Wireless router advice

[SingleWalking]

Re: Wireless router advice

If your ISP provides a router, I would second @SingleWalking's recommendation to use it and let them deal with any problems.

Not sure about the smaller ISPs but I think the major players like Bell, Rogers, Telus (out west), Cogeco, Teksavvy (piggy back off Bell or Rogers), etc. all gives you Gateway so all non technical average subscribers can get things going quickly. Most of these gateway can have the router switch off (bridgemode) so you can use your own router.

For Bell, check out this forum: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/symp...79801648666279 There are all kinds of threads telling you how you can use your own routers.

Personal experience: I used to rent the modem and used my own router. All great until one time I keep getting disconnections. The dummy tech support keep saying the modem and line are fine and it is my router that caused the problem. Back then Bell has its own support forum. I posted there and a senior back office tech (Bell_Dom - still around in Bell Direct forum in DSL Reports) got back to me and used my xbox360 as the router. Disconnections continue and eventually they got it fixed on their site. After that incident I just get a Gateway from them. The next time (2 yrs later) similar issues occured. The moment tech support knows I have the gateway they quickly confirmed it has something bad between the gateway and them. Technician came and changed the gateway for me.

[hemants]

Re: Wireless router advice

Asus N66u

Decent price point and considered one of the most reliable.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320091

[gimmeabogey]

Re: Wireless router advice

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the uses of wifi extenders or repeaters. I've got my router in a place that I cannot move so to increase the signal in dead spots I'm considering a repeater or extender. I'm not sure at this point if the two are the same however that's exactly what these things are supposed to do. Anybody use one?

[petvan]

Re: Wireless router advice

Not sure about the smaller ISPs but I think the major players like Bell, Rogers, Telus (out west), Cogeco, Teksavvy (piggy back off Bell or Rogers), etc. all gives you Gateway so all non technical average subscribers can get things going quickly. Most of these gateway can have the router switch off (bridgemode) so you can use your own router.

You can also use your own router connected directly to the Sagemcom (or any other) while the ISP supplied router is in routing mode as well. You end up with a double NAT function occurring, but for many applications this isn't a big deal.

Things like your gaming device though which might want voice/data simultaneously may struggle with NAT in general and are best placed behind the first NAT device.

I have this setup in my house and put stuff like ipads/ipods/pcs/laptops etc behind my own firewall where I have better control, and allow the Sagemcom to be there for guests or devices like my xbox that aren't friendly with NAT.

P

[petvan]

Re: Wireless router advice

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the uses of wifi extenders or repeaters. I've got my router in a place that I cannot move so to increase the signal in dead spots I'm considering a repeater or extender. I'm not sure at this point if the two are the same however that's exactly what these things are supposed to do. Anybody use one?

Good WIFI repeaters are hard to find. Apple does this well if you happen to go that route. I use an Extreme (time capsule + wifi) plus a couple airports spread out for wifi extension to reach outside my house + upstairs in some otherwise tough spots.

I haven't seen many true wifi repeaters out there at a good price, and I expect compatibility with the base station will be an issue if you go multi-vendor, but I've never tried it.

Research is key here.

P

[racmbs]

Re: Wireless router advice

LOL Scotty you missed that part about me not be a techie so: 1 & 2 I have no idea, 3 yes, 4 yes, 5 no.

I am finding connecting taking longer, things a bit slower, opening pages etc...

Sorry Gerry, don't log on here much and just saw this.

Some great suggestions in this thread since it's started, but as one has suggested if you aren't comfortable enough sourcing your own router and troubleshooting it should something happen, then I'd speak with Cogeco and see just what WiFi routers they have available and go that route. This way if anything happens to it you won't get turned away and told to deal with the manufacturer of the router you buy, but instead will troubleshoot for you and send out a tech if need be.

On a side note, Asus has come a LONG way from just building boards to now offering some of the best routers on the market. If it were my choice I'd go either Cisco or Asus, Linksys would be a close third and the rest are just too unstable for my liking.

[racmbs]

Re: Wireless router advice

Good WIFI repeaters are hard to find. Apple does this well if you happen to go that route. I use an Extreme (time capsule + wifi) plus a couple airports spread out for wifi extension to reach outside my house + upstairs in some otherwise tough spots.

I haven't seen many true wifi repeaters out there at a good price, and I expect compatibility with the base station will be an issue if you go multi-vendor, but I've never tried it.

Research is key here.

P

D Link make excellent repeaters...zero config time and are very dependable.

[petvan]

Re: Wireless router advice

D Link make excellent repeaters...zero config time and are very dependable.

Indeed..just saw a couple that seemed viable. Back when I was hunting few years ago, the market wasn't really well served. Lots of linksys hacks and the like.

[SoooSIRIUS]

Re: Wireless router advice

cogeco.

