I thought you guys would be the best to ask on this. I have a crappy wireless VDSL modem router supplied by my ISP. Now, my line is already a bit too long for VDSL, but the higher latency over the slow-ass ADSL speeds? It's hard to decide, but I think VDSL is just barely better. I don't have any other choices, because NZ networking sucks major ass. Anyway, I know for a fact that better hardware will work, but I need tips on what I should be buying. First of all, I've had a lot of trouble finding concrete information on whether or not the modem matters if you choose to use two separate devices (a modem and a router, instead of a combo modem router like I'm used to). How important is the modem part, and how important is the router part? Will my crappy ISP-supplied modem router be okay as a modem in bridge mode? I tried it for a bit with an admittedly crappy router, and it seemed okay, but although it was better, it still wasn't great. Then there's the whole combo modem router thing. I'm still living at home (and I hope to every god ever that that changes in the next few years, but at the moment, it can't be helped), so it's basically down to my parents. They're cheap as hell, and they get all pissy when there are two devices where one usually is. I don't know why. I personally prefer one device because it's tidier and arguably easier to configure, but I don't hate it. Not having a rave at midnight would be preferable, though. Anyway, I know a combo modem router typically compromises on both the modem and router parts, but unless it's highly advised against, I'd prefer to get one of these and invest a bit more into it as opposed to buying two separate devices. As for buying a separate router, I've seen plenty of good recommendations (usually ASUS), so that's not a big deal, but I find my 2.4GHz wireless is crap. Yes, it's right next to a 2.4GHz phone (which sucks regardless), but there's not much I can do about that. I don't know what my options are for that. I looked into VoIP phones, but what they seem to offer in NZ is a box you stick on your wall that your current phones link up to. Sure, you could buy new phones, but no one in this household is going to shell out for them, because as I've already said, they're cheap. Only using 5GHz isn't an option when game consoles and older devices are involved, though. Trust me, I've already tried 5GHz-only (I had a Netgear WNDR4000 for a bit - total piece of crap and the 2.4GHz wireless barely worked at all since it dropped out every minute or two), and my dad had a Goddamn breakdown because he couldn't use his phone (he's legitimately a complete idiot, but that's besides the point). So basically, any suggestions for good hardware that isn't too expensive, preferably that is a combo modem router (but doesn't have to be), and any other suggestions to stop my internet from being intolerably slow. I wish I could run ethernet to a bunch of things like my computers and PlayStations, but unfortunately, that's not an option given how everything is set up here (and with the way the house is constructed, it would be somewhat difficult to achieve, anyway). My endlessly slow internet and network issues make me want to drop-kick midgets, so if anyone can help, I promise I won't do that. Much.
Couple things, can you visit http://www.speedtest.net and post your results? Also what is the current make and model of the ISP provided modem you have?
The modem router is a pretty generic, crappy one. It's by a company called Energy Imports, model VB104W. They tend to be severely locked down by my ISP (Slingshot, in case it really matters - and no, other ISPs are just as bad, or worse in the case of Telecom). The rest of the information is here: https://www.assemblergames.com/foru...our-internet-speed/page10&p=804124#post804124 I should mention that, whilst I do indeed say that test seems unfair, those results are actually the most accurate I've ever got. Usually, it's so sporadic that the results vary all over the place, and downstream/upstream speeds can be far greater (being a theoretical maximum rather than what I actually get). So, it may seem like an unfair test (because it is), but it's somehow the most accurate information. I should also mention that when I'm getting high latency, sometimes downloading stuff (especially torrents) helps speed it up, ironically. When I'm getting mid-to-low latency, torrents just bog the internet down. I assume the higher bandwidth requirements mean my connection tries to allocate more bandwidth to itself. It still isn't a solution, though, especially since it'll only drop the latency by two or three hundred milliseconds anyway (and that's to the US or the like, so at that point, I'm already getting at least 1000ms ping). I'll admit that I'm not great at networking, but I've known enough about IT for long enough to get at least decent results out of all my equipment. There's room for improvement, of course, but still. I've power-cycled my modem countless times and still nothing. It actually used to be downstairs, by the desktop computer (which is inoperable, so it's a right pain to test ethernet at the moment, because I have to take a laptop to the modem and disable wireless, and the modem is just in a little alcove with the telephone so no table or anything). I was complaining to my ISP about speeds and what not, so the Chorus guy came (basically the telco electricians/lackeys that used to belong to the monopoly that was (and technically still is) Telecom). Thing is, though, I didn't completely understand VDSL at the time. Okay, I still don't understand it COMPLETELY but I get the general idea. He told me that the line had to terminate at the VDSL filter that they installed - that was the end of the line into the house, no matter what, and so it couldn't be moved. The VDSL jack, however, could be. I got him to move it upstairs, my argument being that the internet was already crap - I doubt it could get any worse. Arguably, it's not any worse (except that it interferes with the phones more, since's it's right on top of the base, now). Still, it's not good. The line termination is so far from the road, though, and apparently our line is about 10M too long for VDSL. Supposedly, NZ ISPs are moving to a better standard later this year (I forgot exactly what the thing is called, but I'm sure someone will know), and that will increase maximum line length for VDSL, so we should be fine, but right now, it's awful. I know the cable runs under the deck at the front door to the house, so I should probably follow it further sometime. I'm wondering at exactly which point it enters the house. Theoretically, it may be relatively cheap to get it into the house at the front, shortening the cable, instead of having it (I assume) go all the way around the side of the house (unless it just goes straight through the walls from the front). I don't know how expensive this would be, but perhaps it's something I should look into. I also need to get a VDSL jack installed downstairs again. Chorus won't just come out because "it doesn't work" (they're idiots, but they're also picky idiots who only do the bare minimum and only if it's absolutely necessary - it took getting 1000ms+ pings to convince my ISP to send them out), so I'll have to get an electrician to install a second one. There's not much point in trying to move the existing one again. Still, when the guy came to move it originally, he did a hell of a lot of testing with special phone equipment to make sure it was right, so I don't know if any old electrician could do the job properly. Perhaps it's something I could even do myself, since it seems to basically be connecting a handful of wires, but honestly, I have no idea how to approach this. All I know is that my dad thinks Chorus will move it for us again (they won't), and refuses to even think about getting an electrician to look at it (and we actually know one who would probably be relatively cheap). Hopefully my swathes of information are actually useful. ><