Best Voice capable ADSL2+ Wireless Modem/Router

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StephenInNz

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#27227 18-Oct-2008 18:07

I have used a Netgear DG834Gv3 modem/router for several years and have been really pleased with it. I'm now looking to move to Naked DSL and VOIP with Snap and 2talk respectively. $85 per month for both will fulfill our requirements and compared to other providers, this seems a pretty good deal. Most ISP's seem to promote the Linksys Modem/Router WAG54GP2 as their preferred device but I have read a lot of poor reports about this device. I have also seen the Netgear DG834GV device - slightly more expensive but being a Netgear man, I wonder if this might be better than the Linksys offering? 2talk say that the device should have the following attributes:

1. Your device will need to be SIP V2 or above compliant
2. It will need to support on of these codes iLBC, GSM, G.711 codec
3. If you want to connect a traditional fax it will need to support T.38 pass through
4. If you want to use video calling it will need to support H.264 or H.263

Even on the Netgear site, I cannot see whether this device supports all of the above? 1 and 2 are probably only the important ones as far as I am concerned.

Can anyone offer me any help - Ideally I'm looking for a device that does it all and I only want to buy this once and not purchase a dud device that keeps dropping the connection etc. Quality of voice calls will obviously be paramount.

Does anyone know of a better alternative?

Finally, using 2talk eats into the 10Gb cap provided by Snap. Does anyone know how long you can talk on the phone for say 1Gb of data? I get 500 minutes of included calling to 40 countries including NZ with 2talk but if I use 500 minutes, how much of my 10Gb cap will be used?

hairy1

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#172006 18-Oct-2008 21:23

As far as the data usage goes, I have heard the figure of 70 MB / hour (I think???) We use about 3 GB data per month of which the phone (VFX) is probably doing almost an hour of calling per day. I use a WRTP54g which is a linksys for a PPPOE connection (not ADSL) and that has been pretty good once I got the heat issues sorted out (it didn't like being laid down flat and got too hot). That probably doesn't help you too much with the router selection!

Cheers,

Matt.

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nate

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#172043 19-Oct-2008 10:39

For your data usage, my recommendation would be to just keep an eye on the Snap usage meter, I'd be surprised if you'd run over your 10Gb cap with voice alone.

Secondly, spend alittle more $$ and get a decent router - I have a DrayTek Vigor 2700V, it has two FXS ports (analogue to VoIP converters) which you can register with different providers. I have one registered with 2Talk and it works really well.

StephenInNz

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#172164 19-Oct-2008 22:47

Hi and thanks everyone for your advice. Do you know if the DG2700VL is a wireless device as well? With 4 laptops in the house, I need a wireless enabled modem/router.

hellonearthisman

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#172225 20-Oct-2008 11:56

I had a look for one yesteday , nice thread. DrayTek DV2700VGL ADSL2+ Modem/Router, True firewall, Ethernet, 4xRJ-45 ports, 802.11b/g Wireless

nate

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#172247 20-Oct-2008 14:09

hellonearthisman: I had a look for one yesteday , nice thread. DrayTek DV2700VGL ADSL2+ Modem/Router, True firewall, Ethernet, 4xRJ-45 ports, 802.11b/g Wireless

Sorry should've warned you, these are a much higher price point than Linksys/Dynalink, but you certainly get what you pay for - rock solid reliability, great QoS plus plenty of flexibility. Unless you have the $$ for Cisco, you aren't going to buy better.

For example, for a client of ours running one I have full remote access (RDP, FTP etc based off my work and home static ips), but anyone else (client is running internal webserver) can only access www (port 80). There's no better security than heading it off at the gate.

hellonearthisman

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#172272 20-Oct-2008 15:40

It would be nice if the ISP offered these with a 24month contract. Would save a ton of problems that the free models have.

$400 vs $120 is a big jump. But it's also future proofed http://www.draytek.com.au/products/Vigor2700.php?img=Vigor2700VGL

I've started saving for one, adsl2+ is due in my town in 2011

nate

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#172276 20-Oct-2008 15:43

hellonearthisman: It would be nice if the ISP offered these with a 24month contract. Would save a ton of problems that the free models have.

$400 vs $120 is a big jump. But it's also future proofed http://www.draytek.com.au/products/Vigor2700.php?img=Vigor2700VGL

I've started saving for one, adsl2+ is due in my town in 2011

Problem with that is people would complain that the contract is too long etc. Better off buying it yourself, then you can swap ISPs (if you really want to) to your hearts content.

I promise you will not be disappointed with the Draytek

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hellonearthisman

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#173881 27-Oct-2008 17:38

I just saw this on special? $230 DrayTek DV2700VL ADSL2+ Modem/Router, True firewall, Ethernet, 4xRJ-45 ports

They also have a new wireless one. DrayTek DV2820N ADSL2+ Modem/Router, True firewall, Ethernet, 5xRJ-45 ports, 802.11b/g/n (draft) Wireless but that's ove $600

StephenInNz

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#173903 27-Oct-2008 18:54

Thanks for the tip. I had spotted that one but unfortunately it does not have a wireless capability and with 4 laptops in our house, we need wireless. The cheapest I can find the equivalent wireless model (DV2700VGL) for in NZ is NZD $369 but in Australia, you can pick one up for AUD $230 but unfortunately I can't find it at this price with delivery to NZ :-(

I hadn't come across Draytek before until nate recommended them in an earlier posting. The Drayteks do sound great - lots of positive reviews but the price is very high for wireless with voice. I am now tending towards a Dynalink RTA1046VW, which also gets good reviews and which can be obtained for NZD $186. I don't know if anyone has any opinion as to the quality of this device and whether it has any shortcomings? It is more configurable than the Netgear DG834GV that I was tending towards, having been a Netgear user for several years. With the Netgear, there is no control over QoS for voice whereas with the Dynalink there is. If we are on a VOIP call then I would like this to take a priority over my daughter viewing an episode of Top Gear on You Tube or whatever!