After years of faithful service my trusty Netgear DG834PN has started to drop wireless connections intermittently, so it may be time for a change. I'm on 8Mbps Unlimited and not keen on using the limited functionality and performance of the network provider supplied router. I live in an old Victorian house and found the Netgear was much better at getting a signal to penetrate the thick brick walls and was superb at keeping a connection for weeks on end (while the free router used to drop it several times a day). My son is constantly streaming video, uses Xbox and we Skype a reasonable amount, while my daughter lives on Facebook and Twitter, so I want something which can handle the high demand and preferably has QoS. Often when he downloads everything else grinds to a halt so I'm hoping a better router will manage the traffic better.
I've heard good things of the Asus RT-N66U but less positive things of its modem equipped sister DSL-N66U. My questions are:
1. Would I be advised to get a separate modem such as the D-Link DSL-320B and the Asus RT-N66U, or is an all in one solution better? Keeping the Netgear as a modem only (along with the RT-N66U) is also a possibility. I was also considering the Billion BiPAC 7800N but am a little concerned at some reviews about it's performance through solid walls. I also need it not to drop the broadband connection too often as my service provider automatically downgrades the line if that happens.
2. Are the above overkill for a 8Mbps connection and would I be better off with something cheaper?
3. Should I be concerned about dual band (I understand my cellphones can utilise the 5GHz frequency).
My current set up is a follows:
8Mbps line coming into a Netgear DG834PN Router.
Router Hardwired to PC running Windows 7
Powerline ethernet adapters connect to SKY tv box, upstairs PC running Windows 7 and Xbox 360
WiFi to laptop running Windows 7 and another laptop running Vista (I know!)
WiFi to iPad, Apple iPhone, two Samsung Galaxy S3s and 1 Samsung Galaxy S4
I'm not particularly worried about getting an 802.11ac router as I don't anticipate changing much of my computer equipment anytime soon. I'd like a good 802.11n router (or router / modem combi) which will balance the load better than my DG834PN has done, without breaking the bank.
Any help gratefully received
I've heard good things of the Asus RT-N66U but less positive things of its modem equipped sister DSL-N66U. My questions are:
1. Would I be advised to get a separate modem such as the D-Link DSL-320B and the Asus RT-N66U, or is an all in one solution better? Keeping the Netgear as a modem only (along with the RT-N66U) is also a possibility. I was also considering the Billion BiPAC 7800N but am a little concerned at some reviews about it's performance through solid walls. I also need it not to drop the broadband connection too often as my service provider automatically downgrades the line if that happens.
2. Are the above overkill for a 8Mbps connection and would I be better off with something cheaper?
3. Should I be concerned about dual band (I understand my cellphones can utilise the 5GHz frequency).
My current set up is a follows:
8Mbps line coming into a Netgear DG834PN Router.
Router Hardwired to PC running Windows 7
Powerline ethernet adapters connect to SKY tv box, upstairs PC running Windows 7 and Xbox 360
WiFi to laptop running Windows 7 and another laptop running Vista (I know!)
WiFi to iPad, Apple iPhone, two Samsung Galaxy S3s and 1 Samsung Galaxy S4
I'm not particularly worried about getting an 802.11ac router as I don't anticipate changing much of my computer equipment anytime soon. I'd like a good 802.11n router (or router / modem combi) which will balance the load better than my DG834PN has done, without breaking the bank.
Any help gratefully received
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