| Speed issue/Hardware upgrade reccomendations I live in Penticton BC, have the telus high speed plan and noticed a few days ago my downstream speeds dropped from about 3.4mb to 1.4mb steady. I'm guessing my modem + switch combo is just too archaic to work well with some recent network upgrade. (linksys adls-me1, according to the label. prob 5+ years old) Does this seem like an ancient hardware problem to those in the know? Or is this issue something worth hassling telus about if it doesnt clear up in a week?
Since I need to new hardware for wireless networking with a new tablet I thought it would be time for a new router, however I have never used a router before, preferring modem/hub combos, and have never considered wireless till now. So I was hoping for some advice.
I'm hearing alot on the forums about the actiontech v1000h. I'm guessing this is the safe bet. Are there better routers available that will help with improving speed or is there no reason to look for anything other than this model? |
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Mike_C
join:2007-07-19
Vancouver, BC | Linksys ME-1? That's well over 5 years old. If you just want a newer plain modem and have your own router, ask for the Speedtouch. Those will work nicely for you. As for the speeds, it could be the modem, could be something with the connection. Hard to say without checking the line. |
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 jed
join:2001-07-06
Alberta, Can | reply to Nydilius
I'm currently using the same modem as you, with a WRT54GL, on my 3mbps service. Could be network changes or your modem is circling the drain.
I like Mike's suggestion of a Speedtouch, I'd add a Asus RT-N16 router (which you would have to buy), then reflash it to one of the Tomato firmware flavors available. Dead stable, with tonnes of features. And you'd be good up to 15mbps with that setup.
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PF-2.8Ghz/533, 1gb PC3200, 2-120MB 8MB cache HDD, Intel D845PEBT2, LG-4040A, HP 8200 flashed to 9200, ATI Radeon 9500 flashed to 9700, US Robotics V.everything External, 450W PS, 2.5Mps Telus DSL (finally! G-Bye ExpressVu) |
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| Nowadays is it better to do modem and router, one of the combination modem/router/hubs, or doesn't really make a difference? I will probably have to upgrade my switch as well, since it is FAR older than my modem. (and it kills my inner-geek to admit to components that outta date too. lol)
If i gotta upgrade, would be nice to free up a power slot on the ole powerbar, and less overall cabling is always a plus. But combo devices always trigger my leery-ness-gland.  |
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jed
join:2001-07-06
Alberta, Can | I've always had seperate units, and if you check out business users, who require stability, they also will have the same. For a switch, depends how many ports you'll need. I have the Linksys - WRT54GL - Gigabit Switch - rest of my network. Its 3 wall warts, but I'm ok with that.
If you get a chance, go through some of the posts here about the combo units that Telus uses, the D-Link and Actiontec. I'm not even sure if the D-Link is still available. But some interesting reading.
Myself, I'm not a big fan of these but I understand some of the rationale of having it. If you are not much of a user, and are happy to be able to just turn your computer on, then a no mind combo unit works, and is easy for the phone drones to support.
A tomato router can have so many features, theres a whack of tutorials on setting them up, and are stable as h3ll.
Thats sort of the Coles notes version, as I see it.
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PF-2.8Ghz/533, 1gb PC3200, 2-120MB 8MB cache HDD, Intel D845PEBT2, LG-4040A, HP 8200 flashed to 9200, ATI Radeon 9500 flashed to 9700, US Robotics V.everything External, 450W PS, 2.5Mps Telus DSL (finally! G-Bye ExpressVu) |
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| reply to Nydilius
said by Nydilius:Nowadays is it better to do modem and router, one of the combination modem/router/hubs, or doesn't really make a difference? I will probably have to upgrade my switch as well, since it is FAR older than my modem. (and it kills my inner-geek to admit to components that outta date too. lol)
You will find the combo units harder to troubleshoot, because it is difficult to pin point where the problem is. With separate units, a few ping tests tell me where the problem is. That way, I only have to reset the one unit, and the rest of the network remains operational. If network stability is not an issue, and you don't mind taking the whole network down, then a combo unit does offer compactness.
Note: I prefer to use a hub instead of a switch because I can monitor the entire network from one location. |
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TheMGPremium
join:2007-09-04
Canada
kudos:1 Reviews:
 ·TekSavvy DSL
| said by couttsj:Note: I prefer to use a hub instead of a switch because I can monitor the entire network from one location.
A managed switch can do the same. |
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| reply to Nydilius
I had the same modem & when I upgraded to high speed 15 I couldn't get speeds above 5 mbps. A tech confirmed it wouldn't work. I threw a speedtouch on there and got 15 mbps. I can't believe how small that modem is! |
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 XT0RTS3x, Drugs, War
join:2001-07-28
Edmonton, AB | reply to TheMG
said by TheMG:said by couttsj:Note: I prefer to use a hub instead of a switch because I can monitor the entire network from one location.
A managed switch can do the same. A managed switch isn't a cheap piece of hardware, last I checked.
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Core i7 2720QM : GTX 485M @ 580M : 8GB DDR3-1333 : 320GB x 2 in RAID 0 : Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1
Anonymous posts are filtered. |
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TheMGPremium
join:2007-09-04
Canada
kudos:1 Reviews:
·TekSavvy DSL
| said by XT0RT:said by TheMG:said by couttsj:Note: I prefer to use a hub instead of a switch because I can monitor the entire network from one location.
A managed switch can do the same. A managed switch isn't a cheap piece of hardware, last I checked. Actually you can find used 10/100 (fast ethernet) managed switches for fairly cheap these days. Many businesses and corporations are upgrading their network infrastructure to gigabit ethernet and are practically giving the old switches away. If you know where to look you might even score one for free.
Cisco 24 and 48 port manages switches are going on eBay for under $100. |
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XT0RTS3x, Drugs, War
join:2001-07-28
Edmonton, AB | That's if all the ports are still functional, but that's a chance you take when dealing with FleaBay. |
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| There are some gigabit "smart" switches which provides limited functionality of a fully managed switches (vlans, QOS, bandwith control, port mirroring, some even have IGMP snooping) while also keep the price low. An 8 port gigabit smart switch (prosafe plus) from netgear is only $60 (less if you can get the $15 rebate). It is a pretty good "managed" switch for home use. |
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Reviews:
·TELUS
 ·Shaw
| reply to Nydilius
I have a 24 port managed and fiber switch that I will sell for CHEAP. It was given to me and I have no use for it at all. It's only 10/100 and that won't work for anything I deal with at my workplace, or at a customers. If anyone is interested, PM me and I can get pics and specs. |
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