Any recommendations for a VDSL2 Router/Modem?
- Thread starter Doogles
- Start date
Associate
- Joined
- 8 Oct 2010
- Posts
- 1,179
TP-Link Archer VR900 is a solid unit. Used one for about 2 years with no issues.
This over anyone saying ‘I use an XYZ and it’s great’. Without understanding the problem, you may as well stick a pin in a well known catalogue stores router section.
The problem is I keep getting PPPOE and PTM dropouts, the ISP (Plusnet) haven't been that helpful so far as it's been happening since May, not sure if it's an Openreach issue or not, sometime it doesn't happen for weeks then it'll do it continuously last for no more than an hour at a time. Getting another router/modem might help I thought, not only that but getting extra features wouldn't be a miss, the Home Hub One only has one USB port, would be nice to have better options and wireless too.
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2008
- Posts
- 12,082
What sort of 'extra features' / 'better options'?
Why do you want more USB ports?
Does the Plusnet router still have a working Ethernet WAN port? If it does get hold of a HG612 modem and see if the problem goes away.
Why do you want more USB ports?
Does the Plusnet router still have a working Ethernet WAN port? If it does get hold of a HG612 modem and see if the problem goes away.
Looking at the TP-Link AC1900 and Billions AC1600, extra USB support because it'd be good to be able to connect a printer too it and maybe a HDD for network storage (TBH I just want PPPOE and PTM to not drop out). Yes the HomeHub has the Red port for a modem if I got my hands on one, although then I'd have two things taking up limited space.
Extra features like better Wi-Fi, and more QOS options are nice, which any router over £60 will have.
I have the VR900 (AC1900) on Sky Fibre and when it works it's solid (it's a V3). But two times in the last month I've had it slowly going mental needing a hard reset. First time I lost internet, wifi, lan connectivity and the web interface didn't respond. Yesterday wifi went down and again the web interface wasn't responding. it's a month old..
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2008
- Posts
- 12,082
I was only really suggesting the HG612 for testing purposes. It's a cheap way to change one of the variables.
The throughput to/from drives connected to router USB ports tends to be pretty dire (I'm sure there are exceptions, but you'd need to do your homework).
Sharing a printer can be useful, but don't most printers have wireless nowadays?
The throughput to/from drives connected to router USB ports tends to be pretty dire (I'm sure there are exceptions, but you'd need to do your homework).
Sharing a printer can be useful, but don't most printers have wireless nowadays?
Seems to be issues with most routers, it's why I'm struggling to find a decent one, loved my old TP-Link back when I was on ADSL, never really missed a beat.
By contrast my draytek and billion routers for ADSL2 were incredibly robust. I'm considering options since stability is paramount for me. Probably going to return it..
I'd follow @bremen1874 's advice. For the £20 it'll cost you, see if a BTOR modem resolves your biggest headache of line dropouts. If not then probably no router will help and you need to work with Plusnet (and their router) on getting the issue fixed. Imagine you spend £150 and it's actually a problem with the line, or copper running into your house or something.
If the modem does stop the dropouts then a new router might be a good idea. Assuming the convenience of a one box solution is high on your list of priorities I can't recommend anything because if I wanted better WifFi, a print server and a NAS as well then I'd be going separates (as I do). I've had some exposure to USB router connected HDDs and printers and it was woeful at best for me personally. I couldn't live with it.
If the modem does stop the dropouts then a new router might be a good idea. Assuming the convenience of a one box solution is high on your list of priorities I can't recommend anything because if I wanted better WifFi, a print server and a NAS as well then I'd be going separates (as I do). I've had some exposure to USB router connected HDDs and printers and it was woeful at best for me personally. I couldn't live with it.
The first thing I would personally do is raise the fault with plus.net again, as in all fairness the first thing they will do is ask you to plug in the equipment they supplied back in and fixing the underlying issue is kind of the point, rather than trying to mask it with new hardware.
I don't really see how you've been working a problem back-and-forth with Plusnet using their supplied router and they've just shrugged and decided not to do any more troubleshooting on it.
I had an issue with a business DSL line of theirs and they insisted that my service drops were due to the line and not their router, which took far too much effort to resolve and involved proving to them that the uptime of the router always matched the DSL line - e.g. the router was rebooting. They were very precious about a £30 Speedtouch pile of trash.
Anyway, try posting on their forums rather than using their support team, you might have more luck. Buying a new router when your problem might be a line card at the exchange is going to be disappointing.
I had an issue with a business DSL line of theirs and they insisted that my service drops were due to the line and not their router, which took far too much effort to resolve and involved proving to them that the uptime of the router always matched the DSL line - e.g. the router was rebooting. They were very precious about a £30 Speedtouch pile of trash.
Anyway, try posting on their forums rather than using their support team, you might have more luck. Buying a new router when your problem might be a line card at the exchange is going to be disappointing.