Router a few years old, time for upgrade?

[Dinggus]

I currently have the internet package of 25mbps, and just upgraded it to 50mbps. I was wondering if I should upgrade my router since it is probably 4 years or so old.

 

It looks like this version:

http://support.netgear.com/product/WGR614v9

 

I'm currently not at home right now to check which correct version it is.

 

Also, should I buy my own modem and not use the companies?

[blade1269]

I have an apple AirPort Extreme and airport express.. Work great easy setup.

[+BudMan MVC]

Lets wait til you get home and have actual make and model number - that is a ADSL modem/router "gateway" that you linked too.. So that is an all in one device.. There would be no modem..

Are you using cable or ?? For your internet, cable modems yes quite often it can be cost effective to buy your own vs paying them $7 month for years..

As to getting a new one - does your current one not handle 50mbps? Again lets wait for your actual make and model.

Also - that one you linked too does not even have wireless? Do you want or need wireless? Are your clients B,G,N? AC?

[blooregard]

What do you need from the router? I wouldn't upgrade if I didn't have a powerful reason for that, you might not notice any difference...

 

If your ports are Fast Ethernet (like in the router you posted), a possible reason to upgrade is having Gigabit Ethernet, but only if you need them (faster INTERNAL network speeds). Another reason could be upgrading to a faster Wi-Fi technology (again, probably only useful for faster internal transfers).

 

From some ISP forums I've read that different modem/router vendors perform differently in DSL synchronization speeds. Not a lot, but it may be different. What kind of connection do you have? I am not aware of 50Mbps DSL so I am assuming cable...

[riahc3]

Hello,

 

I currently have the internet package of 25mbps, and just upgraded it to 50mbps. I was wondering if I should upgrade my router since it is probably 4 years or so old.

 

It looks like this version:

http://www.netgear.com/home/products/wired-routers-and-modems/wired-routers/DG834.aspx#four

 

I'm currently not at home right now to check which correct version it is.

 

Also, should I buy my own modem and not use the companies?

Is this your only router in your home?

Personal opinion, I think if you have cash on hand, you should. A 10/100 router is kind of old and HD content could be capped by it from PC to PC. Also no wireless?

Ask remixedcat; He'll tell you "AMPED WIRELESS111!!!!!!"

Me personally, get any router with DD-WRT.

Id use your ISP's modem (which is also a router), put it in bridge mode and let YOUR router handle everything.

Anyways thats me: Listen to BudMan :p

[nabz0r Veteran]

Lets wait til you get home and have actual make and model number - that is a ADSL modem/router "gateway" that you linked too.. So that is an all in one device.. There would be no modem..

Are you using cable or ?? For your internet, cable modems yes quite often it can be cost effective to buy your own vs paying them $7 month for years..

As to getting a new one - does your current one not handle 50mbps? Again lets wait for your actual make and model.

Also - that one you linked too does not even have wireless? Do you want or need wireless? Are your clients B,G,N? AC?

+1 ..

 

Give us a little more info and we'll hopefully direct you in the right direction.

[Dinggus]

Oops, that is the wrong router. It looks just like that one but wireless. I'm looking on the site and they don't sell it anymore.

 

I just want to make sure I am getting faster speeds. I mean, I pay for 25mbps right now and get like 1.5mbps if that. I can download 300mb in like 15-20 minutes via torrents.

 

I also updated my post, it is this router:

http://support.netgear.com/product/WGR614v9

[riahc3]

Hello

 

Oops, that is the wrong router. It looks just like that one but wireless. I'm looking on the site and they don't sell it anymore.

 

I just want to make sure I am getting faster speeds. I mean, I pay for 25mbps right now and get like 1.5mbps if that. I can download 300mb in like 15-20 minutes via torrents.

 

I also updated my post, it is this router:

http://support.netgear.com/product/WGR614v9

Unless your router is really old old, it wont do any difference. Have you called up your ISP complaining about that?

 

And like someone mentioned: ADSL, cable or....?

[Dinggus]

It's cable, and no I haven't. Am I really suppose to get 25mbps? I mean I can play 2 xbox's and download the whole time without noticing any lag.

[riahc3]

Hello,

UIt's cable, and no I haven't. Am I really suppose to get 25mbps? I mean I can play 2 xbox's and download the whole time without noticing any lag.

Im not sure which is better for getting the speed you are paying for but I have ADSL, and I get always my 3mbps (I believe its that)

[+BudMan MVC]

Ok lets wait til your home and have a make and model of your "modem" since that 614 is just a router and only G wireless.

