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View Full Version : good wireless router


dannyb1986
03-01-2010, 09:07
ive got broadband through a 3 dongle, and dont like having it in the laptop all the time, so i was thinking of having a wireless router tati can also run my xbox through, is this possible with a dongle? and whats a good cheap one i can buy?
Stu
03-01-2010, 09:26
Netgear are normally pretty reliable routers so might be worth looking at this:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/175814

There are a few available to choose from now, you don't use the dongle with them, just swap the sim card into one. I have no idea how they perform so probably best to read the reviews to see some opinions on them. :thumbs:

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?store=8&cat=39&subcat=2120
Jonny
03-01-2010, 12:15
Some of the Draytek ones will let you plug a wireless dongle in for 'net access - they cost a few quid though (prob close to £200)
SX Sam
03-01-2010, 16:44
Netgear are always good, Iv'e always had Netgear and its always been fast and very reliable!
Rich_D
03-01-2010, 18:22
another vote for Netgear

D-Link are also good, but Belkin are hit & miss
MaccyD
03-01-2010, 18:25
i dont see how a wireless dongle will give you internet fast enough to run xbox live anyway. im sure you have reasons for having a dongle rather than regular internet but id say itd just be a waste of money buying a router then finding out you cant play anyways. if its just to stop the hassle of having it in the laptop then i guess its worth it, seems like an expensive solution is all.
Cluck
03-01-2010, 18:29
another vote for Netgear

D-Link are also good, but Belkin are shitCorrected that for you ;)

D-Link's products in the past (going back 5+ years) tended to 'just work' but were nothing special - not a bad thing really. Over the following 4 years they undid all that and started to produce unreliable kit and their support became a bit of an unfunny joke with their dealers (people like me). Supposedly they've turned over a new leaf, but whilst Netgear are reliable and their support is first rate (next working day, advanced replacement of faulty items) I see no reason to test the water with D-Link again.

I don't know if Linksys do one, but they are worth a look as well (I was highly sceptical of them in the past, but the one I have at the office now has been brilliant)
Jonny
03-01-2010, 18:32
I don't know if Linksys do one, but they are worth a look as well (I was highly sceptical of them in the past, but the one I have at the office now has been brilliant)

The one linksys DSL/wifi router I tried was pretty poor - required a reboot about once a week as it just fell off the network, upgrading firmware etc didn't help any.

However, I think issues like that are about the norm for a lot of 'consumer level' routers :(

I've had a Belkin as well, and that was even worse :(
Guy
03-01-2010, 18:37
Older Linksys stuff is awesome, I havent had a play with there newer stuff, when my Linksys router finally gives up the ghost I'm going over to a Dreytek one, I've used them in various office set ups and there awesome, also I discovered the other day at work were a Draytek reseller/partner so employee discounts ahoy :D
Jonny
03-01-2010, 18:41
Older Linksys stuff is awesome, I havent had a play with there newer stuff, when my Linksys router finally gives up the ghost I'm going over to a Dreytek one, I've used them in various office set ups and there awesome, also I discovered the other day at work were a Draytek reseller/partner so discounts ahoy :D

I've currently got an unlocked BT/2Wire business router (on a diff ISP) - but BT have remotely upgraded it to a pikey firmware that keeps crashing, the bastards :(

I was looking at replacing it with a Draytek 2710n - group buy? ;)
diamondsink
03-01-2010, 18:42
Current use linksys and would buy again.
Stu
03-01-2010, 18:43
My Linksys is a steaming heap of shit compared to the D-link it replaced. It needs regular rebooting, is really slow to connect to WLAN when you switch on the PC and seems to give up if I have the laptop and the PC on at the same time. The D-link was faultless right up to the moment it bricked after a power cut then subsequent surge. :annoyed:
Clouder_sx
03-01-2010, 18:46
Netgear FTW :nod:

Used their switches in the good old days - no issues whatsoever.

And currently have beneath me a wireless router/access point, and a seperate all-in-one wired hub thingy. Both been blinking away for, well, christ knows how long (especially the wired one) - they don't skip a beat :no:
Guy
03-01-2010, 18:47
I've currently got an unlocked BT/2Wire business router (on a diff ISP) - but BT have remotely upgraded it to a pikey firmware that keeps crashing, the bastards :(

I was looking at replacing it with a Draytek 2710n - group buy? ;)

I could maybe look into something of the sorts when I'm back in next week ;)
Just the N, no need for VOIP?
Jonny
03-01-2010, 19:30
I could maybe look into something of the sorts when I'm back in next week ;)
Just the N, no need for VOIP?

I think the VOIP was only a tenner more or so - I don't *need* it, but if it meant getting a super deal I could possibly be persuaded ;)
Cluck
03-01-2010, 19:35
The one linksys DSL/wifi router I tried was pretty poor - required a reboot about once a week as it just fell off the network, upgrading firmware etc didn't help any.

However, I think issues like that are about the norm for a lot of 'consumer level' routers :(

I've had a Belkin as well, and that was even worse :(I've got one of the newer range of consumer ones and I haven't had to reboot it once since I bought it (and that's in a very crowded wifi area) for any reason. I didn't like their older kit because I honestly thought it looked cheap and nasty, but I gave this one a go because Netgear were out of stock across the disti channel.

Belkin should stick to making cables. I've had no faulty Belkin cables in all the years I sold them. Their networking and USB stuff, however, is a disaster zone :nod: