Which Router Is Best?

Barewolf · 16-09-2010, 09:35

I'm experiencing some problems with my desktop PC which is connected wirelessly in our office.

Our router is a talk talk router HG520b, and we are on channel 13 if this makes any sense to you. An engineer told us to change it to channel 9, if we do this then the laptop can connect wirelessly anywhere in the house, but the desktop wont connect, if i change it to channel 13 then the desktop connects but the laptop doesnt.

I dont know what range a talk talk router has, so i have been looking at routers from GUS Catalogue, and I came across....

http://www.greatuniversal.com/buffal...536-sku6243176

It certainly looks good, and it has good ratings, but i was wondering if anyone could recommend a good router, or even vouch for the buffalo?

I dont know why we are having so many problems, theres only 2 walls between the router and the desktop, and in meters theres only a distance of about 10 meters from point A-B.

arcimedes · 16-09-2010, 10:06

Have you tried any other channels? You can choose any number between 1 and 13. It would also be useful to find soome software to down load to identify what networks are in you in the neighbourhood and then choose the one thats least used.

Info on software has been posted recently I cant remember where though.

just found it! do a search for netstumbler

Waldo Pepper · 16-09-2010, 11:02

Google Xirrus Wi Fi monitor. That works for me.
As for a router, I use the Netgear Pro FVG318 8 port VPN router. Not cheap ~Â£130 but had no probs with it.

Tali · 16-09-2010, 13:43

I used to have an issue connecting to channel 13 on a linksys WRT54G. My PC used a Belkin wireless card. The drivers for the Belkin used to default to a country other than UK, so only channels 1-11 were available. I had to change the country to UK in the Belkin software for it to be able to recognise channel 13 and connect. Could your problem be similar?

Barewolf · 17-09-2010, 11:57

Ive only tried channel 9,10, and 13

Talk Talk told me I wouldnt have a problem with 13, and I dont with my Desktop PC

I will try channels 1-11 in sequence to see if it resolves the problem, i doubt it will though, lets face it, these big broadband companies dont exactly give you good hardware like routers for free, the talk talk router I have probably has a very limited range, and speed, and thats probably not helping my situation.

Its a pitty theres nothing on google about the speed and range of the router, it would help me make a decision on which router to get.

I will also try your Xirrus Wi Fi monitor and see if this can shed some light on the problem, but it seems that a new router will be the only option. My concern is that even with a new router, the problem will persist, in which case theres no point in me having my desktop PC anymore as I cant move it and i cant connect it via ethernet either

DocDutch · 17-09-2010, 17:01

bare give each channel around 20 mins to "settle" also might be worth to either get a n router or homeplug

Lord Nikon · 17-09-2010, 23:52

I would run netstumbler to see if there is congestion on the channels you are choosing, walk around the place with a laptop running it, find the least congested channel and use it.

arcimedes · 18-09-2010, 08:30

If you do get a new router do make sure that you get one with a built in ADSL modem. I looked at the one from GUS you found and that is a pure router and if used would have to be connected by ethernet cable to the talktalk router.

Have you tried connecting the desktop via ethernet cable? It wasnt clear from what you said. What card are you using in the desktop for enet connection and could you print out its configuration?

Go to Control Panel - Network and Internet - Network and sharing center
then Change Adapter Settings ..... then click on card used for enet and select properties

There is a lot of info there.

Matth · 18-09-2010, 18:58

The problem with 13 - it's in the UK allocation, but not the US one, so anything set for US spec (and sometimes, not possible to change!), will not find channel 13.

The other issue, is the channel overlap, meaning that while there are 13 channels, there are only a few practical groups.

The "default" 1-11 plan uses CH1, 6, 11, and is compleletely non-overlapped.
The ideal 1-13 plan is CH1, 5, 9, 13 - but 5 overlaps 6 badly, while 9 & 13 overlap 11

Some favour a compromise 1-11 plan, of 1, 4, 7, 11 - with a degree of overlap.

Essentially, a spacing of 5 is completely clear, 4 just clips edge to edge, 3 has some overlap, while at 2 or 1 spacing, they are seriously overlapped.

The channels of networks broadcasting SSID can usually be identified, but the channel scan does not identify noise from other devices such as video senders.

The wireless N spec, using TWO channels to increase speed, further adds to the congestion.

Barewolf · 21-09-2010, 16:57

I didnt realise it was a pure router, arcamedes was right, i did have to rig the router via the talk talk modem, i should have double checked, however its not all bad news as i am going to connect the new router via the talk talk one and use it as an access point upstairs.

the router itself is quite good though, i can even connect to the net from the bottom of the garden, so the range must be a hell of a lot better than the talk talk router.

i have also set the router to automatic channel, checking each channel did nothing while i had only the talk talk router, at least now it's working as it should.