So I am considering buying a new router, and I am looking for some suggestions. I know that most routers these days are wifi capable, but what irks me is the majority come with only 4 LAN ports since it is wireless. I am looking for a very good router with wireless capabilities, but with a minimum of 8 LAN ports. So far this is the only one I have found, Netgear 8 port, VPN N Router, but I don't have a whole lot of experience with Netgear.

My last router was a Linksys, but that was years ago.

Also I am using an ISP that supplies routers to use because the set-top-boxes rely on it for data connectivity, I intend to use that as a 'bridge' for the boxes, and use my own personal router - but thats not difficult.

So basically, I am looking for a decent wireless router with 8 LAN ports, I know I will be spending at least over $100+, but oh well.

Ideas?

P.S.

I know I could just buy a hub or switch and just connect it to my existing ISP provided router if I need more LAN ports, but thats a hassle and will also affect speeds actually.

A web search for "8-port wireless router" turns up scads of links for D-Link and Netgear. I've never had D-Link stuff, but I've had Netgear stuff that served me well. I know that both are reputable companies.

I'd look up whichever model you're looking at on dd-wrt.com to make sure it's compatible. Even if you're not planning to modify it, it's nice to have the option. I've had D-link and NETGEAR; generally speaking it seems NETGEAR is more open source friendly...

Well, 4 ports are more common than 8. I'm not sure whether to 'blame' that on wireless or marketing (ie, what the companies think the market wants), but I assume that is irrelevant. Here are some possibilities

Netgear ProSafe FVG318 VPN Firewall, 108Mbps
Cisco 892 series (several variants)
Cisco 190x series
Netgear DGFV338 ProSafe Wireless ADSL Modem VPN Firewall Router 8 Port 10/100 switch
Netgear Wireless-N 8 Port Gigabit VPN Firewall (possibly a B005UGRIIG, but it ought to have another product descriptor, possibly FVS318N)

now, you won't like the Ciscos (price), but if you did want a serious professional product...

If the ISP supplies the 'modem' (either a DSL modem, or whatever device connects to whatever interface that you have), then set-up of that device can be arbitrarily complex and arbitrarily badly documented, because they have only got to supply a device which is pre-configured. If (it isn't clear) you are intending on replacing this device, check what information is available from the ISP.


Well, it is a hassle, and there are power consumption implications (always on equipment, in most cases), but then all of your options are something of a hassle, so it might not be the killer argument. And, you can get really quite cheap 8 port basic switches (eg, Edimax ES-3208P 8 Port Fast 802.3/802.3u 10/100Mbps Ethernet Switch, D-Link 8-Port Gigabit Green Ethernet Switch (DGS-1008D), or, if you are only adding a limited number of ports to an existing 4 port, D-Link DES-1005D 5 port 10/100Mb Switch; the 10/100 stuff now seems so cheap that it is difficult to believe that it actually does anything...but, presumably, it does).

BTW, you didn't specify that the ethernet part needs to be gigabit, and 100 M will affect speed compared to gigabit. How important this is will depend on what traffic goes down the wired part, as opposed to the wireless part. Nor did you specify that the wireless part has to meet any specific specification, but I'm assuming that is because the wireless part isn't of much importance to you.

That's the way it sounds, anyway.

Beware some of the newer Linksys (E2000 for example) still have the same web config interface as the older but had a few new features that you cannot control through the web interface and only via Windows/Mac software. For example I cannot disable or set the password for the 'guest' network without running their Windows software. But since I've touched the config via the web site the Windows software refuses to talk to it unless I do a reset.

Plan on buying the equipment "on the Internet," not at a local office-supply store. Consider also finding a local company that does networking for a living and asking them what they use. Perhaps buy one from them. Perhaps engage their services to help you.

(Disclaimer: I don't shop at Home Depot. Instead, I find reliable licensed local contractors who know what they are doing, and I pay for it with what I know how to do.)

Funny you should say that, because the irony is my ISP uses routers provided by Actiontec and they use linux:

This is what router I have and what it looks like:


The irony is I also do technical support for this service as well, so I have insight on how the system works. You are correct that this will get rather complex because such a setup is not supported. The router has two connections available to it. Most cases where houses are not wired with ethernet, the router is provisioned with a coax connection. [tangent] Although I can't tell you the many times I get customers calling in wondering why their cable modems they bought don't work - hint: we don't use DOCSIS, we use MOCA [/tangent] Where it gets complicated is in my case because I have TV services, and the boxes rely on connectivity from the router for video-on-demand, and the programming guide. Its no problem for me to run a cat5e to my ONT* and then just call up tech support and have them enable the port. The complex part is keeping the ISP provided router alongside my own personal router - again that though is on my end, and I can figure that out myself.

I could theoretically also get whats called a 'moca-bridge' , thus just staying only with coax, then running my own router completely ditching the ISP provided router. Again though these are minor details which are out of anyone's scope here most likely (unless someone else here is also on Verizon FiOS services ).

