The late XV105
22nd Dec 2009, 13:23
The wireless aspect of my primary* BT Home Hub V1 has given up the ghost. Everything looks fine in the admin console and the service is still enabled but there's no signal (confirmed by a sniff).
So, before I call BT and ask for a free BT Home Hub v2 if I extend my broadband contract, what other wireless ADSL modem products should I look at from fellow PPRuNer's experience?
Essential
All in one wireless ADSL modem router
At least two ethernet ports
Well constructed
Stylish, given that it will necessarily sit in a prominent position
Strong 802.11G single mode performance
Customisable firewall
Slick interface (but also see "undesirable" below)
Full "standards compliance"
Desirable
802.11N now that it is a ratified standard and that future devices I buy are likely to come so enabled
Strong 802.11G&N mixed mode performance
Gigabit ethernet switch - I already have a five port gigabit switch where all devices other than the Hom Hub talk to each other at gigabit rates, but to have a gigabit switch in the Home Hub replacement will aid future wired expansion
"Netgear" written on it as I tend to like their products but I'm not a brand snob and prefer to buy on real merit; if other products are better, that's fine
£100 or less
DMZ
Undesirable
Settings overly simplified in a "dumb consumer" shell (The BT Home Hub v1 gave me juuust enough margin to do what I wanted to do)
Firewall settings other than "default" lost on power-down and reboot (The BT Home Hub v1's most annoying feature)
TVM,
XV
*I have a second Home Hub, a v1.5, giving strong wireless coverage to the garden and connected in wired manner to the primary (DHCP) Home Hub via ethernet over mains Home Plugs.
So, before I call BT and ask for a free BT Home Hub v2 if I extend my broadband contract, what other wireless ADSL modem products should I look at from fellow PPRuNer's experience?
Essential
All in one wireless ADSL modem router
At least two ethernet ports
Well constructed
Stylish, given that it will necessarily sit in a prominent position
Strong 802.11G single mode performance
Customisable firewall
Slick interface (but also see "undesirable" below)
Full "standards compliance"
Desirable
802.11N now that it is a ratified standard and that future devices I buy are likely to come so enabled
Strong 802.11G&N mixed mode performance
Gigabit ethernet switch - I already have a five port gigabit switch where all devices other than the Hom Hub talk to each other at gigabit rates, but to have a gigabit switch in the Home Hub replacement will aid future wired expansion
"Netgear" written on it as I tend to like their products but I'm not a brand snob and prefer to buy on real merit; if other products are better, that's fine
£100 or less
DMZ
Undesirable
Settings overly simplified in a "dumb consumer" shell (The BT Home Hub v1 gave me juuust enough margin to do what I wanted to do)
Firewall settings other than "default" lost on power-down and reboot (The BT Home Hub v1's most annoying feature)
TVM,
XV
*I have a second Home Hub, a v1.5, giving strong wireless coverage to the garden and connected in wired manner to the primary (DHCP) Home Hub via ethernet over mains Home Plugs.