Ideas on Modem or Modem routers

[SE14man]

Hey people.

Am considering a new Modem or Modem Router.

Am currently using a Modem which is a netgear DM111PSP but am changing ISP and want to get a new modem also.

Or would i be best off getting a Modem router.

Am i right that with just the standard modems i dont have to forward ports all the time with software?

Or am i much better off and safer with a modem router?

Are there particular brands i should go for and if so what would you lot recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[usually_quiet]

I can't really answer your question, but if your ISP has a list of supported products, you should make your choice from that list. It might help members with experience in this area if you gave some details regarding the DSL service you will have.

[dragonkeeper]

I would check out dd-wrt, it would give you some idea of the capabilities of various modems. I using a wrt with a firmware update from them , with the modems current capabilities it would be hard to beat with an off the shelf consumer grade modem.

[johns0]

If you want more bandwidth with your new isp then you might need to get a newer modem router anyways.

Regular modems dont require port forwarding.Cisco is the best i found with routers.

[SE14man]

Hey thnaks for your replies.

Thats exactly what im after something which i dont have to be continously forwarding ports onto every time my ip changes.

So a modem would be ideal i suppose. I think the only downside to that though is the fact i cant connect to them via my mobile phone internet wirelessly hence it being just a modem!

I'm actually in Australia with TPG internet so im htinking i could maybe email TPG and ask for their list of supported modems.

Yes ive heard cicsco are good too i fit them into the supermarkets out here and they use a lot of cisco products.

Thanks will get onto my ISP about this now.

appreciate everyones advice.

[Bjs]

Am i right that with just the standard modems i dont have to forward ports all the time with software?

A: Both actually require port forwarding for particular services

Or am i much better off and safer with a modem router?

A: Both are equal, to be 100% safe means not to connect to net.

Are there particular brands i should go for and if so what would you lot recommend?

A: What is it you would like to be able to do ???

A combination unit ... modem, 4 network ports 10/100/1000, wifi ... possible 3g/4g support ... gives you a lot of options ... if you want wifi with grunt, distance and punch, go with tplink unit using 5dbi wifi output ... nothing else comes close.

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Changing bandwidth speeds has nothing to do with modem / modem router choice.

[dragonkeeper]

Am i right that with just the standard modems i dont have to forward ports all the time with software?

A: Both actually require port forwarding for particular services.

With the routers I used in the past I only had to initially set up port forwarding. The router managed it after that, I live in the south where we use PPOE type DSL and my IP changes regularly.

Or am i much better off and safer with a modem router?

A: Both are equal, to be 100% safe means not to connect to net.

While i do agree with the only way to be safe is not to connect the two are not equal in terms of safety. Most of the better routers offer a hardware firewall, DOS protection. They also offer MAC filtering (only devices with MAC address you specify can connect to your network). I'm not sure if modems only offer the same protection.

Are there particular brands i should go for and if so what would you lot recommend?

A: What is it you would like to be able to do ???

A combination unit ... modem, 4 network ports 10/100/1000, wifi ... possible 3g/4g support ... gives you a lot of options ... if you want wifi with grunt, distance and punch, go with tplink unit using 5dbi wifi output ... nothing else comes close.

The WRT54GL is the most reviewed (3600+ with 3000 users giving unit 5 stars) and highest rated router (5 Stars) on Newegg. But note this is unit only has 10/100 network capabilities, and is capable of 54mbs wireless network speeds. If you need gigabit connectivity or will be transferring large amounts of data wirelessly look at some thing else.