gigabit router

[riaz]

I'm a bit unhappy about my home wireless range (adsl via o2).

Mate mentioned changing the router to a gigabit one.

I'm lost with the techno now..... is this the same as ASDL2? If not what do I need? Please link me to examples if possible

I have macs at home so all the devices are N and I know my current router is g. I think that is to do with the wireless speed.

The main issue for me is to improve the current wireless range. At the moment 1-2bar signal only in most of house

Thanks for any advice

 

[markjay]

Your ADSL router will typically have a built-in network Switch, that is the bit that has four RJ45 ports at the back. Some have a built-in Switch supporting a maximum speed of up to 100mbps, others support up to 1000mbps ('gigabit'). But this relates only to devices (e.g. computers and printers) that connect to the Router using network patch leads, and not to the wireless devices.

You are right in saying that for wireless devices the current standards are g and N. And N is faster. But what you really need is a good-quality standalone Wireless Access Point, because the ones incorporated into the ADSL router are very basic and have low output.

Obviously there is also the issue of how big is your house and what the walls are made of, as this will have a direct affect on wireless coverage, even with the more powerful unit.

 

[@MARK]

I'm a bit unhappy about my home wireless range (adsl via o2).

Mate mentioned changing the router to a gigabit one.

I'm lost with the techno now..... is this the same as ASDL2? If not what do I need? Please link me to examples if possible

I have macs at home so all the devices are N and I know my current router is g. I think that is to do with the wireless speed.

The main issue for me is to improve the current wireless range. At the moment 1-2bar signal only in most of house

Thanks for any advice

Not sure how moving to gigabit piece will address your wifi problems but as you are on O2 a router I can recommend above all others is this one

TP-Link TD-W8960N 300MBPS Wireless N ADSL2+ Modem Router for BT connections: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Don't be put off by the cheap price.

I am on Be (same as 02) and it has now been up for 250 days at a speed I have never seen before.

I would still recommend it at double that price.

 

[removed]

I'm too on O2 And the modem/router supplied by them is terrible - O2 Wireless Box III, which is N, top of their range, but speed and, most importantly the ability to handle network is rubbish: I have to do a soft restart at least once a day for printer and other laptop to re-appear on the network (and the [HP Colour LaserJet] printer is connected via ethernet)... Will try @MARK's recommendation, thanks.

 

[neilz]

I use a Netgear Dg834PN RangeMax, fantastic router. Huge range/coverage and very reliable. Has a website server, network printer and two desktops connected to it (all usually on) and three laptops via WiFi. Copes perfectly, no loss of speed really from what the router gets.

 

[A210AMG]

Does anyone know if I can increase the rage of my sky router? or indeed swap it for another box?

It has no part to add a better aireal and although Ive seen a clip of one being soldered on...thats a little extream.

Thanks

 

[neilz]

I'm sure you can replace the router. I mean I've tried using other models in the past and so far only Netgear seem to do routers that work with just about every ISP. What I'm saying is - you can, but just make sure it will work with Sky. I would strongly recommend the Netgear DG834PN (got mine for £1 at a car boot sale while looking for even more camera lenses (!)). Very new model and extreme range - with no aerials sticking out as well!

 

[spinaltap]

I'm with o2, and use my own long-standing Netgear DG834N router.

This simultaneously (wirelessly) feeds my iPad and wife's Toshiba laptop, while several Devolo plugs also feed a Humax Freeview HD recorder, network-capable Yamaha AV receiver, Logitech Squeezebox, two Mac Mini's, Xerox Phaser printer, and a Netgear ReadyNAS.

Typical download speed is 14Gb (after changing incoming BT wall plate) for £11.

 

[riaz]

thanks @Mark.

That was actually the modem/router I was looking at.

I note spinaltaps comment on changing the bt wall plate. Does that really make a difference? I presume you refer to the indoor bit, not the outdoor bit.

Does it make a difference if you connect the modem to the 1st box (directly connected to bt outdoor line) or other extension bits in the house?

 

[neilz]

If you're sure you don't prefer a smaller and more powerful one by a better brand with internal antennae rather than external

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

Presumably our friend is referring to a wall plate with a built in filter. These are fine for extensions and negate the need for a seperate filter. However, you are not allowed to change the wall plate on the master box. Some people do, and do so with genuine BT branded parts and no one will know. I wouldn't advise you to do it as your problem is with wireless speed not the incoming ADSL speed.

Rather than changing your router the easiest upgrade, in your case, would be to plug a wireless access point into your existing router.

I'll have a look if you want a recommendation

Paul

P.S. So that you don't suffer degradation through your internal phone network it is always advised to connect your modem to the master (1st) box.

There is another trick (disconnection of unnecessary bell / ring wire) if you're brave enough to open the master box and alter the internal wiring.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

From my previous post.

Any of these would do. Depends on your budget.

