I've been having router troubles lately, currently limping along with the turd known as the Virgin Super Hub(the irony), which on it's own in modem mode is fine, infact on my wired machines it's always solid but the wireless is flaky and the signal can be appaling, I've done all the tricks in the book, channel, security tweaks, still a turd.

I'm fed up with the phone calls from the wife all day saying the connections dropped, I have told her what to do but the mush that sits where her brain should be can't seem to grasp simple instructions, perhaps if it was attached to the ironing board she would understand it.

I digress, I currently own about 5 routers, none of them seem to be up to the job for one reason or another, signal to weak, flaky connection not N protocol etc etc.

So lets hear what you think, looking to spend around £80 but don't mind a shade more for the right router.

FYI, I've got the Super hub, a D-link, two Linksys, and an Edimax, so I'm thinking a change from these brands may be just the ticket

I totally agree with you on this... Had 3 from Virgin and they all are pants! I like to tinker so at the minute I have.

1 Superhub (Modem Mode)

1 1841 Cisco Router (Plugged directly into the Modem)

1 2950 24 port switch (plugged into fa0/1 on the router)

1 Netgear DG*** (Not sure of the model) as a AP.

Works well for me now!

If you like messing about I would recommend this setup!

I'd recommend this TPLINK stuff isnt expensive and i've found their stuff to be excellent.

If you getting flaky connections rather than slow speeds and have an external antenna connection, you may be better with one one these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hawking-Hi-Gain-2-4GHz-Omni-Directional-7dBi-Range-Extending-Wifi-Antenna-/140888074665?pt=UK_Computing_Boosters_Extenders_Antennas&hash=item20cd9569a9

A relative of mine lives in a building with thick stone walls. A change from g to n didn't solve the problem, but this on a g router did.

This is why I'm happy with my old blue modem and Linksys router. Only ever have to reset it if I've been downloading a lot. It's supposed to be good for 50mb and I did look into upping speed but Virgin were insiting on this hub which I really don't want so I'm still on 20mb

These modems were the best Virgin have ever provided!

http://www.ebay.co.u...0ff2b367&_uhb=1

Reason they got rid was due to haxorware firmware on them

As a modem its fine, the other issue is as far as I know its not Gigabit, which I need for my various machines, media servers.

Avoid Chinese kit Huawei et al

That's what CESG and the NSA say anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19867399

Avoid Chinese kit Huawei et al

That's what CESG and the NSA say anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-19867399

given that so much if the UK network is built with Huawei that might be difficult to achieve! Remember BT dumped Marconi for Huawei and tipped Marconi into oblivion.

Draytek are not bad although for solid wireless I'd look at ZyXel

Another thumbs up for TP Link here and dead cheap from 7dayshop IIRC

I find the Virgin stuff pretty good kit as far as routing is consearned. If your talking about wireless connectivity then thats a seperate issue entirely. The range on the Virgin S H is quite poor. Therefor i have two wireless networks in operation the primary one downstairs which is the default Virgin one. which is great for playstation and laptop whilst downstairs although upstairs or in the garden and your screwed 1 bar signal strength if your lucky. So plugged into the Virgin S H i have a Dlink Router which has been hacked and another D Link upstairs also hacked and they operate in bridged mode. Basically it extends the signal through out the house and garden. Its slightly slower connection speed but the fact that i have great coverage more than makes up for this. I think you can use different routers like linksys but i already had one dlink router so just bought another one and hacked it using DD WRT http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index

This basically allows much more functionality and the ability to tweek the settings. Although if your not technically minded stay clear.

I've just dug my old rock solid WRT54GS Linksys, but the bloody PSU cable is ripped off at the socket end !! I just had to solder the anntenae back on the the board inside too.

quick retard question here, it's a 12v 1000mA adapter, and I've found a 12v 1.5A adapter which fits, I assume thats fine as Amps higher are better than amps being lower ??? Any one confirm before I set fire to the house !!

