Shooping for a fairly basic home router

[dalben]

I'm looking for a router for home. Nothing too fancy I just need a decent number of connections and gigabit WAN.

I have the EnGenius 9850 but it seems I can't VPN out. Others have reported this problem and I haven't seen a fix yet. I don't need wireless so I have posted here but it wouldn't worry me too much if what suits my needs is a wireless router. I'll just disable the wireless.

Nice to haves:
A DHCP Reservation table that's at least 20 devices (9850 maxes out at 10)
Fairly easy to setup yet still allows me to tweek it.

VPN with a Nortel client MUST work. I have pulled out an old DIR-655 I had lying around and installed that for now. Works fine, but if there is something better out there I'll go for it.

I don't need USB ports to enable network printing or NAS because I have 3 NAS units and a couple of LAN enabled printers already.

Basically I need a workhorse without the bells and whistles, but they seem not to make them any more.

 

[thiggins]

The 9850 should support more than 10 DHCP reservations. Check the DHCP server settings.

Also check for VPN passthrough settings.

Why do you need Gigabit WAN?

 

[dalben]

It doesn't. Once you have 10, you tru and reserve another and it tells you the table is full.

VPN is 2 check boxes. Selected or not. I've tried all combos with no luck. Google reveals a few people with the same issue, but no answers.

I'll be wired up to FTTH in a couple of months. Not sure what HW is required but I'd prefer to future proof a purchase now.

So, any suggestions ?

 

[thiggins]

unless your service will be > 100 Mbps, you don't need Gigabit WAN.

I think the problems you ran into, especially the DHCP server limit aren't common.
Go look at the Router Charts and pick a NETGEAR or Cisco/Linksys router that has the speed and connections you need. Since you don't need wireless go for the cheapest.

For your VPN issue, you may have to try a few routers to find one that works. All depends on how good their pass-thru implementations are and whether there is any special handling required for your particular VPN.

 

[dalben]

unless your service will be > 100 Mbps, you don't need Gigabit WAN.

Yes, I'm aware of that. It's why I said I needed Gigabit WAN. I can say it a 4th time if you'd like.

I think the problems you ran into, especially the DHCP server limit aren't common.

No, they not common. I didn't even think to check that when I bought the EnGenius because every router I've owned over the last 5 years didn't have such a low limitation.

But, the VPN and DHCP issues are common with the 9850. The DHCP issue is confirmed as an issue by many, the VPN a lesser extent but it's out there.

If you'd like me to send you screenshots of the errors, let me know. I now feel a burning desire for you to believe something, anything, I say. It would make my day.

Go look at the Router Charts and pick a NETGEAR or Cisco/Linksys router that has the speed and connections you need. Since you don't need wireless go for the cheapest.

Thanks. I've done that already but was hoping for some personal experiences of others.

For your VPN issue, you may have to try a few routers to find one that works. All depends on how good their pass-thru implementations are and whether there is any special handling required for your particular VPN.

I'd be surprised if the VPN I'm using is special. It uses a Nortel client, it's worked on every router / isp I've had for the last 8 years.

Thanks for you help, it's been truly invaluable.

 

[BostonDan]

Gigabit WAN. .

I think you are looking for Gigabit LAN, not WAN ports.

Regarding your comment on the DHCP reservation table hitting its limit , I've been experiencing the same problem with my Dlink DIR-655. I called Dlink and their support team stated that their consumer routers are only intended to support 10-15 DHCP reservations. Mine hit the limit at 17 and then rebooted itself every time I tried to add device 18, ever saving device 18. Cisco support stated that their new E series routers will support 50, but I haven't tested this and would appreciate feedback if you are able to setup a router with more than 20 DHCP reservations.

 

[dalben]

Gigabit WAN is what I am after.

I just pulled the old DIR-655 out of the cupboard and plugged it in. HW Rev A3 and Firmware 1.34NA

I have 23 DHCP Resverations now. I added 2 more just to see what would happen and no issue so far.

 

[JoeJoe]

Get one of these WNR3500L routers and install Tomato on it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122334

 

[BostonDan]

Gigabit WAN is what I am after.

I just pulled the old DIR-655 out of the cupboard and plugged it in. HW Rev A3 and Firmware 1.34NA

I have 23 DHCP Resverations now. I added 2 more just to see what would happen and no issue so far.

Thanks Dalben for the response - I noticed my firmware was from 2008 (I didn't write it down before updating) and also using HW REv A3. I just updated it to the latest and will be adding my clients back in this evening. Hopefully this works and saves me the cost of buying new hardware.

Giabit WAN, WOW - how expensive is your ISP for that type of bandwidth.
Best of luck -Dan

 

[dalben]

Get one of these WNR3500L routers and install Tomato on it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122334

Cheers. DD-WRT or Tomato is something I want to look at.

DD-WRT boys are actually looking at porting DD-WRT to the EnGenius 9850 so maybe that may end up being the best solution for me long term and I'll keep the DIR-655 in place for now.