Recommendation please: Wireless N DSL modem?

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kUD

27 posts

Geek

#76998 9-Feb-2011 17:27

Hi Folks,
I want to stream video (currrently standard defn, but in future HD) from my NAS (ReadyNas Duo) to my TV via a WD Live media player.

My Telecom supplied Dlink DSL604T is 802.11g and over 3 years old, so about time I replaced it; so I'm looking for recommendations both on requirements that I should consider, and products that you'd recommend.

My Network has 3 laptops, a NAS with USB printer attached, the WD media player and soon a squeezebox.

Currently only the NAS is wired, with everything else operating wirelessly, but I'm considering running some ethernet cabling to a number of rooms and back to a patch panel in the roof space...that's another project.

At this stage I'm thinking requirements are:
Must have: 802.11n, 300Mbps, gigabit router, built in ADSL2+ modem,
Nice to have: Dual band 2.4Ghz & 5GHz; print server (so I can move the printer from NAS to router) and therefore USB connection; firewall

I haven't worked out budget yet, but probably aiming for sub $200.

Any recommendations?

tigercorp

667 posts

Ultimate Geek

#437364 9-Feb-2011 17:56

kUD:
Must have: 802.11n, 300Mbps, gigabit router, built in ADSL2+ modem,

I think you're going to be hard pressed to find all 3 for sub $200. You might want to consider a wireless N + gigabit router connected to your existing modem.

I recently did this exercise and ended up buying a D-Link DIR-825 which has everything you need/wanted except for the builtin modem. It cost closer to $300 though.

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JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#437384 9-Feb-2011 19:00

I am in the market for a similar solution.

Ruled out the DIR-825 because, as I understand it, you need a windows app running in order to be able to see an attached USB drive, and I want WD TV Lives to be able to see it for movie streaming.

Have narrowed the field to the Linksys E3000 and the Netgear N600, both of which are in the $250-300 price bracket - and give dual mode dual radio (ie 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz at the same time, not select one or the other) and gigabit ports. They will, however, have to be connected to my existing modem/router - same model as yours.

kUD

27 posts

Geek

#437437 9-Feb-2011 19:58

tigercorp: You might want to consider a wireless N + gigabit router connected to your existing modem.

I hadn't considered that, as I assumed you couldn't have 2 wireless routers running at the same time - i.e the Dlink modem/router and an N-router. Presumably you just set them up with different SSIDs and treat them as different networks? That might be the route to go down.

If budget wasn't a factor would you have any other recommendations?

kyhwana2

2563 posts

Uber Geek

#437499 9-Feb-2011 20:56

kUD:
tigercorp: You might want to consider a wireless N + gigabit router connected to your existing modem.

I hadn't considered that, as I assumed you couldn't have 2 wireless routers running at the same time - i.e the Dlink modem/router and an N-router. Presumably you just set them up with different SSIDs and treat them as different networks? That might be the route to go down.

If budget wasn't a factor would you have any other recommendations?

You could just disable the g wifi AP and just use it as a modem/router and disable the routing stuff (DHCP/NAT) on the wireless N/router then plug the N AP into a LAN port on your first g wifi AP.

Ragnor

8196 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#437787 10-Feb-2011 15:13

If you want good throughput from a wireless N AP do not connect any G/B clients to to avoid running in mixed mode which degrades performance.

Basically new AP for N clients old AP for G/B clients, disable mixed mode in the N AP... WPA2 and AES encryption are also required for 300Mbit/s mode.

gehenna

8434 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#437790 10-Feb-2011 15:17

Airport Express will give you what you want sub-$200 (if you keep your existing modem). This is what I use at home - 5GHz through the Airport Express, 2.4GHz through the modem's inbuilt wifi. Printer shared via Airport Express.

Airport Extreme if you want dual-band in the single unit, with ability to connect a usb hub to share printers and hard drives.

Both items are excellent performers.

kUD

27 posts

Geek

#439872 15-Feb-2011 16:05

The Airport express and airport extreme certainly seem to do what I need; but there's something a bit scarey about starting down the Apple route.

Will I need to install itunes (and presumably give them my credit card details), and import all my content; or can it just act as a wireless router? All the info on the Apple web site talks about music streaming, and references AppleTV for video, but I'm assuming that as I have a WD player, that's not necessary.

Presumably however, I'll need two units; one to act as a router for the main network (i.e. extreme to connect to the NAS) and another (express) to receive the signals and connect to the WD Live player; so sub $200 is unlikely (extreme = $297; express = $189)

Thanks for the suggestion though, its another option to throw into the mix.

Ragnor

8196 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#439892 15-Feb-2011 16:35

You don't need two units, the WD TV Live supports plugging a USB wireless adapter in like this one:

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=9340
http://www.tp-link.com/products/productDetails.asp?pmodel=TL-WN821N

Here's a list of officially tested adapters from WD (though there are more that do work)
http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3805/~/list-of-devices-that-can-be-connected-to-a-wd...