new modem suggestions

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Duffuss

111 posts

Master Geek
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Topic # 128948 29-Aug-2013 11:45

My old wireless modem is starting to die? (requiring frequent restarts)

So time for a new "toy"
I am a complete ludite when it comes to this
I've read the other posts but don't understand the lingo at all

but this is how it is at home

we are an apple house hold
Macmini, ipad, 2 iphones, 2 macbook pros 13"

Mostly used for internet browsing downloading, one to two people at most
My macmini streams to my apple TV connected to Pioneer amp via HDMI
Using itunes and Beamer....Beamer occasionaly stutters as the streaming doesn't keep up (I guessing)

If files needed to be shared we use flash drive etc

What would be best bang for buck modem for the above needs say under $250
Or any other solution

Cheers

Inphinity

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Reply # 886440 29-Aug-2013 12:15

ADSL? VDSL? Or are you just after a wifi access point? If ADSL, Asus' DSL-N55U is great imo. In the latter case, an EA-N66. For VDSL... I'm assuming it's not, because your 'old' modem is dying, and not many VDSL devices are old enough to be dying of age yet :P

Duffuss

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Master Geek
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Reply # 886540 29-Aug-2013 14:35

Right
Been reading up on the 2 suggestions
And can see the difference
It seems that the Asus DSL-N55U what I was thinking I need. the modem first and the router 2nd rather than a stand alone router
Cheers

qyiet

454 posts

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Reply # 886607 29-Aug-2013 15:59

I'm a fan of using a draytec vigor 120 + an Ethernet router to get at fancy features. (the vigor can be configured to *just* do the PPPoA so the Ethernet router can do the PPPoE and get the external IP address without any NATs or forwarding or other mess)

Seeing as you have a hefty interest in apple I took a look at the new airport extreme. Waay over budget (~$100 for the vigor120+$320 for the airport) but damn.. that thing has 802.11ac + beam forming wifi. (very very nice).

You are probably better off with Inphinity's suggestions as they are 1/2 the price :). However 802.11ac+beamforming+apple logo for $320 seems waay cheap.

Warning: reality may differ from above post

Duffuss

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Master Geek
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Reply # 886642 29-Aug-2013 17:13

sorry to be a numpty but like I said all this is gobbly gook to me
So how why is the appleextreme setup better than Inphinity's sugestion in that with my modest requirements would I be squashing an ant with a steam roller
Cheers

michaelmurfy

Mr Snotty
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Reply # 886647 29-Aug-2013 17:26

To be honest the Apple airport extreme will not be the best option only due to the fact you're still needing another modem. Personally I'd recommend the Netgear DGND3700v2, I had WiFi issues here and this router just does what it's told and well. It syncs very high on the ADSL side and also passes tonnes of traffic over it with no issues. You can buy these from Noel Leemings and if you ask nicely they'll drop the price down to around $250.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
A quick guide to picking the right ISP | The Router Guide | Community UniFi Cloud Controller | Ubiquiti Edgerouter Tutorial

Duffuss

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Master Geek
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Reply # 886732 29-Aug-2013 20:23

I tend to agree going with the apple is messy, needing 2 boxes.
Though It does look more impresive the more I read about it especially the idiot proof setup!!!!
Both the Asus' DSL-N55U and the Netgear DGND3700 v2 ADSL2+ Wireless-N600 Dual Band Modem Router seem to have pretty good reviews from different sites
PBTech (school has an account with them) have them listed as Netgear DGND3700 v2 ADSL2+ Wireless-N600 Dual Band Modem Router $194
ASUS DSL-N55U ADSL2/2+ Wireless-N 600Mbps Dual-Band Modem Router $228
So now I suppose it's just a matter of deciphering all the gobbly gook numbers

qyiet

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Reply # 888067 2-Sep-2013 08:35

Duffuss: ...especially the idiot proof setup!!!!

That idiot proof setup would be somewhat detracted from by the requirement to get the vigor 120 in bridge mode to avoid a double NAT.

To explain:
Routers that are not in a ISP or other corporate network use Network Address Translation (NAT) to do some fancy lying to allow computers on that network to share the single IP address they get from their ISP.   This causes the odd problem, but it's so common a lie now that most applications assume it will be there.

However if you lie TWICE (put one router with NAT behind another router with NAT) then all bets are off. Some stuff will work (web browsing for instance) but more complicated stuff (Skype video calls, games etc) is very likely to screw up.    It's very hard to find an ADSL router that will connect to the net and pass the public IP address onto another device to avoid this.

The vigor 120 will do this, (letting the airport extreme handle the authentication over PPPoE) but doesn't come configured out of the box to do it, so along with the Airport Extreme setup you would have to get the vigor 120 into bridge mode first, which is a bit more technical, and the thing is.. well.. a simple device. UI design wasn't their primary thing, and there is quite a bit of assumption of technical knowledge.

Warning: reality may differ from above post

Duffuss

111 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 888216 2-Sep-2013 11:53

After much reading this weekend I'm tending towards the ASUS DSL-N55U of all the reviews I read there was one direct comparison and it went in favour of the Asus

qyiet

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Reply # 888257 2-Sep-2013 12:57

Duffuss: After much reading this weekend I'm tending towards the ASUS DSL-N55U of all the reviews I read there was one direct comparison and it went in favour of the Asus

Cool, good luck.

Warning: reality may differ from above post

Duffuss

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Master Geek
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Reply # 892059 9-Sep-2013 13:14

Well bit the bullet and just ordered the Asus' DSL-N55U
Thanks to all for your input
Now we play the waiting game
Cheers everyone