It is more range I am looking for, and preferably one of the kits that includes a USB adaptor for my computer upstairs. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

:)~Ben B~:)

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

I had a similar problem with my house. This is a big old Victorian property with loads of solid walls.
I could not get reliable wireless coverage throughout the property. The solution that worked for me was to add a 'wireless access point' as a signal repeater.
The main wireless router gives me coverage at the front of the house and is bridged across to the WAP at the rear of the house. The combination of the 2 points now seems to work just fine.

Looks like Belkin do a unit matched to your router.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=278082

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Wireless isn't supposed to have a massive range, so changing routers might well not solve the problem.

Changing router location, might be more beneficial, but probably impractical.

Some routers do allow third party firmware which adds controls that mean you can increase the signal strength. Who knows whether that might be detrimental to your future health and sperm count :eek: so probably not a good idea.

That leaves two alternatives. Adding the signal repeater, as indicated above (cost benefits, only the one bit of kit too add / change), or looking at an alternative networking solution such as the LAN over power supply systems, Homeplug I think it's called (cost may be high as lots of things need to change or be added).

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Costs aren't too bad, £50 for a fast pair (http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline.htm). You could then have your WAP (or router) wherever you like.

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

actually rob, changing old kit for the right type of new router (and matching client wireless cards)will make a large difference (if you dont go for the cheapest you can get), mimo devices are designed exactly for these reasons.

rather than mess around with signal repeaters , they are just APs in a different mode after all, most people are far better just linking two wireless routers/APs together with generic rj45 cable on a cheap switch/router and connecting to the nearest one with your wireless PCs if you have your cash invested in old cheap and slow kit already.

going through the wired router/switch keeps more wireless throughput for each wireless AP/router.

its also wise to consider the CPU inside your new kit for getting better throughput, and while the OP says its not speed their after, they might have forgot to include PC to PC copying speeds.

so a faster connection is always a consideration weather its wired or wireless, unless you enjoy sitting there for hours while you copy those remote pc DVD ISO to the local HD before you use your DVD writing SW etc..

take a look at this thread for a good URL and perhaps better future proofing your network.
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/87...l#post34465076

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Ben, you could go for an N range router and I've seen on Novatech the belkin N router F5D8231uk + F5D8051 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?B5DUK061) which is an alright piece of kit.

but my personal preference goes to NOT using USB adapters for wlan as usb isnt always as reliable as PCI or even PCI Express.

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

I stand corrected

<<<<< :dunce: ;)

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Dont know a lot about routers, but im using a Netgear router. Model number WGT624 V3 upstairs in my office (I live upstairs in a pub). Downstairs; right up the other end of the pub (About 30 meters), through a concrete floor, I can still use my wireless on my laptop which has built in WLAN.

When I bought this router about 8 months ago (I think it was around £80), ir came bundled with a usb wireless adaptor, but ive not used it so not sure what thats like.

Just thought I'd share that with you ;)

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

This one looks interesting, I didn't know you could get the N routers that cheap. Then again I was looking on the PC Rip Off World Webite

:)~Ben B~:)

EDIT: Just too good to be true, its an ADSL router :(

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

If you have an Ebay account try this guy:

http://search.stores.ebay.co.uk/Plan...ngemaxQQsofpZ0

I have had a few bits n bobs of him without a problem.

I would go for a wireless n router for better range and coverage.......

might get one of them myself!

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

you obviously didnt take the advice and look at that thread and url link i placed there.

if you look,you can find 11N routers today from around £60 for the 10/100 WAN/LAN to around £110 for the bells and wistles 1gigabit wired/300Mbit wireless gaming kit.

the average 10/100/1000 WAN/LAN 11N routers are around that £70/£85 mark.

personally the D-Link DIR-655 unit looks like a good investment but a little high in price just now, but thats the choice, go cheap and pay later in slow throughput and lacking in full function, or pay slightly more and now and get better long term useage.

just read the link, work out what unit suits you best for the long term (learn the reasons behind the speed/range etc for a unit), and go look for a good price based on that unit.

also dont be fooled into the usual if its a higher price its better, you need to understand at least the basics of why a wireless unit might be better even if its cheaper.

if you understand the limitations and then go for the slower unit thats your choice OC, as is realising one version of a unit might not be the same as another version even if its got the same name.

if you get a new 11n it might be a good thing if you gave the full version and spec in the url below to help expand the thread for future use.
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/87...l#post34465076

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/compo...rt/Itemid,189/

PS it seems theres far to many people not searching for or reading/replying to the existing Can anyone recommend a router type threads, perhaps a merge of threads might make it clearer to these wanting info and advice rather than have to keep repeating ones self over and over here...

