Recommended ADSL2+

[stereohaven]

After reading some of the instructions about using your own router here on Sky User I have been pondering swapping out my Sagem for something with Gigabit Ethernet and offering improved Wi-Fi coverage, as I feel confident that it should be straightforward (I have already got my password etc.).

I can't stretch to a top of the range Billion or AEBS at the moment (but may do if I move to Fibre next year), so I'm looking at something sub £50. I liked the sound of the TP-Link TL-WR1043ND, but that looks like it is for Fibre connections only.

So what is the current "recommended" medium budget ADSL2+ router that people are using?

[stereohaven]

As a gentle *bump* for this thread I thought I should point out that my connection is PPPoA as opposed to MER (which it used to be), if that helps.

Don't all rush at once...

[Scubbie]

It sounds a silly question, but what are you looking to achieve by using your own router?

Are you looking for improved WiFi speed/coverage or faster LAN speed or perhaps some of the other possible features from using your own router?

I ask this because as a basic router, the Sky routers do generally fulfil this part of the contract well. However if you are looking to get something extra, then it would be nice to know.

Next is the issue over whether your connection can support PPPoA or is it exclusively tied to MER now? The only way to confirm this would be yo use a standard ADSL router on your line to check it out.

The Billion 7800N is the only router which will support Sky's MER on an ADSL connection at present time. However you could look at using a cable router and configure the Sky router to act as if it were a Modem.

[stereohaven]

It sounds a silly question, but what are you looking to achieve by using your own router?

Let me put some more meat on the bone.

Are you looking for improved WiFi speed/coverage or faster LAN speed or perhaps some of the other possible features from using your own router?

All of the above.

I ask this because as a basic router, the Sky routers do generally fulfil this part of the contract well.

Yes it does, but the Wi-Fi coverage isn't great and could be greatly improved, the quality of service gets affected if anyone starts to download a large file so this could be better managed, in fact, when I have an Xbox, iPhone, Galaxy SII, Windows laptop, 2 x Sky+ boxes and Apple TV all competing it's not the sharpest tool in the box in terms of managing users or bandwidth full stop.

Whilst I can stream HD video on the network fine (I use homeplugs), I would like to boost the speed if possible and add in central storage, hence the desire for Gigabit Ethernet. A USB port for back up of the central storage (amongst other things), would also be handy.

When I migrate to Sky Fibre in the future I'll invest in something like the Billion that everyone else is talking about, in the meantime I just need something with a little more "oomph"!

Oh and just to be clear, when I was first with Sky I had the grey Sagem which was on MER, now I have returned my new black & silver Sagem is on PPPoA, which is why I feel confident about swapping it out now.

[Scubbie]

There are a variety of good routers that support 300mb (or higher) WiFi and 1Gbit LAN. I am a little more familiar with the Netgear stable at present and will let others mention the other brands in more detail.

Ultimately though, at present, if you have 5 different devices wanting to stream HD video on your ADSL connection, then you are going to struggle. However a NAS will reduce this problem as you could store video content on it for each to access.

The Billion 7800N is a 300mb WiFi and 1Gbit LAN router. The updated firmware from Billion works on both Sky ADSL and Fibre connections with MER (and PPPoA for ADSL).

In my case I bought the Netgear DGND3700 as it has both ADSL and Ethernet WAN ports. I had loads of issues relating to it's USB ports and other user had issues with the ADSL connection. There is now a v2 version available which is a little more reliable from the reports on the Netgear forum. My DGND3700 has been replaced with the WNDR3800.

The alternative idea would be to purchase a Cable router. Use the existing Sagem 2504N to connect you to the Internet but connect it to the WAN Ethernet port on the Cable router. The advantage of this is that the Sagem connects to Sky and sorts that all out and the cable router handles your LAN with the faster WiFi and LAN speeds. When you change ISP or to Sky fibre, you only need to change the router and connect it straight up to your existing Cable router.

Of course you could also use the Cable router with DD-WRT firmware installed on Sky Fibre without the Sky router.

So which routers from the Netgear stable would I look at:

R6300 - 1Gbit LAN 450mb WiFi on 2.4GHz 1.3Gbit WiFi on 5Ghz - Lots of issues at the moment and no DD-WRT Firmware for the moment - avoid
R6200 - *new* - 1Gbit LAN, WiFi 300mb on 2.4GHz, 867mbps on 5GHz - too new to know about quality & issues
WNDR4500 - 1Gbit LAN, 450 WiFi on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels - not so many issues (DD-WRT firmware available)
WNDR4000 - 1Gbit LAN, WiFi 300mb or 450mb on 2.4GHz and 5GHz (only one at up to 450, the other max 300, you choose) (DD-WRT firmware available)
WNDR3800 - 1Gbit LAN, 300mb WiFi on both 2.4 and 5GHz (DD-WRT firmware available)
WNDR3700 - 1Gbit LAN, 300mb WiFi on both 2.4 & 5GHz (DD-WRT firmware available for v1 & v2, not v3)
DGND3700 - Dual ADSL & cable. Otherwise the same as the WNDR3700 but no DD-WRT firmware.

The DGND3700v1 uses the same user interface as the WNDR3700, the DGND3700v2 uses the newer user interface which is known as "Netgear Genie". This is also the same user interface found on all the other listed Netgear routers.

I have found the Netgear Genie app to be really nice and a useful tool to see some of what is happening on my LAN. However it won't work properly with the DD-WRT firmware.

For myself, having the two WiFi frequencies available means that I do not have to compete so much for the capacity on the bust 2.4GHz channels. My Laptop and Samsung SII can both utilise the 5GHz channels.

If I had a large home and needed to provide an additional WiFi hotspot, then I could use something such as the WN2000RPT or WN2500RP.

[stereohaven]

Lots of detail there and food for thought, much appreciated.

Based on what you have said I'm already starting to think (assuming I am going to move to Sky Fibre at some point in 2013), that actually I would be better served spending extra on something like the Billion 7800N as I am then future proofed.

[tarsins]

Would it be better to wait and see what the new Sky hub will offer or is that for fibre only?

[Scubbie]

Without stating the capabilities of the new router or commenting on it's performance, my response above to stereohaven was made with the full knowledge of the abilities of the new router from Sky and what he is specifically asking for.

I specifically limited my response to the Billion 7800N as it has been talked about a great deal on this forum and the current high end Netgear routers as I am aware of their abilities and issues. I am aware that there are plenty of other routers which could provide a suitable solution but I do not know how good/bad they are at present. I would welcome comments from other members who can give a response relating to these routers as it would be useful for others, if not for stereohaven.

[stereohaven]

Would it be better to wait and see what the new Sky hub will offer or is that for fibre only?

Without stating the capabilities of the new router or commenting on it's performance, my response above to stereohaven was made with the full knowledge of the abilities of the new router from Sky and what he is specifically asking for.

I had recently been told that one of the features I mentioned in my initial post was not included with the new hub, so I had already discounted it.

[tarsins]

Ahh, I see. In that case I can wholeheartedly recommend the Billion 7800N. My son has gone from having no WiFi signal while lying on his bed with his iPad when using the 2504N to having almost full signal and able to stream YouTube videos. My connection has also gone up from 5 to 7 Mbps.

Is there any way to enter the router that we are using in our profiles?