which ADSL modem/router?

MustNotSleep · nFHQ Member

hey, i have a regular ADSL 768/512Kbps service here where i live and i'm using a crippled Speedstream modem/router that's somehow password protected, and the person i bought it from said he never knew what it was.. weird... anyway, i'm having the need to forward ports and unfortunately can't do it on this one i have now..

so i'm looking for a WIRED ethernet ADSL modem/router.. i'm not good at networking, but this thing is hooked up to my regular phone line and then has an ethernet cable running to my NIC, so that's why i can't get a regular Linksys router i see everyone has.. or maybe i can? i'm not sure, if someone could enlighten me on this subject..

anyways, i was looking at the Speedtouch 546 which is dirt cheap on eBay, and after reading the company's site, it looks like exactly what i need.. plus, as i read on some forums, it's supposed to have something called QoS which is basically traffic shaping (a feature i previously used in software mode with a marvelous app called cFosSpeed), plus a butt-load of other useful (and modern) features (port forwarding, for one)..

so i wanted to know your opinion if this is a worthwhile modem/router to get, or if i should go with something different, although have in mind i'm not planning on spending a lot on this purchase (around 30$, i'd say) and i also don't need wireless connection, as i don't have any portable devices and i'm using the only computer in my house, plus i feel wireless=an unnecesary security risk, no matter how locked down it seems..

also, does the Speedtouch 546 support something called port triggering? there's an app on portforward.com that claims to be an advanced and seamless way to forward ports, but only on routers that support port triggering.. if so, that'd be great..

thanks for the help.. i know i can always count on this great and mature community for unbiased and intelligent responses.. Smile

PlatinumFX · nForce Aware

I have no experiance with the Thompson router you refer to.

I can however state that I have used the Netgear DG834 ADSL Modem/Router/Switch inc firewall in two seperate places. Neither device has given me a problem in over 2 years. Very easy to setup but not particularly cheap new.

At the moment, I am having horrendous problems with a Linksys router (WRT54G). I and many of my technically experianced friends would all advise you to avoid Linksys. They don't apparently use the same underlying technology as Cisco and the quality/stability really suffers. IMO. :S

powerarmour · **--[papameister]--** Mod Squad

I can vouch for the Netgear DG834 also, I've used one for years without a hiccup... Wink

MustNotSleep · nFHQ Member

thanks for the suggestion, but it seems to go for an awful lot of money, more than twice what the Speedtouch would set me back.. plus, there are some reviews online that claim it to be difficult to setup initially, and being a networking novice, this would be a problem for me.. though the outbound firewall protection sure sounds nice, i don't think it justifies the price for me at the moment, as i use a fairly unobtrusive software for that purpose.. plus, i'm not even sure it supports a very important feature for me -- QoS, or traffic shaping -- which the Speedtouch one has.. but considering it's a 3 year old product, it doesn't surprise me..

anything else i should know? this will be my first router purchase and the Speedtouch auction ends in 11 hours..

thanks for the help guys..

//EDIT: just found this thread on another forum: DG834G - any good ?.