Wireless Modem/Router combo under $150 with clean and easy QoS setup

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plo009

107 posts

Master Geek

#101811 9-May-2012 14:36

Hi everyone

I will be moving out to a 2-story house soon where there will be several tenants hence internet users. I fortunately have been given the authority to setup the phoneline, broadband and wireless network.

Can anyone recommend a good wireless modem/router combo under $150 that has an easy to setup QoS, so that multiple users can stream, browse, download and play games smoothly at the same time?(p.s. gaming latency is first priority

)

Btw, i was thinking of trying out Snap for my ISP, what does everyone think about them?

Cheers

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341 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#622512 9-May-2012 20:42

You can probably check out the Snap forum for what people think of Snap. In short, I think they're amazing :)

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#622517 9-May-2012 20:48

Get a router you can flash with Gargoyle/DD-WRT/Tomato etc. because your next post will be 'how do i stop my flat mate using up the data allowance'. And you can do a whole bunch more stuff on the router and thats always nice.

Edit: Just moved to Snap myself. Very very easy switch over and plans are great!

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#622520 9-May-2012 20:58

Also "I got an infringement notice! How do I stop my flat mates torrenting sh*tty songs!?"
(And then, "How do I setup a seed box for the flat to use")

plo009

107 posts

Master Geek

#622530 9-May-2012 21:14

chevrolux: Get a router you can flash with Gargoyle/DD-WRT/Tomato etc. because your next post will be 'how do i stop my flat mate using up the data allowance'. And you can do a whole bunch more stuff on the router and thats always nice.

Edit: Just moved to Snap myself. Very very easy switch over and plans are great!

Is there a modem/router combo that supports those? One thats not too expensive and easy to use lol.

Ragnor

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#622585 9-May-2012 22:24

plo009:

Is there a modem/router combo that supports those? One thats not too expensive and easy to use lol.

Basic DSL modem half bridge'd to a TP-Link TL-WR1043ND running Gargoyle Router firmware.

Modem options:
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=399204
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=456033
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=743334
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=458616

TP-Link TL-WR1043ND
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=529115

Gargoyle Router firmware
http://www.gargoyle-router.com/

Old guide for how to setup half bridge
http://www.ben.geek.nz/2006/11/adsl-routing-solution-in-detail/

plo009

107 posts

Master Geek

#622595 9-May-2012 22:52

Ragnor:
plo009:

Is there a modem/router combo that supports those? One thats not too expensive and easy to use lol.

Basic DSL modem half bridge'd to a TP-Link TL-WR1043ND running Gargoyle Router firmware.

Modem options:
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=399204
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=456033
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=743334
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=458616

TP-Link TL-WR1043ND
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=529115

Gargoyle Router firmware
http://www.gargoyle-router.com/

Old guide for how to setup half bridge
http://www.ben.geek.nz/2006/11/adsl-routing-solution-in-detail/

Will one of these 2 in 1 work?

http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=78/ID=13502/SID=550902604/productdetails.html

http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=78/ID=1402/SID=160342863/productdetails.html

theEd

341 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#622705 10-May-2012 09:42

That model of TP-Link doesn't support custom firmware. Haven't seen many with built-in ADSL that do, hence most people use a seperate ADSL modem in front of their router.

And the Linksys WAG routers are just horrible...

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Ragnor

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#622727 10-May-2012 10:20

plo009:

Will one of these 2 in 1 work?

http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=78/ID=13502/SID=550902604/productdetails.html

http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=78/ID=1402/SID=160342863/productdetails.html

Those are good bang for buck all in one devices for the average home user, BUT I think they lack the features you will want for managing and monitoring data/traffic usage in a flat situation and they are not able to be flashed with 3rd party open source firmware that does have the features you want.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13765 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#622730 10-May-2012 10:30

Ive got a SMC Barricade G ADSL2+ all in one unit that Im wanting to get rid of, only used once - $50 and its yours. Then buy a router as above to sit behind it to take care of everything else... not sure how good (or if even has :) ) its QOS is on its own, never used it :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

plo009

107 posts

Master Geek

#622802 10-May-2012 11:59

Ragnor:
plo009:

Is there a modem/router combo that supports those? One thats not too expensive and easy to use lol.