Also are you talking bits or Bytes.. b is bits, B is Bytes - huge difference. I can not believe your downloading a 300mbit file, not even a normal mp3 file would be that small. So have to assume Bytes there.. But 1.5mbps would work out to about 26 minutes for a 300MByte file so maybe your talking mbps on your connection Not quite sure.

Also keep in mind that p2p has a lot of variables that can effect speed other than what your ISP is suppose to give you. Also are you trying to do torrents over wireless or wired? What does say a wired connection to your router show when you go to speednet, without anything else being used on your network to the internet. Turn off any p2p clients, etc..

Now 25Mbps from your isp should max out about 3.xMBps -- which is at the very very high end of what is possible with G wireless.. But maybe you have a ###### wireless connection? Lots of things can effect wireless speeds. But I would not judge your isp or wireless performance with p2p.. It is not a very friendly wireless protocol for starters. I would never suggest doing p2p over wireless if that is what your doing..

But if your going to want to max out a 50Mbps connection over wireless your going to need to N at least.. Do your wireless clients have N cards?

[Dinggus]

I don't run any devices to my wireless router, my iMac, xbox, tablets are all on wireless. My iMac is in the same room as my router.

 

I don't know if my 2009 iMac or my roommate's 2011 MacBook supports N routers?

[dragon2611]

From some ISP forums I've read that different modem/router vendors perform differently in DSL synchronization speeds. Not a lot, but it may be different. What kind of connection do you have? I am not aware of 50Mbps DSL so I am assuming cable...

 

VDSL2 can run at 50Mbit/s and above providing the loop length is short.

 

BT in the UK are using it for their FTTC (Fibre to the cabnet) deployment.

[+BudMan MVC]

So you don't have anything wired to the router? And your running p2p client over wireless, and you wonder why the speed is not showing you what your ISP is providing you?

Wireless is SHARED medium -- only 1 actual device can be talking at any one time.. P2P is chatty as all get out!! Taking up bandwidth sending you queries for stuff, when you could be downloading, etc. Its not really good idea to do it over wireless - especially if any other wireless clients would like to use the network.

Even when you finish a download and are not even seeding -- you do understand that members of the swarm will still be trying to talk to your IP.. Now if you have a forward up to your router to your IP, which is normal setup for doing p2p those packets are going to be sent over the wireless -- using up bandwidth that you might be wanting to use to browse neowin at the time, etc.

Are you using UPnP and turning off your p2p client, and letting the router turn off the forward? If not for weeks after you have been a member of a swarm you can see inbound unsolicited traffic to your IP.. which in turn would be forwarded to your IP at your router and go over your wireless network.

I would really suggest you run p2p on WIRED connection!! And I would really suggest if your going to bump up to 50Mbps connection that you move to N.. Since G can not do 50MBps ever -- at most 1 client do like 21 to 23Mbps tops in real world speed. If your going to run p2p over wireless, go dual band and run your p2p over one of the bands while all the other clients use the other.

[Dinggus]

So you don't have anything wired to the router? And your running p2p client over wireless, and you wonder why the speed is not showing you what your ISP is providing you?

Wireless is SHARED medium -- only 1 actual device can be talking at any one time.. P2P is chatty as all get out!! Taking up bandwidth sending you queries for stuff, when you could be downloading, etc. Its not really good idea to do it over wireless - especially if any other wireless clients would like to use the network.

Even when you finish a download and are not even seeding -- you do understand that members of the swarm will still be trying to talk to your IP.. Now if you have a forward up to your router to your IP, which is normal setup for doing p2p those packets are going to be sent over the wireless -- using up bandwidth that you might be wanting to use to browse neowin at the time, etc.

Are you using UPnP and turning off your p2p client, and letting the router turn off the forward? If not for weeks after you have been a member of a swarm you can see inbound unsolicited traffic to your IP.. which in turn would be forwarded to your IP at your router and go over your wireless network.

I would really suggest you run p2p on WIRED connection!! And I would really suggest if your going to bump up to 50Mbps connection that you move to N.. Since G can not do 50MBps ever -- at most 1 client do like 21 to 23Mbps tops in real world speed. If your going to run p2p over wireless, go dual band and run your p2p over one of the bands while all the other clients use the other.

 

I'm definitely not knowledgable in this field of technology, lol. I open up uTorrent, grab what I need and close it. I don't forward anything nor know how to. So, upgrade to a N router and plug in my iMac since that's what I download off of? Now will my other wireless devices notice any speed difference?