Access Points, Bridges - Scan.co.uk

Just connect the to your router with an ethernet cable and position them as near to the points of use as possible

 

[dulayj]

Any thing has to be better than the awful router supplied by virgin broadband-we have 30Mbps ok wired but wireless drops signal all the time-its been replaced once and i think the second one is only marginally better than first-customer service (lol) again!!!!

 

[neilz]

Any thing has to be better than the awful router supplied by virgin broadband-we have 30Mbps ok wired but wireless drops signal all the time-its been replaced once and i think the second one is only marginally better than first-customer service (lol) again!!!!

The problem is your choice is limited as Virgin Media is cable, isn't it, not ADSL

 

[removed]

Just like to say a BIG THANK YOU to @MARK! Got the TP-Link router delivered this morning and it's now up and running - perfik!

The speed improvement is unreal - did a test on Speedtest just before disconnecting the Thompson O2 III router - 2.86mbps down and 0.98 mbps up via 802.11n-only ; setup the TP-Link - 18.03mbps down and 1.91mbps up :bannana: Ping went from 34-35 down to 20-21ms!

The LaserJet is recognised and printed to by all five wireless devices on the network without me having to do ANYTHING, apart from plugging it into the router. Stupid O2's Thompson required frequesnt refreshing (i.e. rebooting) to find the printer (with a static IP!) and other laptop ...

 

[@MARK]

Just like to say a BIG THANK YOU to @MARK! Got the TP-Link router delivered this morning and it's now up and running - perfik!

The speed improvement is unreal - did a test on Speedtest just before disconnecting the Thompson O2 III router - 2.86mbps down and 0.98 mbps up via 802.11n-only ; setup the TP-Link - 18.03mbps down and 1.91mbps up :bannana: Ping went from 34-35 down to 20-21ms!
:

Really?

Wow. Your old router must have had something seriously wrong with it because no router can make that much of a difference. I was expecting you to report a 15% increase.

Happy to be of assistance.

BTW for the other questions.

The BT wall plates (and there are other makes as well) can make a difference.

Likewise disconnecting the orange bell wire from ALL sockets in your house can make a difference

But even with all of this, if you don't plug your router directly into your master socket, you will never get the best throughput.

In my house I have the router plugged into the master socket with a 10cm cable (yes it's that close). I then used until very recently Homeplug kit to get the connection around the house however I have now run a cable (whilst I was decorating the hall) into my home office.

So put the router by the master socket and then find a way to get your network from there to where you need it rather than putting the router miles away from the phone line.

 

[hitenhirani]

Have a look here for Filtered faceplates info:
Clarity*::*ADSL*Filtering...
(I have no affiliation with Clarity whatsoever, I've simply purchased from here before and recommending as there is some detailed info on ADSL filtering)

The BT Master socket has two parts to it, the main back plate box (the bit you cant legally move or touch - internally) and the front faceplate (the bit that you can touch and modify).
BT will provide a line pair connected to A and B, this is an unfiltered signal (both voice and data). A normal NTE5 faceplate carries this unfiltered signal through the 'test' socket on the main backplate and through the front faceplate to all your other extensions.
If you get a filtered faceplate, the signal gets filtered at source (or as soon as it reaches your property). This means you won't have to put microfilters at all of your extensions, as the ADSL signal is filtered to the master socket and only voice is carried forward to your extensions.
The info in the link explains this in more detail, but I purchased a modified NTE5 faceplate and it allows me to leave the master socket where it is and take an unfiltered signal (using the A and B) points to another room (the office/study) and have just my ADSL signal there.
Voice is carried through 'ports'/terminals 2 and 5. Many moons ago, 3 was used for the Bell wire, but if you dont connect 3 at the master socket (i.e. the filtered faceplate) then this isnt carried to any of your extensions and doesn't require you to remove the bell wire from all of your extensions.

Hope this helps, albeit slightly confusing... for me as I was typing!

 

[removed]

Really?

Wow. Your old router must have had something seriously wrong with it because no router can make that much of a difference. I was expecting you to report a 15% increase.

I know, I was surprised myself. To be honest the usual average download speed was around 13-14mbps, this morning was just exceptionally slow, but the router was truly rubbish.

 

[@MARK]

but if you dont connect 3 at the master socket (i.e. the filtered faceplate) then this isnt carried to any of your extensions and doesn't require you to remove the bell wire from all of your extensions.

Hope this helps, albeit slightly confusing... for me as I was typing!

Not quite true

The bell wire can still act as an aerial and create a loop around your home. Phone wiring is twisted pair and can still interfere and pass back.

In theory the filtered plate should reduce the affect but if you are doing EVERYTHING you can then remove the bell wire (which isn't needed by modern phones) from ALL your sockets.

 

[hitenhirani]

Fair point... And in the interest of the OP, the interference may harm the wireless signal.

Apologies for giving not so correct advice in my previous post. I was confused after all the A, B, 2, 3 and 5!!!!