Which of these 4 DSL routers is best? (Also open to suggestions)

[O0mix0O]

Hi all,

Currently have a BT Homehub 3 which isn't quite reaching all the devices in the house so I'm looking to upgrade. Routers aren't really my area of expertise but have narrowed it down to these 4, wondering which you would recommend and why.

Additional info:

• 
  ISP = Plusnet
  Internet speed = ~300kb/s (Yes really.(No I'm not on dial up.))
  Range = Approx. 15m from the router, but has to pass 3/4 15cm thick walls
  Usage = 5 phones, 2 3DS, 3 PCs, 1 PS4, 1 Laptop, 1 Smart TV, and 3 Tablets connect wirelessly. 1 Xbox 360, 1 Blu Ray player, 1 Sure signal box connect via wire.
  Budget = ~£80. (Obviously the lower the better, but I knwo you get what you pay for)

Looking to replace the BTHH3 with the router, hence why the router needs to be DSL (have a modem built in)

The Routers:

• 
  TP-LINK TD-W8980 N600
  TP-LINK TD-W9980 N600
  NETGEAR DGND4000-100UKS N750
  Asus DSL-N55U

If further details are required, I'll do my best to provide them.

Many thanks, Mix

 

[ComputerSecurityGuy]

It's usually better to get a seperate modem and router in my experience. Have you tried that?

 

[O0mix0O]

It's usually better to get a seperate modem and router in my experience. Have you tried that?

Thanks for your reply.

If this is a viable solution that would be comparable to one of the routers in the OP for around the same price, sure!

I just assumed it'd be easier to replace the main thing

 

[bill001g]

I suspect you will see almost differenceno between those routers. They are all much faster than your internet. I would not get the ones that claim 450m. Ie 750 (300+450) (300+300)---ie 600 is the optimum point with 802.11n routers. To use 450 your end devices would have to have 3 antenna which is not common.

You would have to dig though the FCC data to see how much output power these devices have.....it determines range. I suspect what you will find though is they put out very similar amounts of power. Almost all routers on the market put out very close to the maximum legal amount. It is highly likely that they use exactly the same radio chips.....no router manufacture actually makes their own chips so they buy from the 2 or 3 chipset manufactures.

Mostly the difference is going to be the software and only you can say which you feel you like better.

 

[O0mix0O]

I suspect you will see almost differenceno between those routers. They are all much faster than your internet. I would not get the ones that claim 450m. Ie 750 (300+450) (300+300)---ie 600 is the optimum point with 802.11n routers. To use 450 your end devices would have to have 3 antenna which is not common.

You would have to dig though the FCC data to see how much output power these devices have.....it determines range. I suspect what you will find though is they put out very similar amounts of power. Almost all routers on the market put out very close to the maximum legal amount. It is highly likely that they use exactly the same radio chips.....no router manufacture actually makes their own chips so they buy from the 2 or 3 chipset manufactures.

Mostly the difference is going to be the software and only you can say which you feel you like better.

Thanks for the informative post!

I suspected the 750 would be overkill, especially considering my internet speed... Just thought I'd include it as a counterbalance to the Asus router.
I'm tempted by the TP-Link W8980 as if range is going to be almost the same, and I won't use the increased mb/s, is there much point in spending almost double? Or do the added features of the others worth the price?

Thanks, Mix

 

[bill001g]

In general there are 2 main break points in routers. The dual band devices and these are starting to get to be almost entry level price. Generally the ones that say 600m are the best option. The next one up are the 802.11ac routers. These the best point is going to be the 1200m ones. This is 300+900. In both cases you are only using 2 antenna which matches most end equipment. You would only go with a better router in either class if you had equipment that could actually use it

Almost any router will work with a small internet connection but some people do transfers within their house so a better router can help with that.