 

Can you recommend a good N router? Also, if I could plug in like a USB hub so support my external HDD's that would be awesome to do, so I could have like a personal cloud.

[+BudMan MVC]

"I don't forward anything nor know how to."

 

So are you using UPnP -- let me guess you don't even know what that is.. Did you test in utorrent if your port is open?  So if your ports are not open your speed is going to be crap!  Your lucky your seeming 1.5mbps - must be popular swarms, because somebody that does not send back gets ###### from the swarm.. How p2p works is sending back to the swarm what you get, etc..  If all yo do is take - if your ports are not open, after a while nobody is going to send you anything.. So for it to work - you must be on big swarms with lots of seeders, since seeders don't care if you send or not..

 

Like I said lots of variables in p2p to what speeds are capable..

 

As to a N router - I picked up the TPLINK TL-WDR3600 for like $42..  I put dd-wrt on it, and have been very happy with it.. But I don't use it as my router -- just an accesspoint..  So I can not see how well it will work as actual router running native firmware.  I doubt you have the desire or skill set to put 3rd party firmware on what your buying.  But it gets decent reviews and is cheap

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704144

Like I said I got if for $42 ;)

 

Again - do your clients even support N?  How old is your imac?  Why in the world would you be wireless if its in the same room as your router?

[Dinggus]

"I don't forward anything nor know how to."

 

So are you using UPnP -- let me guess you don't even know what that is.. Did you test in utorrent if your port is open?  So if your ports are not open your speed is going to be crap!  Your lucky your seeming 1.5mbps - must be popular swarms, because somebody that does not send back gets **** from the swarm.. How p2p works is sending back to the swarm what you get, etc..  If all yo do is take - if your ports are not open, after a while nobody is going to send you anything.. So for it to work - you must be on big swarms with lots of seeders, since seeders don't care if you send or not..

 

Like I said lots of variables in p2p to what speeds are capable..

 

As to a N router - I picked up the TPLINK TL-WDR3600 for like $42..  I put dd-wrt on it, and have been very happy with it.. But I don't use it as my router -- just an accesspoint..  So I can not see how well it will work as actual router running native firmware.  I doubt you have the desire or skill set to put 3rd party firmware on what your buying.  But it gets decent reviews and is cheap

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704144

Like I said I got if for $42 ;)

 

Again - do your clients even support N?  How old is your imac?  Why in the world would you be wireless if its in the same room as your router?

 

Nope, don't know what UPnP is. Is there an issue? You make it seem like it's a problem.

 

uTorrent is set to automatically map port, that's all I know.

 

What does dd-wrt do?

 

As for my iMac, it is the late 2009 model and I don't like wires, so I didn't want to plug it in.

 

Edit: Ran Speedtest on my iMac through wireless was getting 16mb/down - 5mb/up. Then I hooked it up to my router and ran it again and go 30mb/down - 5mb/up.

 

Also, I went to canyouseeme.org and checked the port I was using, it says Connection Timed Out. So, I should forward this port?

 

Edit #2: Decided to go ahead and do some research. I set a static ip on my iMac (http://portforward.com/networking/static-Mac10.4.htm) and then forward the port uTorrent was using (http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Netgear/WGR614v9/Utorrent.htm) and then checked the port with canyouseeme.org and it can see me now.

 

I'm downloading a 464MB file and I have 9(16) seeds and 3(39) peers and getting 70kB/s-120kB/s.

 

Edit #3: I followed this guide for everything: http://www.techsupportalert.com/optimizing-utorrent-mac-speed I just edited uTorrent how it told me to.

[riahc3]

Hello,

Nope, don't know what UPnP is. Is there an issue? You make it seem like it's a problem.

 

uTorrent is set to automatically map port, that's all I know.

 

What does dd-wrt do?

 

As for my iMac, it is the late 2009 model and I don't like wires, so I didn't want to plug it in.

 

Edit: Ran Speedtest on my iMac through wireless was getting 16mb/down - 5mb/up. Then I hooked it up to my router and ran it again and go 30mb/down - 5mb/up.

 

Also, I went to canyouseeme.org and checked the port I was using, it says Connection Timed Out. So, I should forward this port?

 

Edit #2: Decided to go ahead and do some research. I set a static ip on my iMac (http://portforward.com/networking/static-Mac10.4.htm) and then forward the port uTorrent was using (http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Netgear/WGR614v9/Utorrent.htm) and then checked the port with canyouseeme.org and it can see me now.

 

I'm downloading a 464MB file and I have 9(16) seeds and 3(39) peers and getting 70kB/s-120kB/s.

