Which ISP has the best "free" modem/router?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Which ISP has the best "free" modem/router?

turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#175615 6-Jul-2015 10:15

We will be getting UFB in our street soon, which will be an opportunity to relook at the ISP deals. The routers provided by ISPs aren't renowned for their quality, but if all the deals are pretty much the same, getting a decent wifi modem thrown in might swing it.

They can't all be as terrible as each other.

I'm thinking about 5Ghz, dual band, ac wifi, etc. it won't have act as a switch.

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

pdath

252 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1337666 6-Jul-2015 10:19

It depends on what you call "best".

I find the Vodafone units very reliable, but they are tied down and some things you just can't configure. For example, you can't change or set many of the DHCP options.

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turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1337670 6-Jul-2015 10:26

pdath: It depends on what you call "best".

I find the Vodafone units very reliable, but they are tied down and some things you just can't configure. For example, you can't change or set many of the DHCP options.

I think I'm really talking about wifi specs.

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

Jase2985

13465 posts

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#1337742 6-Jul-2015 12:07

either Snaps Fritzbox 7490 on a 24 month contract or Sparks Hauwai HG659b on a 12 month contract and a 200mbps+ plan

turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1337910 6-Jul-2015 14:58

Jase2985: either Snaps Fritzbox 7490 on a 24 month contract or Sparks Hauwai HG659b on a 12 month contract and a 200mbps+ plan

Thanks for that.

24 months is too long (for me) to be locked into a plan, but the Spark one looks good.

I've been looking on the website to see what modem you get on the different plans, but I can't find anything. Do you have a link?

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

pdath

252 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1337922 6-Jul-2015 15:02

turb:
pdath: It depends on what you call "best".

I find the Vodafone units very reliable, but they are tied down and some things you just can't configure. For example, you can't change or set many of the DHCP options.

I think I'm really talking about wifi specs.

If WiFi is important to you then you are probably better off buying an access point and putting it the middle of the coverage area, rather than where the broadband router goes. A lot of the built in access points only offer single or dual spatial streams, and a minimal implementation of the 802.11n standard.

You should be able to buy a reasonable access point that implements 2 or 3 spatial streams, and may even be able to get something with 802.11ac.

Try my latest project, a Cisco type 5 enable secret password cracker written in javascript!

lxsw20

3555 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1337924 6-Jul-2015 15:03

If you go over 100mbit with Spark you get the better router. Or you could just ask on sign up if they could do the better router. They may charge a fee for this.

Jase2985

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#1337925 6-Jul-2015 15:05

https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/internet/

down the bottom under "TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE FREE MODEM"

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turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1337982 6-Jul-2015 16:10

pdath:
turb:
pdath: It depends on what you call "best".

I find the Vodafone units very reliable, but they are tied down and some things you just can't configure. For example, you can't change or set many of the DHCP options.

I think I'm really talking about wifi specs.

If WiFi is important to you then you are probably better off buying an access point and putting it the middle of the coverage area.

Great idea, thank you.

Something like this?

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?e=2820106

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

lucky015

743 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1338019 6-Jul-2015 16:49

Jase2985: either Snaps Fritzbox 7490 on a 24 month contract or Sparks Hauwai HG659b on a 12 month contract and a 200mbps+ plan

From what I have seen of the Fritzbox devices they are rock solid and I would say snap win the ISP provided device war hands down.

As for the HG659b I dont have any expereince with it but do with the HG659 which seems to be an ok entry level device but I wouldn't want one for anything other than a backup device.

eXDee

4032 posts

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#1338023 6-Jul-2015 16:55

lucky015:
Jase2985: either Snaps Fritzbox 7490 on a 24 month contract or Sparks Hauwai HG659b on a 12 month contract and a 200mbps+ plan

From what I have seen of the Fritzbox devices they are rock solid and I would say snap win the ISP provided device war hands down.

As for the HG659b I dont have any expereince with it but do with the HG659 which seems to be an ok entry level device but I wouldn't want one for anything other than a backup device.

This. The two are in difference leagues, the fritzboxes are very solid, but i've seen wireless compatibility issues with both the Vodafone HG659(b?) and the Spark HG659B. Seen some DHCP issues too. I would not recommend this device as reliable of a device, even though it looks really good on paper for the price. Of course YMMV.

Noteworthy is that Snap is very soon about to become 2Degrees broadband if their announcement is anyhting to go by. This will likely change their offering price/contract wise, not sure about device wise given snaps dependence on fritz for their customers for years.

lxsw20

3555 posts

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#1338025 6-Jul-2015 16:58

I found the spark variant to be stable. But as you say YMMV.

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#1338282 7-Jul-2015 08:45

Your going to choose your ISP based on a piece of free equipment rather who provides the most suited plan?

lucky015

743 posts

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#1338288 7-Jul-2015 08:53

BTR: Your going to choose your ISP based on a piece of free equipment rather who provides the most suited plan?

That seems to be an odd question to ask considering the current relatively standardised quality of connections, services and pricing available.

If you are going to use ISP supplied gear then you need to realize that it can very much make or break a great connection and to think of that ahead of time is doing far better than most.

raytaylor

4017 posts

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#1339575 8-Jul-2015 23:36

HD were issuing some real nice routers a few years ago.
I forget what they are called - Unbox or something like that.
I think full flavour were issuing them too.

They looked like a really good model when i had a play with one.

edit: Innbox V50

Ray Taylor

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