WNR2000 not up to the task

roughbeast · 18-10-2009, 13:28

I have been with VM 50mb virtually since Day 1. Until now I thought the WNR2000 Netgear router they supply was up to the job for home networking. True, the wireless connection is OK through 1 wall or a ceiling or two, but after that it is pretty poor. So, I have been using ex-BT powerline adaptors supporting 200mbs. I have also upgraded my PC ethernet card to gigabyte technology. However the WNR2000 only dishes out 100mbs. This is inadequate for multiple users and for video streaming from my network hard disc. (World Book 2Tb)

Good news! Well maybe. Netgear have just announced a gigabyte router with USB, perfect for working with my network HD, the WNR3500L . NETGEAR .

Question is: If I replace the VM supplied router with the new model, is the old router mine to sell on? Also are there any plans to upgrade the VM router ready for 10mb upstream? If so will it be the WNR3500L?

BenMcr · 18-10-2009, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by roughbeast

Question is: If I replace the VM supplied router with the new model, is the old router mine to sell on?

Officially no, but Virgin do not ask for them back.

Quote:

Also are there any plans to upgrade the VM router ready for 10mb upstream?

All routers that do Wireless N will be fine for a 10Mbit upload.

Quote:

If so will it be the WNR3500L?

Virgin currently supply the D-Link DIR-615 for XXL broadband

roughbeast · 18-10-2009, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Officially no, but Virgin do not ask for them back.

All routers that do Wireless N will be fine for a 10Mbit upload.

Virgin currently supply the D-Link DIR-615 for XXL broadband

Thanks for that. Given what you say I will definitely go for the WN3500L when it retails here in a few weeks. It doesn't look like the Dlink will do the job either, ie only 100mbs Lan. The wireless ought to be better than Netgear with the 2 external antennae.

BenMcr · 18-10-2009, 13:44

There is the D-Link DIR-655 which has Gigabit ethernet

Russell Winder · 18-10-2009, 14:54

Consider this Netgear router wndr3700. It has very good reviews and excellent throughput. It's on sale on pixmania -- out of stock every where else (amazon market place has it but it's expensive). It operates in 2.4 and 5Ghz (dual band)

The D-link 655 is as good but it gets very hot.

Both are draft 2 802.11N, which is different from final 802.11N. The WiFi alliance will ratify them as "N" but the Alliance have moved the goalposts: They introduced two new categories

dual stream N
multi stream N

which is essentially the real final N.

See here

The WNDR3700 is a "dual stream N", it has 8 aerials, 4 for each band, 2 incoming, two outgoing.

jcm193 · 18-10-2009, 15:12

I have to agree The D-link 655 is a great bit of kit and far better then anything netgear can offer,im not to sure about them getting hot mind mine has never had that problem.

BenMcr · 18-10-2009, 17:09

What would be good if Virgin brought this in

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Rout...ys/CG3200.aspx

slowcoach · 18-10-2009, 19:14

The D-Link 655 has fantastic firmware runs cool here 24/7 keeping 2 websites on-line.
Had D-Link's before and never had any complaint, would never consider any other makes.

roughbeast · 18-10-2009, 19:30

Interesting replies. You gave me food for thought. However one thing the WNR3500L offers is open source software, well eventually. It is possible to install download / torrent software, for example, so you can download and upload whilst your PC is switched off. The only other router that does this is the Fonera2n, http://www.fon.com , except that doesn't have gigabyte ethernet.

aptsys · 19-10-2009, 15:41

gigabit not gigabyte!!

Either way, the Linksys RVS4000 works well for me.

broadbandking · 19-10-2009, 18:00

The netgear router has never caused me issues.