Wireless N Router which supports "simultaneous" use of USB Printer and NAS Hard Drive

[TechieDub]

I am looking for a N Wireless Router (pref Dual Band) which supports "simultaneous" use of a USB Printer (Dell All in One 962) and a NAS (2TB LaCie Network Space 2 with Ethernet and Hi-Speed USB)

I would like to connect the NAS to the ethernet port and the printer to the USB port of the router. My OS is Vista Ultimate+Redhat Linux (Dual Boot) and might soon buy another laptop with Windows 7.

Should I go for an expensive router like Apple Airport Extreme or Asus RT-N16? How good is Edimax?

Any thing else that you would suggest which is Windows & LINUX compatible?

[ChaosSystem]

Draytek make routers that you can use USB printers on. I don't think you will be able to get the full use of you All-in-one across a network. I think scanning is not supported.

Most of you routers will support NAS (NETWORK Attached Storage) via ethernet.
All routers would work with Windows and Linux except for some with badly designed Web interfaces that only work correctly under Internet Explorer.

[razer121]

There is an ASUS one that supports that feature.....i own it but i've couldnt tell you it's name as im not at home! but it is in the argos cat and is the highest price one.

[TechieDub]

There is an ASUS one that supports that feature.....i own it but i've couldnt tell you it's name as im not at home! but it is in the argos cat and is the highest price one.

I have just send a mail to ASUS support to see whether there is any luck!

[razer121]

Good stuff, dont exspect a speedy reply though XD Anyway its the ASUS DSL-N13 which i now own (best router i've ever owned TBH and i've gone through alot recently!) Pretty sure it supports what you need

[TechieDub]

Ya, From the specification shown on ASUS website both N13U and RT-N16 should support a USb printer and NAS

[Splash]

Good stuff, dont exspect a speedy reply though XD Anyway its the ASUS DSL-N13 which i now own (best router i've ever owned TBH and i've gone through alot recently!) Pretty sure it supports what you need

All working on O2 now then?

[razer121]

All working on O2 now then?

Beautifully, my ping doesnt go all over the place anymore either thank god

[TechieDub]

From some research i found that only very few Wireless routers would support what I need. some of them are the following:
1. D-Link DIR-855 Wireless N Quadband Router - 149 Euro
2. D-Link DIR-825 N Router -
3. Draytek Vigor2820 Dual WAN router - 240 Euro (Expensive!)
4. Draytek Vigor 2920, 2920n, 2920vn

Eventhough I have send an email to ASUS they havent come back to me whether their N16 and N13U meet my requirements.

[razer121]

From som...snip...end an email to ASUS they havent come back to me whether their N16 and N13U meet my requirements.

As exspected, TBH i've found there customer support sucks big time...i wonder why?

[gss03]

if you are looking to hang a USB printer and USB hard disk off a Draytek 2820 (plain, n or Vn varieties) AFAIK you can do this if you plug both devices into a powered USB hub.
As mentioned already I don't think the scanner will work in this configuration. You'll just be able to print.

[TechieDub]

Got the Dlink DIR-855 2 days back and tried it.

GOOD:
Detected the USB printer with out any problems using the Shareport utility. Even scan and fax functionalities are available.
NAS drive works fine

BAD:
Very poor wireless coverage and signal strength. The router is upstairs and I am getting very poor signal just one floor down even with 2.4 GHz. The 5 GHz is even worse. If the signal strength of a wireless router it is no good.
Web interface is bit confusing

CONCLUSION:
Going to return this and try either Netgear WNDR3700 (prefer bec of linux support) or LinkSys e3000 and forget about the USB printer connectivity for now. Not brave enough to try the Belkin Play Max which has 2 usb ports.

Question to those who used Netgear WNDR3700
Does this one have a good signal strength and coverage?

[razer121]

Can i just point out the ASUS has good coverage

[TechieDub]

Can i just point out the ASUS has good coverage

Which one would you suggest?

[razer121]

Well i would suggest the ASUS RT-N16 personaly as i've used there low end one, which although has good coverage (was able to go into my back garden and still have a solid signal) was not able to link upto my broadband hench the reason i bought there top end one. It has been solid since buying, even on wireless im able to game with perfect results

Also not to big it up to much but, i've gone through belkin and netgears and thomson and honestly none held the own compared to the ASUS, which also hasnt dropped the connection once for me,

Sorry not trying to hijack your thread, i suspect this would help in you making your decision aswell.

[TechieDub]

Thanks razer121...