 

Edit #3: I followed this guide for everything: http://www.techsupportalert.com/optimizing-utorrent-mac-speed I just edited uTorrent how it told me to.

Well Im glad you are at least looking up information :)

Ports are needed basically to have a connection between two points, say a PC with another PC (this is very basic). For example, when you are browsing the web your PC communicates with the PC that hosts the website thru port 80. If you block port 80 on your firewall, you would not be able to access the internet (web sites). This is a basic explaination.

What UPnP does is basically make it easier for everyone: UPnP compatible hardware/software automatically open up ports on other UPnP compatible hardware/software. Sadly, it has many serious flaws, including external access to your network (via internet) so by many (including our fellow BudMan) is not recommended.

[Dinggus]

Okay, so did I do it right?

 

I downloaded 4 files last night. Here are the average speeds and times it took

 

1. Size: 465MB - Time: 2hrs 11min - Avg Speed: 60.6 kB/s

2. Size: 5.1GB - Time: 55m 45s - Avg Speed: 3 MB/s

3. Size: 723MB - Time: 15m 33s - Avg Speed: 1 MB/s

4. Size: 604MB - Time: 10m 59s - Avg Speed: 948.4 kB/s

 

So, I'm assuming this helped speed give me more accurate download speeds?

[+BudMan MVC]

"2. Size: 5.1GB - Time: 55m 45s - Avg Speed: 3 MB/s"

 

That is clearly maxing out your 25Mbps connection..

 

You did that over wireless?  That would be the MAX your wireless G connection could do - there would be no way you could of been doing anything else on the internet over wireless if you were seeing 3MBps down on a wireless G connection.

 

That avg speed does not work out - where are you getting those numbers?  Sorry but at average speed of 3MBps a 5GB file would only take 27 minutes not 55..  Do the math 5GB/3MB = seconds/60 = minutes.

[Dinggus]

"2. Size: 5.1GB - Time: 55m 45s - Avg Speed: 3 MB/s"

 

That is clearly maxing out your 25Mbps connection..

 

You did that over wireless?  That would be the MAX your wireless G connection could do - there would be no way you could of been doing anything else on the internet over wireless if you were seeing 3MBps down on a wireless G connection.

 

That avg speed does not work out - where are you getting those numbers?  Sorry but at average speed of 3MBps a 5GB file would only take 27 minutes not 55..  Do the math 5GB/3MB = seconds/60 = minutes.

 

No I did that wired, downloaded while I was sleeping. I was just reading what uTorrent showed. I could have easily made a typo since I woke up and went to check out the computer.

[+BudMan MVC]

So did you test in utorrent for your port being open? The utorrent client has a test to see if you can be seen from the public internet.

But those speeds make sense in general with a 25Mbps connection.. Some you max out your connection and see 3MBps -- others you see lower speeds.. Since your speed for a torrent depends on lots of factors, how many seeds, how many peers - what speeds they are sending at, how many connections you allow, settings in your client, very extensive variable list of things that can effect performance of any particular torrent.

So with no torrents running - what does speedtest.net show for your connection? I am currently on a sim sort of connection with
 

[Dinggus]

So did you test in utorrent for your port being open? The utorrent client has a test to see if you can be seen from the public internet.

But those speeds make sense in general with a 25Mbps connection.. Some you max out your connection and see 3MBps -- others you see lower speeds.. Since your speed for a torrent depends on lots of factors, how many seeds, how many peers - what speeds they are sending at, how many connections you allow, settings in your client, very extensive variable list of things that can effect performance of any particular torrent.

So with no torrents running - what does speedtest.net show for your connection? I am currently on a sim sort of connection with

 

 

I don't see the test button in uTorrent, I just see a green light for the connection. I was running the speed test without torrents and it was around 33Mb/s down, 5.88Mb/s up.

 

How do I know if my iMac will support a N router?

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

Depends, I have an old Linksys Ver 2 WRT54G and putting on the dd-wrt firmware gave it new life / functionality and is in service again working great after being stored in my closest for years. 

[+BudMan MVC]

http://www.utorrent.com/help/guides/connection-setup

 

As to your imac - what are its specs, how do users buy things and not know what they can do or can not do?  Do you not know what size engine your car has?  Do you know know if it has a CD player or XM radio?

 

How old is your imac - I show late 2011 21.5 inch model having N support

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP634

 

But your imac is in the room with your router - who cares if it has wireless support or not?  It would be the other devices on your network that would be using the wireless - would it not?