Looking for router that deals with unreliable ADSL links

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neb

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#199029 1-Aug-2016 16:08

I have a friend who lives out in the sticks (on a farm) and who gets her Internet disconnectivity via a fine product of the Conklin Corporation. Problem is that her ADSL drops out several times a day, which requires power cycling her router every time to recover. It's some ghastly Linksys which, apart from its inability to handle dropouts cleanly, also has other problems like zero diagnostic capability (I wanted to look up things like SNR and distance to DSLAM, but the only info it provides is "yer got thuh Internet" or "yer haven't got thuh Internet"). My usual solution for situations like this is to drop in a Draytek and be done with it, but it's a bit more than she can afford.

So... can anyone recommend a not-too-expensive ADSL router that recovers from problems pretty well, and automatically, and that if possible has some decent diagnostics? An older model that I can source off Trademe for her would be fine, I've got a Vigor 2800 lying around (somewhere...) but that's maybe a bit too old, and in any case doesn't have WiFi beyond 802.11g.

PeterReader

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#1602345 1-Aug-2016 16:08

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

you have reset your modem and router
your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing - you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap
your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing
you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

Your ISP and plan
Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)
Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)
Your general location (or street)
If you are rural or urban
If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin
If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service
If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

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richms

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#1602372 1-Aug-2016 16:41

If you are on a conklin then 802.11b would probably be faster than internet.

Richard rich.ms

michaelmurfy

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#1602387 1-Aug-2016 17:15

One of the Spark Huawei routers will do just fine. Available from Spark or Trademe for cheap / free.

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RunningMan

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#1602390 1-Aug-2016 17:22

Dynalink RTA1320 are pretty stable and provide good stats info. Bit old now though.

neb

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#1602405 1-Aug-2016 18:01

richms:
If you are on a conklin then 802.11b would probably be faster than internet.

Yeah, sigh. Other things that would be faster than her Internet:

* Smoke signals during a West Coast fog.

* Pigeons. Clay,at an NRA convention.

* Conversation in the mosh pit of a Motorhead concert.

* Chinese whispers.

* Carrier mackerel across the Sahara.

coffeebaron

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#1602406 1-Aug-2016 18:02

Don't forget the master filter :)

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#1602413 1-Aug-2016 18:23

My view is for ADSL services the Telecom/Spark Thompson / Technicolour TG582 was the best (not the 589 VDSL as they were junk) free ADSL modem ever supplied by any ISP with a link to an expired listing off Trademe. Then the Draytek Vigor is good, as are the new Huawei HG630 or HG659s.

neb

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#1602435 1-Aug-2016 18:46

Aren't the ISP-supplied Huaweis carrier-locked? That is, they can't be moved from Vodafone or Spark or whoever originally supplied them?

DarkShadow

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#1602441 1-Aug-2016 19:03

neb: Aren't the ISP-supplied Huaweis carrier-locked? That is, they can't be moved from Vodafone or Spark or whoever originally supplied them?

Nope

dimsim

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#1602471 1-Aug-2016 20:12

I've always found Cisco 837/857's perfect in these situations. They don't have wifi so you'd need an AP of some description.

Happy to send you one of each to see if it resolves your problem.

Pm me if interested.

tangerz

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#1602472 1-Aug-2016 20:17

neb:So... can anyone recommend a not-too-expensive ADSL router that recovers from problems pretty well, and automatically, and that if possible has some decent diagnostics? An older model that I can source off Trademe for her would be fine, I've got a Vigor 2800 lying around (somewhere...) but that's maybe a bit too old, and in any case doesn't have WiFi beyond 802.11g.

If it's going spare why not drop in the Draytek and see how it goes? Can't be worse than what she has now right?!?

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quickymart

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#1602500 1-Aug-2016 20:32

Whereabouts on the Coast is this?

neb

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#1602534 1-Aug-2016 21:03

tangerz:
If it's going spare why not drop in the Draytek and see how it goes? Can't be worse than what she has now right?!?

The shelf it's sitting on is a long way away :-). Also, it's sitting there as a spare in case the current router that's being used dies, for which the fix is "unplug current router, plug in Draytek from shelf".