Modem and Router questions

Is it better to get a modem/router in one each one separate. Does it make any difference at all? Could someone pls suggest a modem/router and also just a modem.

Thanks for your help.

 

I use Comcast cable modem and separate Sonicwall TZ-170 firewall appliance as router. To have a setup like this, ISP must provide a modem that is capable of *passthrough* [i.e. does not perform any packet filtering of its own]. Been using this setup for about five years, long enough to run through several generations of cable modem.

 

It's theoretically better to get separate ones but...
Separate modem and router will cost more than combo device but will be more future proof i.e. if you decide to change ISP from DSL one to say cable TV you are still going to be able to use your router (DSL modem unneeded at that point)
Additionally you can stick to one good ADSL modem and upgrade router only if you need more juice (faster wireless, VoIP, USB host etc).

That said I use combo device. It's just significantly cheaper and as long as you choose a good device you're gonna be fine with it.

I won't suggest a router as it depends on your needs and price tag but one very good ADSL2/2+ modem (with router but without WiFi) is Linksys AG241
As for the router- there are some threads about it. All I can recommend (not knowing your requirements) is mind the hardware and choose sth Broadcom based (to be able to run DD-WRT or similar)

 

Ok then..can you recommend a good ADSL modem....I already have a Linksys WRT54GL and a Linksys WRT160N‏ that were given to me (not sure which one to use lol). It's to connect two laptops together...one of them is in the basement and the other is in the apartment upstairs of a duplex..so obviously distance and good signal for the upstairs apartment are important. Ohh and price is not an issue...we just want something that works well.

Thanks.

 

I did actually- Linksys AG241 is very good and stable ADSL modem. There is also some type of alternative firmware for this (supposedly very good) but I never tested it nor did I see a reason to do so.

 

Yes but I need something with Wifi..unless I misread your post this does not have wifi..correct?

 

No it doesn't but I assumed that since you already have a wireless router you would rather prefer to buy only a modem and to connect these together.
Do you use both wireless routers?

 

Ohh sorry I thought the Linksys AG241 was a router and not a modem..my bad The two routers I have are new in box...I guess either one should be good to connect with the AG241. Thanks for the suggestion...

 

AG241 is both a router and a modem but since you would connect it to a wireless router it would make sense to set it up in bridge mode (modem only) and leave all other functions to either of the wireless routers.

 

Ok I get it...one last question...a friend just now recommended the Netgear DG834. And found these via google....

TP-LINK TD-W8960N
D-Link DSL-2640B, ADSL2/2+ MODEM WITH WIRELESS ROUTER
TP-LINK TD-W8920G, Super G and eXtended Range 108M Wireless ADSL2+ Modem Router


Any thoughts on these brands?

 

Choosing between Netgear DG834 and Linksys AG241, I'd go for Linksys (both are modem/routers with no WiFi so both require wireless router/acces point)

Stay away from D-Link.
TP-link makes good and well priced routers- I'd definitely go for TP-LINK TD-W8960N (it's N capable the other one is not)
Price-wise (at least in my country) AG241 is more expensive than TD-W8960N (even though TP-Link already has WiFi).

So to make a long story short- TP-LINK TD-W8960N is a very good choice- if you go for combo device.

 

Thanks again for your help...it's been very helpful...any thoughts on speedstream modems? Are they any good?

 

You mean Siemens SpeedStream?

 

Yes..it's the one that Bell Canada uses...and there is also ovislink which AEI uses...

 

Frankly- it's hard to tell. Siemens is not very consistent, some of their routers/modems are rather average (I may have been too generous though ) others are really good.
I use Siemens modem/router/WiFi combo although it's from a different line of products. Mine is called SLI-5300 and it's really great.
There are others that are not-so-great.

So decision basically depends on price tag- if your ISP gives the SpeedStream to you for free or it is very cheap it may be worth it. In the worst case scenario you can just buy the TP-Link we talked about. If it is priced rather high or at least close to TP-Link it doesn't make sense to risk it- just buy one that always works.

BTW What's the model number of this SpeedStream?

 

This one....SPEEDSTREAM SIEMENS 6520 WIRELESS 802.11G ROUTER MODEM.

Also, any thoughts on the Thomson Speedtouch TG585?

None of these are given from the ISP...I'm basically looking to purchase a good one...and price isn't really an issue.

Thanks again.

 

None of these is really good.
All I can do is to repeat myself- if you want a good setup buy Linksys AG241 and connect it to one of your routers.
If you don't want to monkey with setups to make them work together just buy that TP Link you mentioned (not really that complicated but still combo doesn't require any additional steps or knowledge to set it up)

 

I just got the Netgear DGND3300 to replace/upgrade the equipment that I got for free from Verizon DSL. It is a combo modem/router and it is working well. I had a little hiccup installing it but I found instructions online (google DGND3300 +"Verizon DSL" and you'll find what I found) and they worked perfectly. I would assume those instructions are generic enough that they will work regardless of service provider. Netgear's support left something to be desired, but so does Verizon's.

 

Is the Linksys AG241 discontinued..I can't seem to find it anywhere...do you know which model replaced it? On the Linksys website only this pops up for dsl modems WAG120N.

 

You are probably right- it's discontinued. I should have checked before recommending it but this modem has been available for so long that I assumed it still is.
In this case you can either replace it with Netgear DG834 you friend recommended and pair it with one of your routers or go for a combo device like TP-Link TD-W8960N. It's relatively new so a bit unproven compared to Netgear + one of your Linksys'.

Ask your friend some questions about the Netgear. It may be a worthy replacement for AG241

 

Thanks I decided to go with the TP-Link TD-W8960N combo device..it got good reviews...I read some reviews on the Netgear and they were so so..a friend also decided to go with the TP-Link 8816 for a plain modem. I appreciate your help.

 

Glad to be of help.
One more advice- verify that you have the latest firmware after you install it.
The newest one has been released on January 13th and the previous one on December 26th so it's possible that whatever you buy it may be at least 2 firmwares old. This device is barely 6 months old so firmware updates are important as they fix really annoying bugs.

Support site: LINK