Anyone recommend an "N" router?

NeilF · 3 Sep 2009 at 15:22

I want to replace my O2 router with an "N" class one. Speed and reliability (& cost) are the most important factors.

One feature I like about the O2 router is it has 'profiles'. There are common port forwardings etc you can associate to a device. eg: "Unreal 2004" or "Steam" or "FTP". So it's very easy to do common port forwardings!

StevieP · 3 Sep 2009 at 17:21

I can recommend the Linksys WAG160N - its easy to use, very stable and looks pretty good too if its on display!

One question though, why do you want to swap from the o2 router? I dont use my WAG160N as the o2 router works just as well!!!

StevieP

NeilF · 3 Sep 2009 at 17:33

StevieP said:
I can recommend the Linksys WAG160N - its easy to use, very stable and looks pretty good too if its on display!

One question though, why do you want to swap from the o2 router? I dont use my WAG160N as the o2 router works just as well!!!

StevieP

I want wireless "N", and gigabit would be nice too if possible.

But someone has brought up a good option, a wireless access point. Use the O2 router JUST for internet access, and then use a WAP (with wireless-N and gigabit if possible) as my main router...!?

That way I'm using the standard O2 router - which works brilliantly - but getting the bells and whistles I'm after too!

tolien · 3 Sep 2009 at 17:46

A wireless access point will typically only have one ethernet port. 4 GigE ports would make the device pretty rare.

NeilF · 3 Sep 2009 at 17:57

tolien said:
A wireless access point will typically only have one ethernet port. 4 GigE ports would make the device pretty rare.

From a plumbing point of view, there's no downside though is there?

If two PC's connected (via ethernet) to the WAP are accessing the internet, and that means the WAP using the single ethernet cable to the O2 router, there wouldn't be a bottleneck? ie: The single standard ethernet cable would be more than enough to keep up with the two PCs accessing the internet. ie:-

Before:-

Code:

PC1----|O2 Router|----tinternet
PC2----|         |

After:-

Code:

PC1----|WAP|----|O2 Router|----tinternet
PC2----|   |    |         |

tolien · 3 Sep 2009 at 20:35

My point is that unless you use wireless, you'll not be able to connect anything to the AP other than the router because, again, most APs only have a single ethernet port (which you'd use to connect it to the router).

NeilF · 3 Sep 2009 at 21:27

tolien said:
My point is that unless you use wireless, you'll not be able to connect anything to the AP other than the router because, again, most APs only have a single ethernet port (which you'd use to connect it to the router).

But, there seems to be plenty of routers with four gigabit ethernet ports, wireless N and some even have a USB socket to connect a hard drive to share it across your network... ie: Surely it doesn't matter if it's just a wireless access point of a full modem? As long as it has four or more (gigabit) eithernet ports and is wireless-N, if it has an ADSL modem of it's own, it just won't be used (most likely) as that will be left to the O2 router...

As long as my "after" suggestion above doesn't compromise my internet speed then it's all fine isn't it?

tolien · 3 Sep 2009 at 21:40

NeilFawcett said:
But, there seems to be plenty of routers with four gigabit ethernet ports, wireless N and some even have a USB socket to connect a hard drive to share it across your network...

That isn't a wireless access point though...

NeilF · 3 Sep 2009 at 21:44

tolien said:
That isn't a wireless access point though...

True, but I don't care if its a wireless access point, a router, or a breville toaster, as long as it:-
- has four or more gigabit ethernet ports
- has wireless N

If a WAP doesn't exist to fit this a router certainly will. So, would this work, and NOT compromise my existing performance? I guess all the computers going down on REGULAR ethernet cable for their internet access via the O2 Router is the question!?!?!

Before:-

Code:

PC1----|O2 Router|----tinternet
PC2----|         |

Wireless via O2 router

After:-

Code:

PC1----| WAP or |----|O2 Router|----tinternet
PC2----| ROUTER |    |         |

Wireless via WAP or ROUTER

tolien · 3 Sep 2009 at 21:52

NeilFawcett said:
But someone has brought up a good option, a wireless access point. Use the O2 router JUST for internet access, and then use a WAP (with wireless-N and gigabit if possible) as my main router...!?

That's why I was saying you won't get a WAP with 4 ethernet ports...

If a WAP doesn't exist to fit this a router certainly will. So, would this work, and NOT compromise my existing performance? I guess all the computers going down on REGULAR ethernet cable for their internet access via the O2 Router is the question!?!?!

Of course it would work, and as long as the traffic is less than the available bandwidth of the cable (i.e. if you're only using the connection to the router for the internet, it'll be faster by a long way than your internet connection) it'll not be a bottleneck either.

NeilF · 3 Sep 2009 at 22:17

tolien said:
Of course it would work, and as long as the traffic is less than the available bandwidth of the cable (i.e. if you're only using the connection to the router for the internet, it'll be faster by a long way than your internet connection) it'll not be a bottleneck either.

Sounds like a possible plan then... Get a gigabit, wireless N router and off we go.

I can either completely replace the O2 router with it if I can, or do as suggested above...

Thanks...

gillywibble · 5 Sep 2009 at 09:51

StevieP said:
I can recommend the Linksys WAG160N

Another recommendation for the Linksys, although the WRT160NL looks very interesting.