You are right I didn't specify, sorry. Although my current provided router is just 10/100Mbps, the latest router from my ISP is indeed 1Gbps, and also Wireless N capable. At this point I may as well go for 1Gbps LAN though. Speaking of wireless, Asus has some cool looking wireless capabilities, but still only offer 4 LAN ports. Overall though wireless to me isn't much of a priority if any, and there is only one person in the house that solely relies on it than I ever do (my wife), because if that weren't the case, I wouldn't care about wireless at all, oh well though. [rant]Its worse though when I get a lot of calls about customers complaining about wireless, and wondering why it is so slow - and most don't realize it is based obviously on distance, and will never match a wired speed, but if you tell that to those who have no technical knowledge, all hell breaks loose but hey what can you do?[/rant]




ONT: Optical Network Terminal - AKA the network interface - AKA Line of demarcation usually found on the side of the premises (outside) and in some rare cases inside.

My 2 cents: avoid SMC hardware like the plague. I've had nothing but trouble with that brand (even the more expensive models)...

Hi,

I like to use 8/16 port switches to provide flexibility by placing the remote switch at a convenient spot thus allowing wired connection for other systems throughout the network. You can purchase a wireless router with four ports and a switch for what you will pay for a 8/16 capable router. Plus you would have the ability to remotely locate the switch to provide flexibility. Plus be sure to utilize the proper CAT-5 cable for interconnection.

For most SOHO installation you will not exceed the bandwidth for a DSL/Broadband service. If you have access to fiber then you can utilize 10/100/1000 Base-T network with no issue Best would be to have a Fiber Distributed Data Interface(FDDI) to the Fiber provider at the speed of light for the LAN but we still need to interface some peripherals that do not support FDDI .

FDDI provides 3 times the max frame size than a standard wired Ethernet frame size thus providing better effective data rates, as high as 200Mps. FDDI does eliminate noise issues that copper can be plague by. TP does eliminate/cancel some noise, not all.

Hello

Using a switch is an idea, but I would still prefer not using a switch if possible. And I found the netgear router I previously alluded to earlier at a slightly cheaper price: http://www.frys.com/product/6776735?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG - but I am still looking for others, either made by D-Link for comparison which I have not found yet. Also I don't really need the VPN feature but oh well.

I am not sure if I may have misunderstood but also don't take this the wrong way - yes my provider is fiber but please don't misunderstand the term FTTP (Fiber-To-The-Premises). The fiber line goes to the line-of-demarcation (NID) either inside or outside - in my case my NID is outside on the side of my house and STOPs there, the rest is just standard copper (RJ-11 for phones, 75ohm COAX for data and/or VIDEO (MOCA), and ethernet from the ONT):



This is what my "NID" looks like it is a Tellabs model 612 Optical Network Terminal - Check out my mad photo skillz too, :

Once I run ethernet to it I will then call up my provider and have them enable the ethernet port - but as stated before in my case it gets complicated because I have TV services and my Verizon router handles some features for the TVs, so at that point I would only leave the router connected with the COAX and run the ethernet to my own personal router. Don't ask me exactly HOW my STBs will still get connectivity, but they do - they still get a 'WAN' ip, only it no longer has any full internet access - it is rather convoluted.

Now since what I think you mentioned is Fiber LAN, Tellabs does have some interesting solutions for that but to me sounds expensive and I think Tellabs only sells to commercial entities like Verizon or businesses that can afford to ditch copper based ethernet for a pure fiber-LAN: http://www.tellabs.com/solutions/opticallan/?b

--edit

If you are curious this is more detail about how Verizon FiOS operates :
http://www.broadbandsoho.com/Verizon_FTTP_Tutorial.htm

Hi,

As I stated before, the flexibility & utility with using a switch are the easiest & convenient means to expand your SOHO Wireless Router & LAN.

FDDI does depend on provision(s) established by the provider's network. Equipment costs for average home users will eventually decrease just as a 10/100/1000 BaseT network has lowered in cost.
Some users in my area are getting fiber to their commercial sites. No residential at this point in time. One commercial install that I know of did provide easement for a small portion of the trunk if he could get fiber to his business. Done & working great.

Most schools & local government offices are getting fiber in our area, so it won't be too long before residential will be offered.

With your current install, it will be limited (<100 meters) since you are copper LAN for the home will have restricted length inside. 300 feet is far length but on my farm it would be restrictive to use copper to the barn or workshop.

Piggy backing fiber with broadband coax lines does happen within some communities in my area which still depends on user base.

Fiber to Fiber at the University & colleges in our area has been in place for a few years. Mostly credited to DOD involvement with the University. Fiber to Fiber does have some advantages when doing remote experiment(s) control/monitoring/data collection over the old method of collection and computation after the run for computational/modeling of the data. Streaming data over fiber is very beneficial as compared to a wired LAN when one has to compute or model.

Here is a general tutorial for users: Fiber Optic Network

I am curious as to your installs speedtest data. Can you compare to other users in the neighborhood?

I am not sure who else in my neighborhood has Verizon FiOS services, I am however currently paying for a 50/25Mbps connection and these are the speed results:





As you can see I am actually getting more than what I am currently paying for - which is quite common on this service no matter the time of day .

FIOS not available for me yet
We have WOW which gave good service and speed but couldn't figure out how to bill. Then Insight who Time Warner bought so we have lots of slow downs. Of course there is also DSL which is all AS&S owned and just resold under other names since they bought out the local companies. They couldn't even provide a simple dial tone more than 50% of the time.

Hi,
That's nice! I will have to wait for a while here in the sticks.

After testing numerous, my preference goes to Netgear:

Netgear over (D-Link& US-Robotics)