I'm P.P.P.o.A., I'm P.P.P.o.A., I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm P.P.P.o.A

[Sysman]

WHS.

Use the router provided by the ISP (and complain and get it replaced if it can't support the faster broadband speeds now offered) and plug a gigabit switch into it for your local network.

The router handles all the NAT/IP address stuff so you just plug in the switch and away you go.

I have 2 switches daisy chained off my router (which only has 2 ethernet outputs), to provide local networking in the 'office' and TV rooms, and all works good enough for me.

WTS.

I have a very expensive ADSL/ISDN router which has been sitting in the cupboard ever since I sacked my telephone line in favour of cable.

You are better off getting a non-ADSL router which will plug into your existing kit. My latest router is a cheap and cheerful TP-Link which has 4 Gigabit LAN ports plus wireless; it actually came to little more than a standalone Gigabit switch. It started out a bit unreliable on the wireless side, so I put dd-wrt firmware on it (not for the faint of heart - read the instructions very carefully) and it has been rock solid ever since.

[VectraMan]

So, can anyone recommend a decent wireless ADSL router to speed up my broadband (if indeed that is possible)? I was looking at the Netgear N600 WIRELESS DUAL BAND GIGABIT ADSL2+ modem router, but would that be a waste of money? ie - my bb speed governed by other factors? Sorry to sound thick but ISPs/PPPoA etc isn't my strong point.
qh

How fast is your broadband? Depends what the bottleneck is. If your current wireless is faster than your broadband connection, there's little point upgrading. If the WiFi is the slowest part of the system, then you'll probably get a benefit.

[PAH]

Get a gigabit switch for pennies and you're sorted.

WHS.

Use the router provided by the ISP (and complain and get it replaced if it can't support the faster broadband speeds now offered) and plug a gigabit switch into it for your local network.

The router handles all the NAT/IP address stuff so you just plug in the switch and away you go.

I have 2 switches daisy chained off my router (which only has 2 ethernet outputs), to provide local networking in the 'office' and TV rooms, and all works good enough for me.

[quackhandle]

I think the reason for my problems is that I keep buying cable routers - The distinction isn't always clear in the online details, and despite their superficial similarity they're about as different as a sea horse is from a cart horse

Slightly off topic I realise I've just done the same thing as above. I use the wireless ADSL (or ADSL2+, I'm not sure) router that was sent by my ISP: 02 via my BT phone socket. I read a review in this month's PC Advisor for the Zyxel NBG4615 Wireless N Gigabit Broadband Router that it would speed up a broadband connection for anyone still using their router provided by ISP. So it comes and when setting it up I realise it is ethernet conn and not ADSL.

So, can anyone recommend a decent wireless ADSL router to speed up my broadband (if indeed that is possible)? I was looking at the Netgear N600 WIRELESS DUAL BAND GIGABIT ADSL2+ modem router, but would that be a waste of money? ie - my bb speed governed by other factors? Sorry to sound thick but ISPs/PPPoA etc isn't my strong point.

tia

qh

[OwlHoot]

Edit:Forgot to say, as with all routers change your password before connecting it to the net, and make sure your firmware is up to date.

Good point, and I mustn't commit the schoolboy error of sending this duff router back with my ISP login & password still configured in it.

I think the reason for my problems is that I keep buying cable routers - The distinction isn't always clear in the online details, and despite their superficial similarity they're about as different as a sea horse is from a cart horse

(Thanks for the replies BTW)

[Sysman]

Why spend £300. I've had one of these for years and they are rock solid bits of kit. Also supports PPPoA. ZyXEL Prestige 660H-D1 ADSL2+ Router w/ 4-Port 10/100 Switch - 91-004-582024B (£50)

Get a gigabit switch for pennies and you're sorted.

Another happy Zyxel Prestige customer. Mine was around the £300 mark but that was nearly 10 years ago.

Edit:Forgot to say, as with all routers change your password before connecting it to the net, and make sure your firmware is up to date.

[Fred Bloggs]

Anything Draytek surely?

Be very careful with Draytek if you have a poor ADSL line. My Draytek refused to connect to my ISP. Draytek told they knew they had issues with poor lines and just sent me my money back. But it made me wonder why they don't sell them with a warning that it might not work if your line has a bad S/N ratio. You might be amazed, as was I, but the most reliable device I ever used on ADSL is a cheap Thomson ADSL modem which I hooked up to a Belkin router. The cheapo Thomson never, ever dropped a connection where all other makes struggled to even get a connection that lasted more than a few minutes before dropping. Seeing as they cost peanuts it is well worth trying one.

[VectraMan]

PPPoA is what all the UK ISPs have used ever since ADSL started (I think there may have been a PPPoE trial before that). I'm amazed it's even possible to buy an ADSL router that doesn't support PPPoA and can only guess you've bought one from some dodgy foreign country without bothering to check that it would work in the UK.

[cojak]

Duly moved to Technical.

[stek]

Anything Draytek surely?

[Sockpuppet]

Why spend £300. I've had one of these for years and they are rock solid bits of kit. Also supports PPPoA. ZyXEL Prestige 660H-D1 ADSL2+ Router w/ 4-Port 10/100 Switch - 91-004-582024B (£50)

Get a gigabit switch for pennies and you're sorted.

[OwlHoot]

except I'm not sure

This is the second time I've shelled out for an expensive router, only to find it doesn't support wretched PPPoA, which my ISP uses!

Can anyone recommend an ADSL router under about £300 which is recent, reliable, supports gigabit ethernet of course, and supports PPPoA?

Sorry, this should be in Technical. But my connection is so slow it would take ten minutes to go to that page.

None of the technical specs or reviews ever seem to specify whether the super duper ADSL router in question supports PPPoA!