New Router replacement

Streaming Audio
1

My TP-Link Archer VR900 router, finally bit the dust. Unfortunately still stuck with Sky, while waiting to find a new home. However, they did send me for free their latest router, which I have to return when I end the contract (pain in the ass).

I have just spent the afternoon listening to JB Radio2 (Flac stream), which I have on many occasions. I have heard many of the playlist, numerous times. So in view that, Sky give you the router for nothing, I was not expecting much, as I also used a Ifi Elite power supply with the Archer.

I could not be more wrong. Very good step up in SQ, more than a lot of box changes I have made. I do not know if the Archer was carrying some kind of fault, being going to great router graveyard. I know the Archer was something like 17 years old in design.

All I can say, is anyone with an older router. Try and replace it with a more modern design, then try streaming some music. You have nothing to lose, yet everything to gain. :blush:

5 Likes
2

no they don’t

Martin

3

Yes in the true sense of the word, you are correct. I was just trying to show, that probably not one of the best routers, makes such a difference. :blush:

4

We don’t stream any more but we had (and still do) a BT Smart Hub 2. I found that the power supply and what the router was placed on had a sigificant effect on the sound. It sounded best with the supplied SMPS rather than a LPS. Not having room for a dedicated hi-fi rack, which would have been my first choice, I made a small acrylic platform to support it and although I experimented quite extensively here I’ve since found nothing any better than this.

Lots of people seem very sceptical about the possibility of a router affecting sound quality. I’ve never understood why as it seems entirely logical to me that it should. Although there is now no connection between the router and the hi-fi (we use only CD) it still affects the sound. Why? Because it’s plugged into the same ring mains and it’s noisy and microphonic. Ours is fed from a Chord S6 mains block/Epic mains cable and has two Chord Ground Arays plugged into it to help minimise noise. This all helps a lot - and as I say, it isn’t even connected to the hi-fi in any way and all wireless functionality is disabled.

1 Like
5

Possibly, why it gets ignored, is it is one of those items you fit and forget. However Pete, like you wrote, when you think about it, it does make sense. :blush:

2 Likes
6

I set the router provided by Virgin Medua in “Modem Mode” where it disables the internal switch and outputs WAN on one RJ45 connection and limits what this This is then processed in a Cisco VPN Router, that provides the WAN → LAN processing, including NAT, DHCP, Firewall, IPS.
Much better performance than CPE equipment

1 Like
7

Have I opened a Pandora’s box here??? :blush:

2 Likes
8

Standard Sky Hub here. Added an iFi filter some months back. Goodness.

2 Likes
9

Don’t think so, it is well understood that ISP provided equipment is pretty poor.
Bought to a price, but perfectly acceptable to a regular households, etc.

For instance the Router I got from Virgin Media limits the number of IP addresses allowed to be connected to the internet to 10 devices, which is completely outside my requirements.

10

Our ISP-supplied FritzBox router has performed well and been reliable over several years (hope that hasn’t jinxed it!) There’s a useful dashboard for monitoring and configuration and it doesn’t limit the number of devices that can connect to internet. My only complaint is that it’s a slightly awkward shape to accommodate on the small shelf where it lives.

Roger

2 Likes
11

From memory , one of the best router is from Ubiquiti.

I haven’t tried because here in France you can’t change the router. I tried recently and Ifi power elite on it but preferred without.

12

I have an Ubiquiti next to my Orange box

13

Really? Or do you mean the incoming fiber box converter that the provider of the infrastructure is responsible for (is so in Sweden)?

14

You could normally place the ISP proved box in “Modem Mode” “Bypass”, “Bridge” mode

Yes, Ubiquiti have established themselves with very capable networking solutions.
They were just WiFi AP when I got the current Cisco VPN Router, as the previous one didn’t have the throughput for a 1Gbps ISP service.
I have their U7 Pro Wall WiFi AP, which is excellent.
I can get the full 1 Gbps download capability on WiFi 7/6E devices (iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro 11 M5, MB Air M4) and 600 Mbps on WiFi 5 devices, with specialised support for legacy WiFi 4 and IoT devices.

1 Like
15

Why ? What does it bring ? If you have a quality switch after the box ( SFR for me), what does a second router, as the box is already a router.

But please, explain me with the simplest words

1 Like
16

The “ box “comes with the phone, internet, WiFi and tv channels, you pay for the all service per month. Maybe some tekies can add a router , but haven’t heard of that in french forums.

17

Faster throughput, better Firewall, Intrusion protection, site-to-site VPN
More work related things, but overall just maximising the service from the ISP

18

Only sound quality is of interest for me. No VPN , no intrusion, no need. Firewall, what is it?

19

Firewall and IPS prevents bad actors on the Internet from hacking into your devices on your LAN, ie the other side of your NAT server.
Again not as relevant to regular home configurations, however when you start having servers (a streamer consuming internet streaming services is a server) or Network connected data stores are also embedded servers on your LAN.
Synology NAS devices have been targeted, in the past.

1 Like
20

I guess that someone who has a fortune placed on different bank accounts and countries, or secret informations stored in his computer or cloud, has no choice other than having these protections.

I sold my computer some months ago. Have just an IPad at home. Computer at my office, but the informations are not mine. Today’s, as you know, hospitals or public ministries, banks…are hijacked. Who cares of a stupid rooster?

2 Likes