Belkin or Netgear???

[Camrada]

I have always used netgear routers/modems and have had no problems with them to date. I am now looking at getting a new wireless-n router. It will need to have wired gigabit network ports and the usual security options. I am looking at the following 2 devices and would appreciate any incite you good folks can offer on which you think is better?

(xyz to replace www)

Netgear WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless CableDSL Gigabit Router
xyz.ebuyer.com/product/114314
xyz.netgear.co.uk/rangemaxnext_wirelessrouters_wnr854t.php

Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Router
xyz.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-N1-Vision-Wireless-Router/dp/B000XRZOWO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1206908883&sr=8-1
catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=379601

Technical-wise there seems to be very little between them, and if it is just a "which is sexier" thing, then I'm leaning towards the belkin...

What do you think???

Many thanks, chris.

[peterb]

I've only had a very quick look at the specs. Personally I would go for the Linksys on the basis of reputation - it also slightly cheaper - probably because you are not paying for the (imho) gimmicky front panel display. At the end of the day, they will probably both do what you want - which is act as a cable router with a wireless connection. Both seem to have reasonable customer reviews on Amazon. Is the bling worth ann extra £12? It wouldn't be to me.

[burble]

I'd choose a carrier pigeon over Belkin networking stuff - it's dire.

Don't rule out a particular router just because it only has a 10/100 switch. Gigabit switches are pretty cheap these days and personally I'd prefer to have a better router with a seperate GigE switch than conpromise just to have it all in a single box.

[Zadock]

*note the list of porcupine tree tracks in the sig*

burble, you have very good music taste

[usxhe190]

do not use Belkin. They are not a reputed networking company.

[burble]

*note the list of porcupine tree tracks in the sig*

burble, you have very good music taste

Thanks Click on my sig and you'll find that I listen to a fait bit of PT

[Camrada]

many thanks for the comments much appreciated

[Zadock]

Thanks Click on my sig and you'll find that I listen to a fait bit of PT

Got "Nil Recurring"? its brilliant. the version of "normal" on that EP is quality... it hums along all acoustic with a bit of electric rhythm and then all of a sudden you get a wake up call in the form of a really heavy guitar solo for about 20 seconds and then it turns folky its nuts! love PT. They keep surprising me.

I'll shut up now or I'm in danger of hijacking the thread

[burble]

Oh yes, got it and heard most of it live last time they toured.

Do you have 'We Lost The Skyline"? It's the recording from an acoustic set played in a shop in Florida (I think) which ended up having just Steven Wilson and Wes playing for some reason or another. That's well worth picking up.

[yanansi]

vote for netgear. belkin sxxks

[peterb]

vote for netgear. belkin sxxks

What particular problems have you had with this (or other) Belkin routers? The info might be useful to the OP.

[b0ned0me]

Can I just chime in with more Belkin hate? The only half-decent network stuff they do is cabling - which is massively overpriced.
I had a Belkin wireless router a few years back and it was so pash (overheating, crashes, line drops, rubbish wireless) that I binned it and bought a Draytek. Similarly a PCMCIA 11b card had crappy drivers, poor performance, and was unreliable as my arse after a bad kebab. Their customer support is also laughable.

I have always used netgear routers/modems and have had no problems with them to date

Why change a winning combination?

[Pup]

I'd choose a carrier pigeon over Belkin networking stuff - it's dire.

I'd certainly agree with that. I wouldnt say I had a wealth of experience with Belkin, but a brother in law (router and wireless cards) and a mate (router) have both had no end of trouble with theirs, generally dropping connection and crap wireless range. My mates one was so bad that it was dropping his connection through a wired connection, after loads of messing and trying stuff I told him to bin it and go get a Linksys - installed it without changing anything else and not had a dropout since.

As for netgear, my first router I had with them years ago had loads of problems with me hosting HLTV (half life tv), but fortunately I had a mate who worked for them which got me some pretty decent 1on1 support from them, which ended up with them sending me a different model at no extra charge which has done me nicely for the last 5/6 years. Only recently switched to a Linksys router since I want to go wireless with my main pc as well as my lappy, and the netgear router I had only supported 802.11b

[finlay666]

Linksys of buffalo ftw

Netgear is ok, but the stuff can be incompatible (such as the cable routers...on cable) and belkin just suck in terms of quality and reliability

[Hicks12]

id say netgear. I always used net gear and only when my router died(was a refurb) after about 5-6years the wireless would cut out and sometimes not connect, wired fine. Saw a belkin router in pcworld as we were using the collect instore thing and didnt have ours, we got a £15 discount ontop of the offer price(paid £35) and it was absolutely crap, installed fine after using their software(first time i needed software for a router) and the wired connection would drop every 5mins roughly, wireless was good but not the best, emailed their support which took them just over a week to reply, no luck and i got a replacement just incase but still the same issue so went back again and talked too the customer support guy again and managed too get a decent netgear one for £35 when it was actually £80 and not on offer(same price as the belkin normally) and it worked first time and no issues at all and still using today, wireless is great too very strong as it has too go from the bottom front of the house too the top rear( about 5 walls).

Just get netgear and do yourself a favor by not getting belkin, unless its cables then its ok(just not from pcworld @ £20 for 2meters)>

[gss03]

You get what you pay for

Draytek Vigor 2820 for ADSL
Draytek Vigor 2910 for Cable

Both are excellent bits of kit and the support is absolutely fantastic should you ever need to call them! - Zak33 raves about Draytek kit usually ;-)