New wifi router for home use in the UK
Posted by: Southweststokie on 17 January 2016
I am looking for a new router for home use to replace the one supplied by our ISP. I am not sure of what features I should be looking for, a brief look on line talks about ac-grade rather than a/b/g/n standards as this will future proof it, I am unclear of what this means or what other features I should be looking for? I am looking to spend around £130 or there about, more if it is justified. The router is mainly for home computer (laptop), iPad use though our Oppo Blu-Ray player is a also connected via wireless dongle, the TV and Human HDD are connected by ethernet cables from the router for iPlayer, etc.
Your education, advice, comments and recommendations appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken
I've been using an Apple Airport Extreme for a few years, and it's always done a good job. Much better WiFi coverage through the house. I'm sure there are plenty of non-Apple alternatives, many of them cheaper, that would be at least as good.
My understanding is that it's best to keep the ISP supplied router and thus keep its pre-configured settings largely unchanged, given that I have no idea what half of them even mean. I turn off WiFi and let the AE handle that, just connecting them with a short Ethernet cable. I also leave the ISP router as DHCP server.
This has always worked OK for me, and if I change ISP, it's very simple to change routers and leave everything else in place.
Thanks for your advice
Ken
Same here Chris - i just stick the ISP supplied modem / router in modem mode and let an Airport Extreme handle things (with an Airport Express up in the loft to extend wireless out to the end of the garden). As you say it means no internal changes are needed if you swap ISP's, get upgraded modem hardware etc.
ChrisSU posted:I've been using an Apple Airport Extreme for a few years, and it's always done a good job. Much better WiFi coverage through the house. I'm sure there are plenty of non-Apple alternatives, many of them cheaper, that would be at least as good.
My understanding is that it's best to keep the ISP supplied router and thus keep its pre-configured settings largely unchanged, given that I have no idea what half of them even mean. I turn off WiFi and let the AE handle that, just connecting them with a short Ethernet cable. I also leave the ISP router as DHCP server.
This has always worked OK for me, and if I change ISP, it's very simple to change routers and leave everything else in place.
Same here, I would go for the Apple Airport Extreme. There are many routers out there, maybe faster than the Apple Airport Extreme, but IMO nothing is more reliable than the AE, it just works days in and out and fast. You just plug it in and do not worry about your wifi.
Ken, depending on your ISP you might want to tread carefully if you remove the ISP router, and you may want to keep it and just add a seperate switch and wifi access point.
So if your ISP router has a modem built in, you will need to research which DSL chipset your ISP uses and ensure you continue the same chipset in your new router or modem. This will ensure max reliability and line speed. One option can be use an ISP optimised modem, and connecting using PPP over Ethernet to your new router WAN port.
Your may also need to check the IGMP implementation of your new router especially if you use ISP provided IPTV and of course Naim is sensitive to poor IGMP implementations. Check your ISP support forums for third party router interoperability.
These days as we use the Internet for more and more services the ISP and broadband router becomes more crucial.
Simon
There is an interesting article in today's "Wall Street Journal" about the lack of security in wifi routers. Manufacturers don't have any incentive to pass on bug fixes, and security holes can become enshrined in second-party software over multiple generations, even after the manufacturer addresses the bug in newer versions of the router. You have to be a subscriber to read their on-line review of routers and their security, and it may not be germane to routers on the other side of the pond. Anyway, be careful.
If you turn off the Wifi on a router does this guarantee safety?
Mine was turned off very soon after being installed, as I do not want anyone piggy-backing my Broadband, or accessing my computer! Not that there is anything interesting on it beside music!
ATB from George
We have Virgin cable, and as their Super Hub is anything but, we use it as a modem with an Asus router. It works very well. Just choose your favourite song as your password and you are secure.
I use an Airport Time Capsule (like the Extreme but with an onboard backup disk) and always struggle to connect it up to the ISP's modem. Case in point - current ISP is PlusNet and they have supplied a wireless router. I have turned off its wireless facility and made DHCP reservations on it for the HDX and NAS. The TC/AE is in bridge mode. This all works fine except that my Macs often get confused with their IP addresses and lose connection. Solution is to set them to DHCP with a manual address to force the issue. This is not a problem with desk bound machines but a pain with a laptop because it will not then automatically connect outside of the home environment.
Anyone else had this problem? Solutions?
This I use:
LINKSYS RE6500 AC1200 DUAL-BAND WIRELESS RANGE EXTENDER
Most of the usual brands routers will work fine. No need to buy an expensive (because new) AC router.
A switch is more important than an expensive router.
I had my ISP turn their Cisco ISP device into 'Bridge' mode, disabling wifi et al, it's all handled by my Apple Airport Extreme here and extended coverage with Airport Express.