[UK] Is an "N" router worth it? If so, what do you recommend?


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Some times we'll be using a laptop in the living room which struggles for a connection from the router (Netgear DG834PN) in the kitchen which is only next door. The wii has also disconnected a time or two & the bars flicker between 1 & 2.

I'm wondering if an N router would be worth it.

I've always stuck by Netgear tbh. I guess they may not be the best, but they look the best (poor excuse i know). Similar with my printers - i've always stuck by HP.

I'm obviously not interested in any router that is only available in the US/Japan/other parts of Europe etc.

Budget would be let's say ?100 tops. Unless there's a super amazing one at ?105, then in that case i'd stretch ?5. Just because i say the budget is ?100 doesn't mean the full amount HAS to be spent either. If there's going to be zero reality difference between one at ?99.99 & one at ?59.99 then it makes sense to go ?59.99.

One that stands on its edge (like the DG 834PN) would be preferable due to where it will be located, although it's not the be-all-&-end-all.

Thanks.

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Hell yeah.

Asus RT-N56U. I can get a connection from the street outside my house (past my garden), albeit slow. I can get a GOOD connection from the garden, will be perfect for the summer :D

It's brilliant all over the house.

Also dual band, so if you're using it in the same room you can use the 5GHz band for a slight speed boost.

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N can absolutely be worth it. I live in an old building with thick walls, and struggled to get a signal to my phone from about four meters away through a single wall (despite it being a foot from the door) with G on a Linksys wag354g, even with an external antenna and changing channels.

I recently switched to Netgear N600 and I can get a great signal absolutely anywhere in the house now, even through three thick brick horse-hair plastered walls. (same exact gateway location btw).

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My N router (Linksys/Cisco E4200) made a huge difference over my previous G router (Linksys WRT54G I think). More range, more speed, more consistent connection. I'm very happy with the upgrade. Of course, I can't guarantee the same results for you.

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Just looked. This is the one I have http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Cable-Routers/buy-BELKIN-300N-WIRELESS-CABLE-ROUTER-Cable-Router/521620?cm_mmc=Google+Shopping-_-Feed-_-Cable_Routers-_-521620_Belkin__300N_WIRELESS_CABLE_ROUTER&_$ja=tsid:8360%7Ccc:%7Cprd:300N+WIRELESS+CABLE+ROUTER%7Ccat:Cable_Routers&utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=products I'm certain someone will probably come on and say it is a piece of junk. I paid about the same for it I think over a year ago and it has been no trouble (which is why I am not even sure how long I've had it) and at ?30 leaves money for other toys.

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The Asus RT-N56U - I've owned and used most of them on the market due to running my IT company and this is easily the best dual band home router availalbe and is a good price with great features too!

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EGG[' timestamp=1326914730' post='594592661]

The Asus RT-N56U - I've owned and used most of them on the market due to running my IT company and this is easily the best dual band home router availalbe and is a good price with great features too!

+1!!

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Unfortunately it seems, after asking on other forums also, that the Asus mentioned is only for a cable connection & not my ADSL connection so is no good to me.

Gutted as it looks the part & seemed like it'd be right for the job.

I'll take a look at that E4200 to see if it's for ADSL although the shape of it isnt ideal for where it'll be located. I could ideally do with something thin & tall than something that spans out taking up more 'floor-space' if you will.

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Linksys E2000 here and works great on both floors at both ends of house. Works out on the deck also. Tomato firmware compatible also.

Router is in a hallway closet in the basement even.

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If you need something that is an ADSL-modem AND proper AP thing you're going to have a hard time.

You know you can just connect your new AP to your old Netgear? Disable the WiFi on the Netgear and then you can just use whatever AP you want. Including the Asus and the Linksys.

But just remember that there are more important things if you want better range.

I have a decent WiFi N-router, but since it's integrate with my cable modem in my cellar the reception is sub-zero. I have a WRT54G upstairs and that gives me a full speed (Wireless G though) signal all through the house and a decent signal up to the end of my garden (60 metres from the house). Even though it's only G the signal is simply much better because it is a better AP.

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Unfortunately it seems, after asking on other forums also, that the Asus mentioned is only for a cable connection & not my ADSL connection so is no good to me.

Wrong. I'm using it with BeThere ADSL and it's the first and only router I've been satisfied with in over 12 years. The RT-56U is worth every penny; it is awesome, simply put.

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I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong, but i've had 3 people on 2 forums saying it wont work. LoL.

Funny how you always get a difference of opinion. It either works or it doesn't, so some folk are voicing their opinion as fact. Again, i'm not saying who is right or wrong, so don't take offence. Just pointing out the joys of the tinterweb.

As for connecting an AP to the current router, that would surely be a nightmare. Having a cable trail all the way through the kitchen to the living room where i've got to find a suitable point for the AP to "live" hoping that it doesn't get in the way. And then if the AP needs plugging into the mains then that's another nightmare as all the sockets are taken up.

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If you really like the ASUS and if you have acces to the settings on your present modem/router you could turn off dhcp and wireless and just use th modem portion. This would than make the ASUS the wireless and dhcp router.

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But would mean i'd need 2 machines. I'd need somewhere to put the DG834PN and somewhere to put the Asus - which would mean another wire trailing all around a room. Even if it didn't require a wire being trailled around, it's still requiring room for 2 routers.

On another forum someone recommended the Netgear DGN2200. Netgear themselves recommended this to me.

I spotted for a few extra ?, the Netgear DGND3300 - which you can stand on its end & take up less "floor-space" which is ideally what i'd like.

The only thing is, it says this:

"IEEE 802.11n (draft 2.0)" whereas the Asus doesn't say draft. I don't fully understand this, but to me draft = unfinished = not as good.

Any views on the 2 mentioned Netgear products?

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If that's still Draft-N it's horribly outdated, don't buy it. You can't be sure if it supports everything properly.

Have a look at the DGN3500. It's the new version of the DGND3300.

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The DGN2200 is good, and is indeed a modem and a router in one, but I had it replaced with the ASUS router because I need that extra punch - I have too many wired and wireless connections to count, and they're all rather active. I now have the router stacked on top of a modem, which works well enough, albeit not very pretty.

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They aren't just for cable, it suggests cable because you'll need a separate modem to connect to it. I'm currently using the D-LINK DSL-320B modem with my router, even though I hate D-LINK with a passion, it's been a great modem.

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