Router

[martint235]

I need a new ADSL router. I have a Buffalo one at the moment but it's no longer supported and so no new firmware has been released. I've been having the odd issue where the whole system gets upset if there's 5 bits of kit active at once.

So I'm looking for a new router. I don't think I have any bit of kit that uses 802.11n so that isn't hugely important but obviously I won't turn it down. Budget is around the £70 mark, any suggestions? Oh and given Buffalo's track record with the one I've got, I'd rather avoid them.

 

[tincaman]

Ring your ISP and get them to send you a new one, yours must be broken, unplug it when you go through their tech support

 

[martint235]

I think mine is just old. I really don't rate ISP supplied routers (got 3 in the loft). I'm looking for a more powerful model that can handle 3 laptops, 2 phones, a PC, PS3 and a tablet all at the same time.

 

[MattHB]

I think mine is just old. I really don't rate ISP supplied routers (got 3 in the loft). I'm looking for a more powerful model that can handle 3 laptops, 2 phones, a PC, PS3 and a tablet all at the same time.

Any modern ISP supplied unit should do that with ease. Most of them are very similar to what you'd go any buy anyway and are often made by some of the big companies. Don't waste your money.

 

[martint235]

The last one I got was a Thomson which, although still supported, struggles to reach a laptop in the conservatory.

Bit more info, the router is also wired to the powerful house PC in my office so I accept it's not in the optimum position for providing WiFi to the house but it is immovable. The Buffalo used to be able to reach my work laptop in the garden. I think it struggles because I used to only have the PC, 1 phone and 1 laptop

 

[MattHB]

It would be cheaper to get a new router from your ISP, and then use a repeater to boost the wifi coverage.

 

[martint235]

I'd not thought of using a repeater. I've got a spare DSL router kicking around, I'm sure I can rig that up as a downstairs repeater. That can handle all the wireless stuff leaving the PC happy upstairs. Cheers

 

[2Loose]

Change the firmware on the router to dd-wrt if possible (free and surprisingly easy to do) to turn it into a 'full fat' router and give it a new lease of life - save your pennies.

I used it on an old Buffalo and now also have it on a tired D-Link, both now working as repeater bridges as MattHB suggested.

 

[martint235]

Unfortunately dd-wrt doesn't support my router.

However news just in, I can buy the power plug thingies, I can hide a new router in there!!!