My D-Link router began dropping the ADSL connection with increasing frequency. After trawling through a few forums, it seems the best fix is the latest firmware.

I duly backed up my router settings, downloaded the firmware image and set it going.

Result? One broken router.

The flash upgrade completed properly, then the system rebooted, as expected. Nothing else though. When I try to interrogate it via http, it displays the login box but then it hangs on a blank page endlessly.

I'm going to have another crack at it when I get home, but I'm fairly certain it is borked.

Can anyone recommend a decent 4 port, wireless capable, router for less than £60?

Cheers

Spreadie

Edit: Someone just offered me the use of a BT Homehub (the older, white one), although he doesn't know if it is preconfigured and locked for BT Broadband only. Anyone know if it can be used with any ISP?

I (and several other people at the old place) have a Netgear DG834GT, and it's been stable as a rock. I'd go for whatever the current DG834 model is.

Edd

Thanks Edd,

Are Netgear boxes still picky about connecting to non-netgear hardware? I have a couple of DLink USB dongles.

Can't help on the fussyness, as I've no personal experience, but I'm another DG834 owner and evangelist.

Home Hubs are both locked to bt and sh1te.

I've got a spare adsl wireless router kicking about somewhere. Yours for postage.

Snap but apparently the newer versions are not so hot. Which is a serious shame.

I also rate the Netgear DG834GT (current price £40-60 depending on bundle) . Only reason am considering upgrade to DLink (see Bridge Modem thread) is laptop has Wireless N card and DIR 825 dual band is highly rated against later Netgear N products

It's alive!!!

Just spent the last two hours, fiddling about with it, whilst swearing and cursing.

The swearing and cursing really helps BTW.

I've got the bleeder working. The problem was the reset button on the back, it isn't contacting properly, so when I did the reset after the update, it didn't actually reset!

I must have been through that a dozen times; you know the drill, hold the button down for 10 secs then power off/on. I didn't notice the status light stayed on, indicating it hadn't been reset.

I still don't trust it though, gunna get another router at the weekend, just in case.

Thankyou for the offer of the router Saspro, and thanks to all for the suggestions, I'll have a look at the Netgear boxes on Saturday.

Regards

Spreadie

What have you heard? My latest is a DG834N from about 2.5yrs ago and despite odd downtime, works admirably.

Have a look at this. Its like the JD Power Survey for cars. Only for routers. :p
(USA survey)
http://www.pcworld.com/zoom?id=156459&page=1&zoomIdx=1

By recent I'm talkiing last year or so so yours was before that.

The bloody thing died again. Can't trust it at all.

So I got one of these.

I've always liked Linksys kit.

Back in the days when they had that industrial feel (when the devices were black and blue) they were cheap and absolutely rock solid.

They seem to be a bit more expensive these days, but I've not heard anyone complaining about them. Make sure you do if you get any trouble!

Agreed - I've always liked Linksys although I've never had any issues with NetGear either.

For the love of all that is or pretends to be holy, don't buy Belkin.....

I had a customer on the phone with BB problems. I could hardly believe that a professional business was using a Belkin! I suggeated he try a Netgear, because it would be cheaper than being slapped with a £90 call-out if we sent an engineer who proved it was crap.

I did have good regard for Linksys, but the kit is not as reliable as some and it's getting worse. That said, some of the new Netgear kit is worse than the older models. We're seeing a "race to the bottom" with consumer routers.