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Sod all the hype about wireless-n

This router is a give away...

http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/prod...id=434&osCsid=

What other router has an option to 'turn down' the wifi output ?

You can also flash with dd-wrt. Best router on the market imho.

I liked it so much that I didn't even bother flashing it.

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

I can only speak for myself and my experience, I have a Netgear Rangemax Wireless-N and it works absolutely fine with everything (desktop, laptop and xbox) even when I'm in the loft 2 floors up! I'd reccomend it and they're now fairly cheap at around £40. :tu:

Cla

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

There is also a homeplug wireless extender available now.

So you plug SACM to existing router then LAN on that to homeplug 1 over mains to 2nd homeplug that has a wireless A/P on it (and a LAN port). PCW were pretty pleased with it.

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

I have one of these. Not cheap, at £120, but it works a treat. I'm in an old (Edwardian) house where the wifi signal is very poor. I was unable to stream MP3s over my network. I got this starter kit, plugged one plug in at the router site and the access point in the lounge and it's worked flawlessly from day one. Obviously the price is a drawback, but I'd recommend it to anyone.

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Ben B

Re your post on 20/01/08

Last week I went into my local (small) computer shop to enquire re connecting my laptop wirelessly to my desktop pc.
I told him I had Virgin, cable broadband.
I was advised to use the:-

Belkin Wireless 802.11N Bundle With Belkin ADSL Wireless N Router & Belkin Wireless 802.11N USB Adapter

The dealer told me that he had connected these to cable modem computers as easily as connecting to ADSL.

He said if there were problems to return the Belkin bundle to him.

I have, with the help of my daughter-in-law, set up my wireless connection easily.
I have kept my desktop wired, just through choice.

REGARDS

Church Mouse

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

^ then surely its not an ADSL router if it works with cable but rather a cable/dsl router.

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Yeh I think I am going to go for one of these kits, just comparing prices for them in various places. As said by dragon its probably a cable/dsl router if it works with Virgin.

:)~Ben B~:)

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

your going to buy some kit without confirming weather it infact even works with your chosen BB connection, thats brave or something else of you Ben.

you did at least do a quick problem search on the belkin 11n USB stick didnt you?, that would have shown that currently, the USB stick has some fault with its driver and so its probably better to get the PCi/PCMCIA/cardbus version rather than the USB version at this time.

what is the exact model No. of this Belkin Wireless 802.11N Bundle Church Mouses salesmens recomended, direct URL the PDF/html spec please.

like i already said in this very thread, you obviously didnt take the advice given, so good look to you getting a good throughput, or even managing to connect all your new kit and getting it working together.

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Hi

Exact model no. is FSD7230uk4

I took the advice of the salesman because I visit this shop regularly and purchase most of my pc requirements from them, they have always been excellent with support.
I was also told I could return the product if I had problems.

Anyway, I am satisfied with this product.

My desktop pc (XP) is wired and my laptop (Vista Home Premium) was wireless enabled when I bought it.

Regards

Church Mouse

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

You can use adsl routers with cable broadband but you will have issues with the way that they work. In a adsl router they are designed to connect to adsl broadband gain and ip and distribute it. On cable broadband it works in a similar way but you could have issues with port forwarding on certain routers.

I'd following the excellent advice from users here and go with the linksys. You could always get something like a dlink and add a larger antenna (such as a 6db one) You can also get larger antennas for your pc card which may do the job without the need to upgrade the router.

Re: Can anyone recommend a router?
 

Depends if its an ADSL router or a cable/dsl router.

If its an ADSL router it will have the ADSL modem built in and therefore likely be usless for cable (Unless it has a second WAN port, but I've only ever seen 1 router that had an Inbuilt ADSL2+ modem and a wan port for cable and it was £180)

If its a cable/dsl router then it will just have an ethernet Wan port and can be plugged into either an ADSL modem or a Cable modem, this is the type you need for virigin cable.