any advantage to getting a new wireless router

[FreeButtonBee]

I have a fairly average router which was free with my broadband (Sky) - I think it's a belkin one and is about 3 years old now.

We have an iMac, Ipad, couple of DAB/internet radios which also act as music players (ie stream via wifi from iMac) plus an apple tv. Also have iphones linked in as well. So the wifi is getting a fair amount of abuse day to day.

What would be advantages of getting a new router? The current one freezes every now and then (but not more than once a month so not particualrly critical) and needs turning off and then on again (in true classic IT person fashion!). But it's fairly functional.

according to Which magazine it can make a huge difference, I'll see if I can find the text for you.

Ooh, Ponders that would be great. Thanks.

oh, it's only this bit:

'Change your router to boost broadband speed
Upgrading your wireless broadband router could make a real difference to the speed of your broadband connection, especially if your current router is a few years old.
You could also try replacing the router's aerial ? the longer the aerial, the better the signal and the further its reach.'

They only have 2 recommended ones though, quite expensive:

Apple AirPort Extreme new (£142)
Linksys E2000 (£61)

Might be worth looking in a couple of computer magazines

\link{http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/index.cfm?prodcatid=51\router reviews from PC Advisor}

Looks as if they're mostly either side of £100 although there is a TP-Link one for £0+ which gets a lot of stars

(this is all a bit techy for me )

Yes, this is veering quite far into the techy world for me too. Those reviews mean nothing to me.

Hmm. So it could help boost my broadband speed (which is okay but not exactly laser fast). Will have a think.

Anyone else?

The connection speed between you and exchange might not change (partly depends on distance to exchange).

For the 'reset the router' situation, there are mains power controls (mechanical or electronic) where you could drop power once per week (eg 4am on Sundays) so no need for it to 'lock up' during normal use.

If you are using wireless to link everything then you are guaranteed 'collisions' - whereas individual cables from a router will give each device a dedicated connection and can limit problems, the wi-fi can only transmit a packet (which any device can receive) one at a time. So if router transmits a packet of data to Apple TV, nothing else can send or receive data.

Compare a number of people in a hall shouting their names... if two try at once then others hear neither distinctly, just a mixture of both. If they were shouting their names down tubes to a bank of listeners, there would be no 'mixture' heard so they could all shout more frequently without problems.

In your case, where some devices are in fixed locations, you could use 'data over mains' (HomePlugs) to keep their traffic from congesting the wi-fi. If that's not a desirable option, you could have a second wi-fi base (a WAP [Wireless Access Point]) plugged in by cable to your router, and using a different wi-fi channel. Then distribute devices to spread load onto both wi-fi boxes (router and WAP).

Personally I use cables, like to see a flickering light as simple confirmation connection is working, but know for 'style' reasons, many don't like cables!