Basic DSL modem half bridge'd to a TP-Link TL-WR1043ND running Gargoyle Router firmware.

Modem options:
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=399204
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=456033
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=743334
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=458616

TP-Link TL-WR1043ND
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=529115

Gargoyle Router firmware
http://www.gargoyle-router.com/

Old guide for how to setup half bridge
http://www.ben.geek.nz/2006/11/adsl-routing-solution-in-detail/

Right, so i noticed that the router you recommended is the one gargoyle used to rebrand and sell for so it should have full compatibility with the gargoyle firmware. As for the modem, it does not need to be an expensive one since most of the configurations would be done via the router and choosing a tp-link modem might give better compatibility with the router since they are made by the same company?

Also i was wondering if the router would still be usable if i choose to upgrade to a vdsl2 modem in the future.

While i was checking the compatibility list i found that this all in one modem seems to be flashable with the gargoyle firmware as well

http://www.pcforce.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=786

Is it a bad idea to use one of these to save some money as it might not have good support with the firmware?

Thanks for the recommenditions as well.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#623178 10-May-2012 20:13

Don't stuff around with all in one. Especially if you are looking at VDSL. If you use a separate modem that is bridged to your router then when you get vdsl it is just a case of changing modems and not having to set up your router all over again.
Get that TP-Link one... http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=529115
Gives you nice fast wireless and GigE LAN which is nice. Flash with gargoyle and you will be away.
Then get a crappy little adsl modem like a netcomm nb6 or dynalink rta1320 and you will be happy as for under $150.

Ragnor

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#623233 10-May-2012 22:05

plo009:

As for the modem, it does not need to be an expensive one since most of the configurations would be done via the router and choosing a tp-link modem might give better compatibility with the router since they are made by the same company?

Cheap DSL modem that can "bridge" (half bridge, ip extension, PPPoA to PPPoE relay) a PPPoA DSL connection, most DSL in NZ uses PPPoA,

I listed the common ones that can I know can bridge PPPoA in my earlier post.

Bridging of PPPoA is much rarer than bridging of PPPoE as a feature on modems unfortunately.

plo009:

Also i was wondering if the router would still be usable if i choose to upgrade to a vdsl2 modem in the future.

Yes, just change the modem.

Though be warned VDSL2 modems are not cheap, ~$300-400 currently. Neither are VDSL2 plans about $50 more per month for the same amount of data (see Snap's pricing).

plo009:

While i was checking the compatibility list i found that this all in one modem seems to be flashable with the gargoyle firmware as well

http://www.pcforce.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=786

Don't see it on this list
http://www.gargoyle-router.com/wiki/doku.php?id=supported_routers_-_tested_routers

Also this
http://www.gargoyle-router.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2691

Basically all in one units aren't a good choice for open source firmware because the DSL drivers are usually proprietary making it hard for open source developers, also many of the developers around the world have cable or fibre connections and don't care that much about developing for an all in one DSL unit.

plo009

107 posts

Master Geek

#623255 10-May-2012 22:27

Thanks guy i will get the TL-WR1043ND router with probably the TD-8840 modem.
Btw any idea whats the difference between the TD-8840 and TD-8840T?

plo009

107 posts

Master Geek

#623366 11-May-2012 09:03

Hmm, they say the only difference is one uses the broadcom chip and one uses the trendchip, so does this matter? I also have an old megapass wireless adsl2+ modem/router which i got from xnet a few years ago, how can i check if i can use it as a modem to set up a half-bridge with the WR1043ND router?

Ragnor

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#623854 12-May-2012 00:31

plo009: Hmm, they say the only difference is one uses the broadcom chip and one uses the trendchip, so does this matter?

Yes this matters, the T with the trendent chipset does not have the ip extension feature for half bridging.

I also have an old megapass wireless adsl2+ modem/router which i got from xnet a few years ago, how can i check if i can use it as a modem to set up a half-bridge with the WR1043ND router?

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