Check your package with Cogeco. We had a mid range one from about 5 years ago and then they made that package and modem obsolete and came out with a new modem and faster package for $1 less. Of course they won't tell you this. They also tried to charge $100 modem upgrade fee or something stupid that we weren't going to pay.

I got that and upgraded my router from an old Linksys to an ASUS RT-N66U 'Dark Knight'. The router wasn't cheap but I haven't had any issues with running the 3 iPads, 2 computers and Netflix/PS4 in our house all potentially at the same time.

[golfingoalie]

Re: Wireless router advice

I got a promo email from Cogeco last week, I currently have what they call the Turbo 14 package, I can upgrade to Turbo 20 for $15 less for 1st 6 months then it goes back to $1.00 more than what I pay now.


I also says I can rent a wireless modem for $2.00 per month, I do assume this would still mean I need a router, either a new one or my existing one?

[racmbs]

Re: Wireless router advice

I got a promo email from Cogeco last week, I currently have what they call the Turbo 14 package, I can upgrade to Turbo 20 for $15 less for 1st 6 months then it goes back to $1.00 more than what I pay now.


I also says I can rent a wireless modem for $2.00 per month, I do assume this would still mean I need a router, either a new one or my existing one?

Unless you ask to change it, most ISP's will just stick you with what you've got. I'd ask what the current model of WiFi router it is that they are offering to you, and post it on here if you'd like one of us to give you feedback on it.

But in the end I don't think for someone such as yourself (non-tech) that you can go wrong by going the route of just renting the WiFi router they offer you as it will give you peace of mind knowing all technical issues related to the router are covered by Cogeco. If you opt to buy your own and have someone come by and install it, unless that person is willing to offer you troubleshooting anytime it goes down, you are on your own.

[SoooSIRIUS]

Re: Wireless router advice

That is the package we had. Turbo 14 is being phased out and is no longer an option for "new" installs. I got my numbers mixed up, we do pay $1 more and didn't go with the wireless modem mainly because I prefer to be hardwired for gaming and streaming. The modem upgrade fee I believe was $50 not $100 and they used an old promotion price of $44.99 off so we did pay $5 for the modem upgrade. You can swap out modems at storefront in Limeridge mall, not sure if there's any options in Milton. They will also say they'll send a guy out and charge the upgrade fee. All he does is unplug your modem and plug the new one in.

I'm not 100% sure but I think my friend has a wireless modem through Bell and does not need a router.

[racmbs]

Re: Wireless router advice

That is the package we had. Turbo 14 is being phased out and is no longer an option for "new" installs. I got my numbers mixed up, we do pay $1 more and didn't go with the wireless modem mainly because I prefer to be hardwired for gaming and streaming. The modem upgrade fee I believe was $50 not $100 and they used an old promotion price of $44.99 off so we did pay $5 for the modem upgrade. You can swap out modems at storefront in Limeridge mall, not sure if there's any options in Milton. They will also say they'll send a guy out and charge the upgrade fee. All he does is unplug your modem and plug the new one in.

I'm not 100% sure but I think my friend has a wireless modem through Bell and does not need a router.

Correct modem, I was helping someone else with a bridging issue and was stuck on router.

[SingleWalking]

Re: Wireless router advice

That is the package we had. Turbo 14 is being phased out and is no longer an option for "new" installs. I got my numbers mixed up, we do pay $1 more and didn't go with the wireless modem mainly because I prefer to be hardwired for gaming and streaming.

I'm not 100% sure but I think my friend has a wireless modem through Bell and does not need a router.

That is not a problem these days. If you get a Gateway (modem + router in the same box), there are 4 ethernet port at the back of it. Those ethernet port are active whether you turn the wifi on or not unless you run it in bridgemode hence using the gateway as a router only. All you need is buy a Gigaswitch with as many ports as you need and some Cat5e or Cat6 ethernet cables for the gaming devices.

I use Bell Fibe 50/50 FTTH (Fibre to the Home). When I got it installed last September, the Bell tech ran an outdoor grade Cat5e cable on the outside wall of the house from the basement located ONT (Outdoor Network Terminal) to my Sagemcom gateway in my 2nd floor computer room. It doesn't look beautiful up there will all kinds of ethernet cables going everywhere but who gives a shoot!!!! My laptops are wired unless they have to go out of the room. My Xbox360 is wired. I even have another cable running into the basement for my dad's devices although that older Cat5 cable slows the speed down a bit. Otherwise I get 5ms ping, at least 50mbps up and down.

P.S. My modems, routers, gateways, etc. have always been located in the computer room. I needed the phone plug before the FTTH installation.

Whenever my wife claims "the internet is down". I tell her the internet is fine as I can use it without issue, its the wireless that may not be working. Interference is the most common wireless issue.

[The Troll]

Re: Wireless router advice

#2 = download 11.04 mbps, upload 1.55mbps, ping 15ms

I'd kill for those speeds.

I'm stuck with Bell (crappy slow) or Cogeco (who couldn't keep the service up and running).