On Tue, 2 Sep 2008, Richard Danter wrote:
> So I am looking for any recommendations on a good replacement.
>
> Requirements:
>
> - Wireless at 802.11g or better
> - 10/100 wired switch built in (pref at least 4 ports, 10/100/1000
> would be nice)
> - Must be fast enough to max out my broadband, with room to grow if
> Virgin get faster
> - Firewall
> - VPN passthrough
> - Good range on the wireless
> - WPA
I have a TP-Link TL-WR541G 54Mbps Wireless Router.
http://www.tp-link.com/products/product_spe.asp?id=31
It was intended as a cheap and cheerful device just for wifi when I bought
it at the start of this year, but since my original 6 year old SMC (wired
only) router died last month I've been using it connected directly to my
cable modem as my main router and it had worked just fine.
It's 4 port (only 10/100) + 802.11g/WPA wifi works fine with my work VPN,
I have no issues with the range of the wifi (though I have to admit my
house isn't huge) and has a reasonable though not totally exhaustive list
of config option.
Best of all it was under 20 quid. I admit I was a little suspicious of it
being so cheap originally, but I got mine from SVP who offer a 30-Day
No-Quibble Money-Back Guarantee (and their customer service has been
superb IME in the past) so I decided to buy it and see what it was like.
I'm happy I did.
http://svp.co.uk/product/tp_link_tl_wr541g_54mbps_wireless_router_mte025
It looks like they are currently out of stock of that device, but TP-Link
do several other similar devices which are about the same price and seem
to do the same job more or less:
http://svp.co.uk/product/tp_link_tl_wr340g_54mbps_wireless_router_mte006
http://svp.co.uk/product/tp_link_tl_wr642g_108mbps_wireless_router_mte027
If they are anything like the device I bought they are IMO a good buy for
under 20 quid, but if you find it really doesn't do what you want you have
30 days to send it back.
And no I don't have any financial interest in either TP-Link or SVP, I'm
just a satisfied customer :)
Andy
