Decent gigabit router recomendation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 11:16:15 am
content: I'm looking for a decent wireless router with gigabit lan ports. I am setting up a NAS so need something reliable enough to stay on 24/7 without cocking up and energy efficient.on another note be warned, Tenda routers are utter shit. I have one now and it just keeps loosing the connection and often needs rebooting. very annoying.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 01:17:17 pm
content: I have found that Linksys, D-Link and TP link all work well as does Belkin and Edimax. any of those should be fine.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 01:20:08 pm
content: What about netgear ? are they any good. Any I should really avoid ?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 01:32:39 pm
content: In my experience, each brand has had a period in time / model or two that have been shocking.I've had Linksys and D-Link in court on a few occasions. Netgear are very good, used in commercial systems.Billion are very good. For less cost, I've used several ASUS, no problems. YMMV

author: ErikTheNorwegian
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 03:45:14 pm
content: I just tought that Linksys was a "nobuy" brandref.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/general-chat/which-dickhead-at-cisco-thought-up-this-idea/

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 03:48:12 pm
content: hm I had the impression that they were second rate too ut as mentioned they all manufacturers have their moments.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 04:17:04 pm
content: You tried openwrt or tomato on the router as a firmware upgrade?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 04:34:00 pm
content: how do I install those ? just do an upgrade with the open source firmware and bingo ?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 05:33:43 pm
content: Google...... Router model and openwrt. Should be a wiki in there at openwrt.org with instructions.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 05:36:44 pm
content: yea seems I can just do an upgrade. But I also found my firmware was well out of date so have updated it. Problem is I'd need gigabit lan ports for the NAS so could't use this router longterm anyhow and I suppose I'd best resell it with it's original firmware.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 05:44:08 pm
content: Why not just buy a cheap gigabit switch and place next to router. Gigabit switches are cheap and as a bonus normally have more ports.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 05:54:52 pm
content: TP-Link ... i don't want to buy anymore. You couldn't choose a channel other than 1 or 12 on the supposedly super advanced router i hadLinksys ... the software is too basicI think you should go for a gigabit switch and then wire a N router doesn't matter if it's gigabit or notBut ASUS is what dd-wrt people like for modding and plus, for the same price is much better than linksys E1500 ( i am using that ... 2x3 router )

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 06:16:02 pm
content: I'm also trying to keep control the quantity of equipment peices. As I have the NAS I need the switch/router to stay on for long periods. And I don't want and extra peice on when I get in. Remember I already have a modem. I'd prefer a gigabit router that shuts down the wireless when not needed. That was I can access the NAS from outside and use the wireless when i get in for my phone and laptop. My main PC will be wired to the router so that I have full bandwidth to the NAS

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 06:31:00 pm
content: And you expect it to know when to turn the wireless on how?Just get a switch. It the number of warts is a problem, get one good 12V supply and put the DC plugs on it.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 06:32:40 pm
content: erm I don't know how it does it and don't care. I only know I saw a router advertised to do just that.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 06:34:29 pm
content: Either the radio is off or it isn't, which do you want?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 06:39:08 pm
content: I am guessing it would do what my phone does which is to occasionally check to see if anything is in range rather than remain continually on, Even if it fires up for a fraction of a second every few seconds it is a massive power saving, power can also be reduced and on dual aerial routers (most) only one aerial used.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 06:44:34 pm
content: An AP can't do that. If the network isn't present when a client comes along, it will go elsewhere. Like that annoying BTFON station across the street. It's a silly idea to save a couple of pennies.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 06:47:56 pm
content: I don't know about a couple of pennies, if you have two transmitters on a route on 24/7 that will mount up to be quite a bit of electricity, unlike a wired connection that will probably only make use of power substantially when transmission and reception takes place. Maybe there is a button on the router to turn the wireless back on and it turns the wireless off if it has not received any requests for a certain amount of time.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:03:44 pm
content: Just pulled out an AP. Wifi on, 2.7W. Wifi off, 2.3W. It's not a great saving compared to the inconvenience, imo.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:11:40 pm
content: are you saying the whole router uses 2.7 W? That is impressive I thought mine used around 10 W, steel and you are talking about a saving of nearly half a watt, that's 12W a day and 4 kW a year, okay that's a bout a pound in electric a year. But are you sure about your figures? If a router really uses that little with or without wireless I'm not too fast.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:20:19 pm
content: This is idle. 300mA at 9.1V with wireless on. Obviously there are losses in the mains SMPSU, but.. It's only rated 600mA.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:22:23 pm
content: Turn off SSID broadcast and the wireless will be low power. Turn Tx power down so that you have usable reception all through the house and not further. Will save 1W or so of power. Power both from the NAS box PSU, and use a low power Atom or ARM NAS to power the lot. 1 plug, and you can probably get the whole lot to fit in the case, with just the ethernet connectors out the back and the remote wireless antenna on top of the box.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:31:30 pm
content: get the lot to fit in what case ? Yes I would like to use a common power adapter but trouble is everything seems to use a different voltage these days. My router and modem are different voltages.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:41:58 pm
content: What voltages? You'd be surprised what will run on 12V.God, using this phone is getting annoying.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:43:30 pm
content: not a 19V modem surely !, I'd rather not put 12V into a 9V router unless I know it really can take it

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:44:56 pm
content: Open them up, take a look.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 11:05:17 pm
content: That TP-LINK router i had used a 12V 1amp plugpack .... and it was not anywhere near silly looking, or rather, it looks like a devil's fork (maserati emblem) ...My modem is then the scary one, it has a 3amp plugpack