Advice on new Wireless Router

I use BT Homehub which is excellent in terms of reliability and signal.

Also no chance of an ISP / router supplier conflict.

However, BT may not suit you if you have a phone line / broadband contract with ANOther.

D.J.KRIME:

Now Belkin blame my ISP and my ISP blame the router

That old chestnut! Is your ISP saying the router is faulty, or not 'compatible' with their network?

First thing you could try is a factory reset on the router - I've found this often works when nothing else has. If you really have had enough of the Belkin though, I've found Netgear (in recent years) to be pretty reliable (others will probably have different experiences though!).

Regarding NAT for the 360 and PS3, do you have uPnP enabled on both the router and the consoles?ÿ

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D.J.KRIME:

I currently have a Belkin Wireless G+ router(phone line not cable) and frankly think it is quite rubbish especially as it cost £70. I am on my 3rd unit due to break downs now this one keeps loosing internet conection unless my main computer is turned on, which has a wired conection to the router (adsl light is still ok so there is actually a conection avalible)

Now Belkin blame my ISP and my ISP blame the router

I also have issues with this router where both My Xbox 360 and PS3 say that the NAT on the router is too strict.

Any recomendations???

I concur with the Netgear crew.Had them for several years at home and in the office and they are brill. The new range max are supposed to be outstanding if a little more expensive (£100+)-here

I have a netgear router which was supplied with sky broadband a couple of years ago i guess and i am always having to re-boot the thing and often i,m told i,m not connected to the internet as i write all the icons on the router are flashing like mad,does it sound as iÿcouldÿbe in need of an upgrade.

sorry D.J Krime i did not mean to sabotage your thread.

Murrayÿ

I have a Belkin which, once I got it working (ISP had to allow MAC address), hasn't let me down (or at least not any more than you'd expect from a wireless network). I suspect there's nothing wrong with it and you just need to sort out the config...

So if i went for say the expensive Netgear max would this give me a very good signal all around my house as I sometimes find my 360 strugles to conect to my current router due to weak signal even tho the G+ is ment to have a very wide range. Also is the netgear still going to give me the NAT issues I am getting on the games consoles as when I was using a BT router I never got these issues.

D.J.KRIME:

So if i went for say the expensive Netgear max would this give me a very good signal all around my house as I sometimes find my 360 strugles to conect to my current router due to weak signal even tho the G+ is ment to have a very wide range. Also is the netgear still going to give me the NAT issues I am getting on the games consoles as when I was using a BT router I never got these issues.

I can't promise you on the NAT issue,but the blurb says it is good for internet gaming, and my son is constantly on  360 live gaming through the same model router as Gerrard, using netgear mains bridges rather than wireless and hasn't complained yet (except for the constant freezing of all his games but that is more likely impending RROD) .

I am going to see if I can borrow a Rangemax from my friendly IT mate and try it out cos I have signal strength issues.

Forgive me for acting dumb but what are "mains bridges" that you mention?

D.J.KRIME:

So if i went for say the expensive Netgear max would this give me a very good signal all around my house as I sometimes find my 360 strugles to conect to my current router due to weak signal even tho the G+ is ment to have a very wide range. Also is the netgear still going to give me the NAT issues I am getting on the games consoles as when I was using a BT router I never got these issues.

Difficult to say as I'm not overly familiar with the Belkin or the latest Netgear stuff. Tried to see if the specifications for either included some indication of coverage, but couldn't find much that was useful. Coverage will depend on distance and building structure, often with unpredictable results.

Best bet I think would be to buy from a retailer that will happily take the item back if it doesn't do the job (and allowing a good week or two to test over time). Would have thought that shouldn't be a problem for most retailers?

Can't say if NAT issues will disappear as it can't be said for certain at this point that the Belkin is at fault. We had problems with the PS3 network when on Tiscali, but never with any other ISP (using the same router). So ISP's can be at fault too. Again, best bet will be to try another router and evaluate from there...

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D.J.KRIME:

Forgive me for acting dumb but what are "mains bridges" that you mention?

See Here  - plug one into the router and the nearest mains socket and the other into the xbox and nearest mains socket.Another form of hardwiring.

Ravey Gravey Davy:

D.J.KRIME:

Forgive me for acting dumb but what are "mains bridges" that you mention?

See Here  - plug one into the router and the nearest mains socket and the other into the xbox and nearest mains socket.Another form of hardwiring.

I take it you dont rate these JD?

JohnDuncan:

Ravey Gravey Davy:

D.J.KRIME:

Forgive me for acting dumb but what are "mains bridges" that you mention?

See Here  - plug one into the router and the nearest mains socket and the other into the xbox and nearest mains socket.Another form of hardwiring.

Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear...nasty things. Nasty nasty.

Well ,put it this way, I've used them for data transfer  ,the kids for gaming and music and we do not have issues.

Now then,

Can opener - check

Wormbait- check

Fire  -from the Naim   topnotch HDX CD ripper web page

Network Streaming
As well as a stand-alone hard disk music player, the HDX is a music server that can provide up to six different streams of music simultaneously over a home network. Install an HDX and you've installed the heart of a multi-room audio system too. You don't even need to install copious reels of new network wire either as network hardware that uses existing household mains cables can do the job.

DJ - the last post was not meant to hi-jack- I'll report back once/if I get the opportunity to borrow the Rangemax.

JD - I am not taking sides on the bridge issue but it is an interesting take on viewpoints.