The router guide - what to look for and what is best.

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › The router guide - what to look for and what is best.

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#2968431 15-Sep-2022 10:23

Hi, I would just set the DNS Servers in the top dialog box to the ISPs address, ie 103.105.x.y. I presume however the Pihole itself is working ok? and ensure the Piholes DNS server setting is also to the ISPs server.

Cyril

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#2968438 15-Sep-2022 10:46

cyril7:

Hi, I would just set the DNS Servers in the top dialog box to the ISPs address, ie 103.105.x.y. I presume however the Pihole itself is working ok? and ensure the Piholes DNS server setting is also to the ISPs server.

Cyril

Thanks!

Yes, the Pihole seems to be working as I just loaded cnn.com and there are no ads. I have also entered the DNS as you suggested for the RPi, working perfectly now!

The next thing I will change is the Pihole DNS though have to wait till later in the day as work is putting me under pressure.

Many, many thanks, Cyril

Junta

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#2995623 13-Nov-2022 20:02

Hey everyone, posting in here rather than starting a new thread...

Anyone got a recommendation for a decent gaming router that's mesh compatible (so if I want to extend it later I can)?

Also needs half-decent parental controls: I've seen TP-Link stuff and quite like the look of that.

Also Asus gear looks decent but would like to hear 1st-hand from anyone who's used.

I have Fibre from Contact but can't stand the default router: the useful range plus the quality of the controls are dire. Using a Spark Smart Modem (v1) which is pretty good but again the parental controls are whack.

michaelmurfy

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#2995757 14-Nov-2022 10:27

@Junta "Gaming" routers are both a scam, and a total waste of money.

You could just use your smart modem along with https://nextdns.io for parental controls else you've got the Ubiquiti Dream Machine as an option for a router with alright parental controls. I think the winner for "consumer grade" without blowing the budget will be TP-Link or even Synology. Avoid routers with "Gaming" in the model as it just means they're marked up in price.

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Junta

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#2995995 14-Nov-2022 14:11

michaelmurfy:

@Junta "Gaming" routers are both a scam, and a total waste of money.

You could just use your smart modem along with https://nextdns.io for parental controls else you've got the Ubiquiti Dream Machine as an option for a router with alright parental controls. I think the winner for "consumer grade" without blowing the budget will be TP-Link or even Synology. Avoid routers with "Gaming" in the model as it just means they're marked up in price.

Great stuff, didn't know about NextDNS

zespri

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#2998747 20-Nov-2022 12:07

michaelmurfy:

@Junta "Gaming" routers are both a scam, and a total waste of money.

@michaelmurfy There are also routers for audiophiles (old news) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMFQ3YvR3Eo

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#2998771 20-Nov-2022 12:58

Anyone know how to change DNS settings on the Vodafone Ultrahub Plus? I want to setup NextDNS but can't find an option for custom dns :(

Stu1

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#3020208 11-Jan-2023 17:57

I have wired up most of the house now with great advice from the community. I am with 2degrees and have a Fritz box provided by the ISP. It takes up a lot of room in the cabinet, I’m not worried about wifi as use a orbi mesh system. I do have a VoIP landline though. Is there a small modem/router on the market with VOIP which is more compact than the Fritz box?

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#3020335 12-Jan-2023 01:21

Stu1:

I have wired up most of the house now with great advice from the community. I am with 2degrees and have a Fritz box provided by the ISP. It takes up a lot of room in the cabinet, I’m not worried about wifi as use a orbi mesh system. I do have a VoIP landline though. Is there a small modem/router on the market with VOIP which is more compact than the Fritz box?

The VOIP setup is loaded into the FritzBox remotely by 2Degrees. It may be possible to work out the right settings to use a different VOIP box, but 2Degrees do not publish them and are unlikely to help you with that. What you can do is put the FritzBox behind another router that you use as your main network router. I did that before 2Degrees supported it, so I set it all up so that they could not tell the difference. These days it is much easier as they do allow that configuration, so you just have to set up port forwarding of the VOIP ports and the TR-069 remote configuration service port. Then you can have the FritzBox anywhere on your network. However, if you want it to connect to the house phone wiring instead of only using DECT phones or VOIP phones or apps, you would need to have the FritzBox in a place where it has access to the phone wiring and also an Ethernet connection. If you have somewhere else in the house other than your cabinet where you have those two connections available (or within range of a cable), you can put it there. The other downside of that configuration is that you are having to run two routers, so have to pay extra on your power bill.

Stu1

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#3020341 12-Jan-2023 08:08

Thank you that’s a great idea, it’s the phone which is a pain. I have the base in the hallway patched to to the network switch in the cabinet. I did like the look of the miktotik routers

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#3048903 11-Mar-2023 12:19

I've got a HG695 router on a fibre connection but want to add NextDNS, so thinking of upgrading.

Looking for a wired Gigabit router, and the Mikrotik seem like a good option but the recommendations on the first post (RB4011 or RB5009) are all out of stock - shipping in May?

I don't need the wifi as have a mesh Deco AP around the house. I've used Ubiquiti APs and switches before but not really looking to go deep into networking.

Would a MikroTik RB962UiGS be suitable? or are there any other suitable/cheaper options?

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#3048998 11-Mar-2023 17:21

You just need to go to the dhcp settings and change the dns server to nextdns settings

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#3049004 11-Mar-2023 17:50

MadManwithabox:
I've got a HG695 router on a fibre connection but want to add NextDNS, so thinking of upgrading.

Looking for a wired Gigabit router, and the Mikrotik seem like a good option but the recommendations on the first post (RB4011 or RB5009) are all out of stock - shipping in May?

I don't need the wifi as have a mesh Deco AP around the house. I've used Ubiquiti APs and switches before but not really looking to go deep into networking.

Would a MikroTik RB962UiGS be suitable? or are there any other suitable/cheaper options?

Hi, your next best option is the hAP^2, it's got the IPQ4018 quad core arm CPU with heaps of welly, and a 2gig path between CPU and switch, so will do full Gig with its eyes closed . Has ac wireless but at $150 retail it's a steel for it performance even if not using the wifi.

With the recent shortages the hAP^2 has been my go to and so now dozens in service and no regrets.

https://www.gowifi.co.nz/mikrotik/rbd52g-5hacd2hnd-tc.html

Cyril