Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
I don't know if the Networking forum or the Hardware forum is best for this, but here goes.
I signed up a couple of weeks ago for DSL through my local telephone service. They provided me with a 'loaner' wireless router. Everything is working fine, but the contract says if anything should happen to the router I could be charged $150. While I was in Walmart the other day, I noticed they have routers that look just like mine and the prices are from say $30 up to about $60, with the top of the line models at $80. I don't remember the brand names but they were recognizable names. My router is a Zyxel (which I never heard of) so my question is:
Can I replace the phone companies router with one of these? They all say they are for DSL service, etc. I would rather own my own router, and not worry about a lightning strike. They other side of that is about bandwidth, etc I want to make sure I can get the same performance, so what do I look for on these off the shelf models?I appreciate any input on this.
Thanks
Bob
>> My router is a Zyxel (which I never heard of)<<
Me neither and $150 is a bit on the steep side.
If the ones you were looking at included names like Linksys, Netgear or D-Link then you are fairly safe with Linksys getting some good reviews. Linksys is owned by Cisco and most of the Internet runs on Cisco hardware.
Stuart
0 
I'd recommend Linksys as well - avoid 'shop-brand' ones (PC World do one which is a Bulldog rebranded & it's a real pain to set up if the auto setup doesn't work (which it didn't))
"I know that I'm mad - I've always been mad..."
0
Are you looking at a ROUTER or a DSL MODEM or a DSL MODEM/ROUTER????
Rule #1 Good computers don't go down.
Rule #2 There is no such thing as a good computer.
0
Stuart and Johnr, yeah those brands were there I think. I thought $150 was a bit steep, too. For Rick, it's listed on the box and the configurator as a wireless router. No Modem needed.
Thanks, everyone.
:)
Bob
0
If you think 150 $ for a router is too much try 250 $ (Can) for a Siemens 5200 ADSL MoDem... That's the sort of penalty Sympatico threahens us with when they insist that we must return their three years old (rented) MoDem while i just bought my own two weeks ago for 80 $ and i didn't even try to get the cheapest! A LinkSys (Cisco) router would be easier to come by.
Salutations,
Michel Samson
a/s Bicephale
0
Oups! I forgot to comment about the most interresting part: when i tried to access the SpeedStream's router Web interface i found out, after a couple phone calls to the sympathetic Sympatico support, that they had sealed this rented MoDem/Router by flashing it with their own custom code - which explains, in part, the over-charge i suppose...
Salutations,
Michel Samson
a/s Bicephale
0
The only reason I can imagine them doing that is that is ties the router so it can only be used with Sympatico.
Change you ISP and and the router is usless and you have to buy another. I bit underhand I think.
Stuart
0
So, I gather that most any DSL router will work, is that correct? That will explain the high cost of the loaner/renter models. They have to differentiate it someway, to justify the extra charges. Make it proprietary. Which is why I prefer off-the-shelf for everything, computer and all. The replacement costs are much lower and they work just as well. At some point, I will get brave and buy my own router and try it out. If it works I can feel good about giving theirs back to them. I had to sign an 18 month contract so I hope it doesn't affect that.
Thanks, everyone. Maybe we have all learned a little bit here.
Bob
0
Hi,
About "Replacement router" of August 2:
Bo> I thought $150 was a bit... No Modem needed.
MS> ...try 250 $ (Can) for a... ...three years
MS> old (rented) MoDem... ...they had sealed...
MS> ...by flashing it with their own custom code...
St> ...it ties the router so it can only be used
St> with Sympatico. Change you ISP and and the
St> router is usless and you have to buy another.I wonder how much that hurts compatibility but it
certainly cuts down the amount of user questions,
support time and theft to an absolute minimum!...Bo> So, I gather that most any DSL router will
Bo> work, is that correct?Perhaps not before but now, in one word, yes (and
that's how this bad joke on users who spend good
money will conclude because we are switching!)...It happens that my GNet BB0060 works as a direct
Plug-In replacement when used in combination with
a separate router like LinkSys's BEFSR41. I may
never be able to gather their exact settings to
copy it later if required but the factory ones in
my brand new 80 $ GNet MoDem/Router worked great,
right out of the box. So, yes, i guess resellers
are making efforts these days to ease things up.Bo> ...I prefer off-the-shelf for everything...
Me too, especially when there's the risk that i
may be over-charged for HardWare which after only
a couple years would be due to fail, anyway.Bo> ...I will get brave and buy my own router and
Bo> try it out. If it works I can feel good
Bo> about giving theirs back to them.Lets suppose i spend the money i'll save each year
on MoDems/Routers (because i decided to own mine),
after a few years i should have plenty of backups
since there's no doubt in my mind that at least a
couple units won't burn out once they're paid for!Now, if you do business with a guy who's not that
busy, but yet curious himself, you might get him
to test his merchandise On-Site before you buy as
i'd be surprized that there's no INet High-Speed
feed in an electronics/computers store these days!
Salutations,
Michel Samson
a/s Bicephale
0  |
 |
 |
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
