Wireless Access Point/Router

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

Man of Honour
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
160,199
Hi guys,

I use an old Speedtouch 580i as a wired router and wireless access point. Whilst it still functions fine as a wired router, the Wireless is behaving in a beyond flakey manner. Some devices cannot connect, others cannot see it sometimes, can see it other times, etc etc.

What can I replace it with? I'm after something pretty cheap - it sits out of sight and literally just routes packets.

After something with 4 wired ports and a wireless AP.

Any ideas?
 
Have a look at the TP-Link stuff on OCUK, they're cheap and get decent reviews. A quick Google should turn up a few reviews.
 
I just bought an ASUS RT-N56U for £95 off of here and I must say it is the best router I have ever used (although I use it in the Access Point mode).

The interface is quick, accessible but powerful. The router is fast (benchmarks show it to consistently wipe the floor with most other routers/APs in terms of wireless speeds) and the 'Black Diamond' as it is known just looks the part too.

Some of the key specs which I needed:

4x Gigabit Ethernet ports - check
concurrent 2.4Ghz/5Ghz dual-band - check
USB port for Printer/USB HD - check

If, this is too much router for you I was also recommended the Netgear WNR2000 v2, Apple AirPort Extreme (although it is JUST an AP) and the Billion 7800n.

The Netgear might be the best choice as you can get it off the bay for cheap. Otherwise, I would whole-heartedly recommend the Asus. It really is awesome.

Hope that helps
 
100 quid sounds massively over the top for what I want. I was thinking 10-20 quid?!

I really just need a basic router with wireless. No ADSL, no firewall, no anything - just a wired router with wireless.

Tempted to just buy a used router from Ebay and disable the ADSL stuff and DHCP like I did with this Speedtouch.
 
The cheapest option would be a cable wireless router & disable DHCP etc as you mentioned. Buying the same thing but just an access point seems to be really expensive for some reason, so no point unless you were after more of a business class one.
 
Just buy a Netgear DG834GT off the bay for around £15-£20, then just use this as an access point/router only, if for any reason your main ADSL router goes down or breaks, you have a backup router to hand.

This is what I do at home. If for ever my main router breaks (which has been once in three years) I have a router to hand straight away and can get back online within minutes, and is also suits me perfectly to expand my wireless network)
 
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dir615 from the auction site, around £15, flash with dd-wrt and you'll have an excellent access point with wireless N capability too.
 
Was going to suggest tp link wireless access point but as you need 4 ports as well. Dlink Dir 615 is the best you can get for that price £10 -15 flash it if you want to. or no need if you cant be botherd and your sorted.

Better than any netgear nonsense.
 
Fox, when you switched to "the works" o2 broadband, did you request the better Thomson N router with 2 aeriels?

If not, get a DG834GT off ebay! In fact I've got one if you want it:p
 
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