What's a quality DSL modem/wireless router combo?

[paperfist]

I'm looking to purchase a DSL modem with built in wireless router. Just looking at a few online stores and the pickings seem slim. I see a few Actiontec models, but don't know much about them.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[abbyd_nospam]

I'm also trying to find a decent DSL modem/Wifi Router combo - I really haven't found that many resources online yet. I've posted to whirlpool forums and DSLreports (smallnetbuilder is next), but haven't gotten good answers yet. My requirements are:

* Stability is #1 - most important
* Ability to schedule reboots
* Decent wifi chipset, speed is unimportant (b/g is fine, I don't care about n support)
* basic port forwarding
* ADSL2+ support would be nice
*

Based on personal experiences, I refuse to use anything made by 2Wire or Netgear. I've had good luck with Linksys but I don't know much about their current offerings. I'm looking at Zyxel, Engenius, and Cisco because they seem to have better quality gear. I still haven't found the best model however. Thanks for any input!

 

[Harvey]

If your DSL provider supplies a DSL modem that works well, you can use it and concentrate on finding a good wireless router with the features you want. That may be easier and less expensive than trying to find one component that does everything.

Hope that helps. 🙂

 

[ImDonly1]

If your DSL provider supplies a DSL modem that works well, you can use it and concentrate on finding a good wireless router with the features you want. That may be easier and less expensive than trying to find one component that does everything.

Hope that helps. 🙂

This is best. Also this post should be in the networking forum.

---

Thanks. Yes, it should. Done. 🙂

Harvey
Senior AT Mod/Admin

 

[JackMDS]

DSL ISPs have in the past major trouble when people had modems only and No Router, the issue is that DSL PPPOE relies on software.

When a Router is connected to the Modem the PPPOE authentication can be done in hardware in the WAN port of the Router.

It was less expensive to add a Cheapo Router to the modem than the cost of the Tel, support concerning this matter.

Hence came the DSL Modem/Router combo. The Modem part is a simple Regular Modem, the Router part is a bellow mediocre basic device.

It has to be cheap because in most cases it is given for free.

Most people that need a good Router end up disabling the Router part using the combo as a Modem only, and buying their own Router.

If you buy a combo you save only on having one plastic box instead of two, and you get a "lousy" Router.



😎

 

[abbyd_nospam]

Apologies for posting to the wrong forum. Thanks for the input, I totally concur that the modem/router combo is not nearly as good as buying both seperately.

The thing is, I need to set up access from several different ISPs, and I don't want to deal with the added complexity of administering 2 devices for each ISP. I can reboot 3 devices 1x week or 6 devices 1x week. I can configure 6 devices via 4 different interfaces or 3 devices all via the same interface... you get the idea. Also, I've had HORRIBLE experiences using the CPE from DSL providers - let's just say that if I never hear the name "2WIRE" again I'll get over it.

I don't require anything fancy from the router - forward one port with LIGHT traffic. NO LAN traffic. In fact, the router could be wired only - I hardly see those on the market anymore though...

 

[lenjack]

My ISP provided a Zyxel combo. Work fine.

 

[JackMDS]

I have no judgment whether it is good or bad.

It is existing and used by many.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16825112005

You can try one, and risk the restocking fees if you do not like it.



😎

 

[abbyd_nospam]

The D-Link looks pretty good for the price. It doesn't offer scheduled reboots unfortunately. Also, based on the reviews on Amazon and Newegg it seems to have a fairly high failure rate. On the lower end I am leaning more toward TP-Link - they seem to have good features for the money. I have no problem with poor support if the product works!

@lenjack - I'm guessing you live in Europe? I would love to get some Zyxel gear, it gets consistently high marks. USA providers haven't gotten the memo that they should stop trying to save $10 on each DSL modem they ship - because one in ten of those modems will cost them $200 in support calls! There may be additional incentive to shipping lousy modems - people blame their gear when they get kicked offline... lots of over-provisioning in metro areas here!