Thinking about joining Virgin + Linksys WRT54GL + Firmware

[mike86]

Hi,

I'm thinking about getting Broadband XL (20Mb) in August/September. I have a few questions that I was hoping somebody could answer

My ADSL connection will be cancelled in June. I can't afford to pay nearly £40 for two months for broadband for myself. I was thinking I should get 2Mb for July and August, and then in September when my housemates move in, we want 20Mb. Do Virgin allow you to upgrade like that? Would the modem I received with the 2Mb package be capable of handling 20Mb speeds?

We will also need a wireless router. I would like to get a Linksys WRT54G* router. After looking on eBuyer and the specs on Wikipedia, I feel that WRT54GL is the best one I could buy new. Would I be better off getting one of the older models with 32Mb of RAM from eBay?

Is this router capable of pushing out 20Mbps? My cheap D-Link can almost do 20Mbps when transferring files between machines, so I imagine it can. Are there any third party firmwares that allow you to monitor bandwidth usage between WAN and WLAN machines? That would be useful considering the new usage caps.

TIA,
Mike

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by mike86

Hi,

I'm thinking about getting Broadband XL (20Mb) in August/September. I have a few questions that I was hoping somebody could answer

My ADSL connection will be cancelled in June. I can't afford to pay nearly £40 for two months for broadband for myself. I was thinking I should get 2Mb for July and August, and then in September when my housemates move in, we want 20Mb. Do Virgin allow you to upgrade like that? Would the modem I received with the 2Mb package be capable of handling 20Mb speeds?

Yep, they'll let you upgrade. Dunno what modem you'll get, so can't say. Maybe a VM bod can answer that one.

Originally Posted by mike86

We will also need a wireless router. I would like to get a Linksys WRT54G* router. After looking on eBuyer and the specs on Wikipedia, I feel that WRT54GL is the best one I could buy new. Would I be better off getting one of the older models with 32Mb of RAM from eBay?

I've got a recent WRT54GL from overclockers. I'm guessing you're choosing this model so you can run a 3rd party firmware..? If so, the newer ones will allow you to run it fine - I'm using dd-wrt, for what it's worth, and it works flawlessly.

Originally Posted by mike86

Is this router capable of pushing out 20Mbps? My cheap D-Link can almost do 20Mbps when transferring files between machines, so I imagine it can. Are there any third party firmwares that allow you to monitor bandwidth usage between WAN and WLAN machines? That would be useful considering the new usage caps.

The router will handle it fine - make sure the modem that you get from NTL can handle 20Mbit, but the router will handle it easily. There is an add-on for dd-wrt that you can use - have a look here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/BWlog

[vbnmu]

if ur nt going for a 3rd party firmware then it might b worth checking this one:
http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/prod...ba9be2aed729a4

I recently bought it and so far seems very good! Its a tad bit fiddly at start bt u quickly get used to it. Its one the cheapest and if u go for that exact model, thats the website to get it from. they have iit cheaper than anyone.

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by vbnmu

if ur nt going for a 3rd party firmware then it might b worth checking this one:
http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/prod...ba9be2aed729a4

I recently bought it and so far seems very good! Its a tad bit fiddly at start bt u quickly get used to it. Its one the cheapest and if u go for that exact model, thats the website to get it from. they have iit cheaper than anyone.

Which also is supported by DD-WRT

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php...and_WZR-RS-G54

[vbnmu]

Originally Posted by Druchii

Which also is supported by DD-WRT

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php...and_WZR-RS-G54

But it does say flash firmware at your own risk! and as i havn't done it myself, I was careful nt to mention it!
Btw am in the loft and signal is still pretty good downstairs in the living room!

---------- Post added at 23:03 ---------- Previous post was at 23:02 ----------

I think I was a bit stupid tho! It does say FIRMWARE on the post title!
ummm.....

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by vbnmu

But it does say flash firmware at your own risk! and as i havn't done it myself, I was careful nt to mention it!
Btw am in the loft and signal is still pretty good downstairs in the living room!

---------- Post added at 23:03 ---------- Previous post was at 23:02 ----------

I think I was a bit stupid tho! It does say FIRMWARE on the post title!
ummm.....

Don't worry about it I know a lot of people who would just take it back to the shop and said it was bricked during a firmware upgrade. Which should get it replaced. At least i think so