I've just dug my old rock solid WRT54GS Linksys, but the bloody PSU cable is ripped off at the socket end !! I just had to solder the anntenae back on the the board inside too.

quick retard question here, it's a 12v 1000mA adapter, and I've found a 12v 1.5A adapter which fits, I assume thats fine as Amps higher are better than amps being lower ??? Any one confirm before I set fire to the house !!

Yep should be fin as long as the PSU rating is hgher than the original...

Cool. If I don't come back on later call the fire brigade !!

Check that the polarity matches (center +ve or centre -ve).

I've just dug my old rock solid WRT54GS Linksys,

Thats one of the ones you can flash with DD WRT i think, i recomend it with a bit of tweeking you can get some serious performance gains. In speed reliability and distance. You can even free up some of the onboard memory thats used up on useless processes and increase the security.

If the only issues are wifi then disable it on the "super hub" and just get a cheapie wifi box. The TP-link stuff is good. I have a hotel running 5 of the three ariel ones (forget the model but i can find it if you want) as a mix of wifi extenders and wired access points and they are pretty solid

Check that the polarity matches (center +ve or centre -ve).

Done that all good thanks

Thats one of the ones you can flash with DD WRT i think, i recomend it with a bit of tweeking you can get some serious performance gains. In speed reliability and distance. You can even free up some of the onboard memory thats used up on useless processes and increase the security.

I think it does already, I only retired it due to it not being gigabit or Wifi N

If the only issues are wifi then disable it on the "super hub" and just get a cheapie wifi box. The TP-link stuff is good. I have a hotel running 5 of the three ariel ones (forget the model but i can find it if you want) as a mix of wifi extenders and wired access points and they are pretty solid

I'll just set as modem only, once a turd and all that.

I'll check out the TP link stuff, set up a few of their Range extenders and had no complaints

I have a Netgear WNR 3500L hooked up to the SuperHub (in modem mode). Gigabit speed but a little redundant in my case as the home LAN is connected through separate gigabit switches. Main reason for the Netgear was to run Tomato firmware - a lot more control over traffic and routing than the stock stuff.

I'm on the 50Mb tier and theoretically Virgin are doing the speed doubling here this month, so the 100Mb (or 120Mb if it ever arrives) might test it a little.

I've also got a semi-dead Linksys WRT54GL & power supply kicking around somewhere - could post on the supply if it helps.

Go for a better quality one with 2.4Ghz and 5 Ghz much less crowded @5Ghz very rarely drops out

http://www.amazon.co...c_df_B005626U9W Belkin N600

gone through a few of cheaper ones

Edited 5 December, 201213 yr by g0bgb

I have a Netgear WNR 3500L hooked up to the SuperHub (in modem mode). Gigabit speed but a little redundant in my case as the home LAN is connected through separate gigabit switches. Main reason for the Netgear was to run Tomato firmware - a lot more control over traffic and routing than the stock stuff.

I'm on the 50Mb tier and theoretically Virgin are doing the speed doubling here this month, so the 100Mb (or 120Mb if it ever arrives) might test it a little.

I've also got a semi-dead Linksys WRT54GL & power supply kicking around somewhere - could post on the supply if it helps.

Go Cisco. Even more control over packets.

Go for a better quality one with 2.4Ghz and 5 Ghz much less crowded @5Ghz very rarely drops out

http://www.amazon.co...c_df_B005626U9W Belkin N600

gone through a few of cheaper ones

Belkin dear god no, also that one is for a DSL line not a Cable modem line

The problem with 5GHZ is range and equipment support. My parents now have a dual band router, on 2.4GHZ I can connect throughout the entire house, on 5GHZ I get no signal at all in on the front bedrooms and a good one on 2.4GHZ. Then you run into compatibility, 5GHZ is quiet new, so not a lot of devices support. All current Apple products do, but I know the iPhone 4 does not for example.

Belkin dear god no, also that one is for a DSL line not a Cable modem line

Parents have just dumped their Belkin cable router, they got fed up with its constant crashes and having to keep turning it off and on agagain. They now have a dual band Netgear which I setup a couple of weeks ago.

He got one of these, and it works fine with Virgin Cable.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/netgear-rangemax-wndr3700-dual-band-wireless-router-06897997-pdt.html

ignore the product description, its wrong.