Best router for numerous Apple devices and Windows laptops

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haylsmc

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#111500 5-Nov-2012 17:56

Hi there,
I'm after some advice for purchasing a new wireless router? We currently have the standard Thompson router which Telecom supplied for free with our contract.
Our family uses numerous iPhones, iPads, Macbook Pro, Apple TV, wireless Canon printer and Windows laptops on our one Thompson router.

At the moment it is struggling to accommodate and needs to be reset every time Apple TV goes to sleep (very inconvenient) therefore we are looking into purchasing a new router that better suits our needs for a range of devices and optimum speed.

Any advice on these issues appreciated!

nakedmolerat

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#712456 5-Nov-2012 18:03

DGND4000

gehenna

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#712461 5-Nov-2012 18:08

The Apple networking devices are actually really good. The Airport Express is a great simple and portable WAP but needs a modem in front of it. The Airport Extreme is a much more featured device, also needing a separate modem. It has great sharing and remote access features.

The Time Capsule is effectively an Airport Extreme with hard drives inside that you can use for wireless backups of your Macs.

You can use any old cheapie ADSL2 modem as your gateway device and just bridge it to the router - we use Draytek modems at work for just this purpose.

Zeon

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#712463 5-Nov-2012 18:10

I'm using a WNR3500L with custom firmware at home. using either Thompson in bridge mode for VDSL2 or Draytek Vigor 12 in bridge mode for ADSL1/ADSL2.

The WNR3500L can handle VDSL2 line speed.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

Behodar

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#712464 5-Nov-2012 18:11

gehenna: You can use any old cheapie ADSL2 modem as your gateway device and just bridge it to the router - we use Draytek modems at work for just this purpose.

That's exactly what I do here - modem bridged to AirPort Extreme :)

Oldhat

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#715346 11-Nov-2012 00:31

Behodar:
gehenna: You can use any old cheapie ADSL2 modem as your gateway device and just bridge it to the router - we use Draytek modems at work for just this purpose.

That's exactly what I do here - modem bridged to AirPort Extreme :)

I have the same setup as well. Vigor 120 in full bridge connected to a Time Capsule.

Very easy to extend the wireless coverage using the Airport Express, which is great.

The only problem I would foresee is connecting the Canon. Often the wireless printers require WPS, which isn't an option with the Apple devices.