[WXC/VFX] WAG54GP2 or PAP2T

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xlinknz

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#10463 23-Nov-2006 20:42

Hello All

I'm moving house in 8 weeks and can't take my Telstra Cable service with me so I have to use DSL...bugger

I have decided to go with XNET and will be ordering my new locations Telecon Land line asap. My thanks for Phil for his answers today. I also read the 14 page thread on xnet :)

Now I don't use wireless now so and I want to so should I get the WAG54GP2 or PAP2T + Different Wireless router ?

I'm not quite confortable with everything being in one box or maybe I should get a seperate modem, wireless router and the PAP2T ?

My only concern with the above is that if I get a router that isn't the WAG54GP2 should I make sure it has some sort of QoS in it to ensure my VoIP works when the DSL is also being used for data downloads ?

Lastly will my Uniden WDECT 2315 interfere with the 802.11g or vice versa ?

I want to get this right esp the router so that as soon as Naked DSL comes I can ditch the TCNZ land line [I will still have 2 cell phones]

Regards

grant_k

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#53448 23-Nov-2006 23:32

xlinknz: Now I don't use wireless now so and I want to so should I get the WAG54GP2 or PAP2T + Different Wireless router? ... I want to get this right esp the router so that as soon as Naked DSL comes I can ditch the TCNZ land line

In that case you should get a "cheapie" DSL modem to carry you through the next few months until naked DSL (or WiMAX) becomes a reality.

xlinknz: My only concern with the above is that if I get a router that isn't the WAG54GP2 should I make sure it has some sort of QoS in it to ensure my VoIP works when the DSL is also being used for data downloads ?

Absolutely! You will need to get a separate router with QoS and preferably wireless as well. VFX lists the Linksys WRTP54G-AU as one of their supported devices. It includes the phone ports, so you don't need anything else except for (temporarily) an ADSL modem.

xlinknz: I'm not quite confortable with everything being in one box or maybe I should get a seperate modem, wireless router and the PAP2T ?

In that case you may want to go with the PAP2T and a separate Wireless Router with QoS. The one I use is ZyXEL P334W which has Bandwidth Management.

In my case QoS on its own was not enough to avoid voice breakup while downloading large e-mail attachments. By setting the Bandwidth Budgets so that the various PCs on the network can only use 85% of the available bandwidth, thus leaving 15% for VoIP, it has avoided this problem completely. The QoS function works well for upstream bandwidth, but not for downstream in my experience. However, I'm on wireless, so you may find with ADSL that you don't experience this problem, especially if you have Max/Max speeds on your chosen plan.

xlinknz: Lastly will my Uniden WDECT 2315 interfere with the 802.11g or vice versa ?

It's pretty unlikely. DECT is very low power and will be using a different frequency-hopping sequence than 802.11g. If you do experience problems, you can set your 802.11g wireless router to a different channel (there are usually at least 10 different channels available).

I think I've answered everything you asked Xlinknz, and by the way... Welcome to Geekzone

xlinknz

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#53467 24-Nov-2006 10:23

Just occured to me that I could get the WAG54GP2 or PAP2T now to use on my 2/2 Telstra Cable service before I go to the new location and 128/2 DSL so I could get familar with VoIP and the Xnet/VFX service !

1. I assume that PAP2T doesn't have QoS built in ?
2. I wonder if the Linksys WRT54GC is supported by Xnet ?
3. Not much technical infor on the WAG54GP2 I wonder how sophisticated the QoS in it ?

grant_k

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#53470 24-Nov-2006 11:07

xlinknz: Just occured to me that I could get the WAG54GP2 or PAP2T now to use on my 2/2 Telstra Cable service...

Not a good idea! Because the WAG54GP2 also includes an ADSL modem, therefore it will not be able to do the routing function on your existing cable service. To do this, you need a router with an ETHERNET connection on the WAN port (same as you do for Wireless).

xlinknz: 1. I assume that PAP2T doesn't have QoS built in ?

Correct. No QoS at all because it's not a router, only an ATA.

xlinknz:
2. I wonder if the Linksys WRT54GC is supported by Xnet ?

VFX supported devices are here:

http://www.xnet.co.nz/vfx/hardware.php

WRT54GC isn't on the supported list because it doesn't have the phone ports, hence will not hook up to VFX directly. You will need a separate ATA such as PAP2T if you want to use this device.

xlinknz: 3. Not much technical infor on the WAG54GP2 I wonder how sophisticated the QoS in it ?

The answer is: NOT VERY sophisticated. That's why I went with the ZyXEL device mentioned earlier. I tried a Linksys router with QoS and while it sorted out the prioritisation with upstream packets, it didn't help with voice breakup during heavy downloads.

(Moderator edit (BG) - Added hyperlink to URL)

xlinknz

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#53474 24-Nov-2006 11:28

Appreciate the reply

1. Why can't I plug my existing cable modem into one of the 4 Ethernet ports on the WAG54GP2 which I assume are treated as an Ethernet switch ie layer 2 bridge ? ie my static ip would still reside on the PC rather being on the router and then NATed

2. Where can I buy a ZyXEL P334W in NZ and how does the cost compare ?

3. Surely ISP's are asking for trouble if people deploy ATA's on broadband links without their own QoS ?

grant_k

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#53481 24-Nov-2006 11:56

xlinknz: 1. Why can't I plug my existing cable modem into one of the 4 Ethernet ports on the WAG54GP2 which I assume are treated as an Ethernet switch ie layer 2 bridge ? ie my static ip would still reside on the PC rather being on the router and then NATed

Yes, you could do that, and so far as Internet connectivity is concerned, it would work. Effectively you would just be using the WAG54GP2 as a hub (or switch) and none of its routing functions would be operational.

In order to use QoS, you have to use the WAG54GP2 as a router, with its WAN port connected directly to an ADSL connection i.e. your Static IP then resides on the router instead of your PC. This then implies the use of NAT etc, etc.

As soon as you have more than one PC or device connected to the net, you'll have to use NAT anyway unless you want to use ICS on your PC (generally not a good idea as you have to leave it powered on all the time, even to make phone calls).

xlinknz:
2. Where can I buy a ZyXEL P334W in NZ and how does the cost compare ?

Campbell Software in Wellington are the distributor for NZ:

http://www.campbell.co.nz/

They are good people to deal with. You may need to convince them that you are a reseller or else they will refer you on to one of their existing resellers.

I notice that the Prestige 334W that I am using has been replaced by the Prestige 335WT. I couldn't quickly ascertain if it has "MEDIA BANDWIDTH MANAGEMENT" as mine does. You would need to check on this point before ordering it.

xlinknz:
3. Surely ISP's are asking for trouble if people deploy ATA's on broadband links without their own QoS ?

It depends...

In much the same way that if you use Skype while doing large downloads, there will be a degradation to call quality, many people are prepared to put up with this restriction and manage their usage accordingly to avoid problems.

However, I wanted something more bullet-proof so have spent quite a bit of time (and around $200) buying the P334W to finally nail this problem.

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Grant.

sbiddle

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#53493 24-Nov-2006 13:41

xlinknz:
Lastly will my Uniden WDECT 2315 interfere with the 802.11g or vice versa ?

DECT doesn't use the 2.4GHz band so you will be fine there. There are 2.4Ghz phones around proprietory digital formats not DECT.

Fraktul

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#54845 6-Dec-2006 20:28

DECT is 1880-1900MHz, 802.11g does not use frequency hopping.

802.11G may possably fall back to FHSS under very low power conditions or poor SNR as this was part of the original 802.11 standard, I'm not too sure. Either way your DECT phone and 802.11g network will play fine however.