What router to use with Time Machine

I've had various routers over the past few years from crappy ISP provided units, to simple commercial units to (recently) a Netgear "business" class router. All of them have either offered limited functionality and/or been unreliable.

The most reliable and best router I've had is actually the Airport Extreme - thoroughly recommended even if a little more expensive - and the one I rely on today

If you do look at a refurbished unit, check that it is the newer Dual band version. They offer both 5GHz and 2.4GHz access which is great for both coverage and performance. Plus you get the option of setting up a Guest network so that guest users can have internet access without accessing your local network.

Other than that - consider the newer netgear Routers like the WNDR3700 which many have reported good success with.

Or if you're so inclined, anything that can run dd-wrt firmware

Some good suggestions, there. Many thanks. I have an old Linksys WRT54G running dd-wrt but it really is old and doesn't even support Wireless N, never mind dual band so I'm not inclined to dig it out of the drawer. I also have a Netgear FVG318 lying around which I might try but it was very unreliable when I used it connected to Virgin cable. Perhaps the Airport Extreme is the best option as I see that the refurbished ones offer simultaneous dual band support.

Give it a few hours - you might get some good alternative suggestions. I can only advise you on what I've experienced or been advised myself

I'd recommend that you also go for a router with Gigabit ports though - neither the WRT54G nor the FVG318 offer that. The Duo is not so fast, but a GigE connection should more than double your current wireline performance. (BT Hub does have 10/100 ports right?)

Also a good wireless N router can actually outperform a 10/100 connection, so to buy/use any Wireless N router without gigabit ports is unnecessarily limiting

Thanks again. Strangely the BT Home Hub 3.0 has just one Gigabit port. I've never understood the logic of having just one such port as surely if a device is connected to that port, then any other device trying to connect to it is constrained by having only 10/100 ports available? Although presumably a Gigabit switch connected to the Gigabit port would work and I need more than four ports as I have two printers, the ReadyNAS and a Powerline device to connect as well as needing to have a port free for connecting a computer when necessary.

But as you say, perhaps there will be other suggestions.

Strangely the BT Home Hub 3.0 has just one Gigabit port. I've never understood the logic of having just one such port

Agreed - that makes no sense at all. Unless the fibre optic connection was providing you >100MBps WAN connection

The router doesn't need a gigabit port for your to be able to connect a gigabit switch. And even with one it woudl make very little performance difference as the point of a switch is to avoid traffic going through the router

There is one point to consider with the AEBS though - it only has 4 ports, not 4 LAN ports and one WAN port like many other routers. One of the AEBS ports is used as a WAN or a LAN port, depending on how you set it up

Good point about the Gigabit switch - clearly it doesn't need to be connected to a Gigabit port to work at Gigabit speeds. And for sure I'd need a switch with the AEBS as it has, as you point out, only three LAN ports when connected to a modem via its WAN port. And re the Gigabit port on the BT Home Hub, it isn't fibre to the house, just to the cabinet, so a 10/100 is more than enough as the max download speed I have is about 20 Mbs.

I would recommend the newest Airport Extreme base station. I have used all of the previous generation AEBS and have always been pleased.
Hope this helps.
bigbearf

Thanks, BigBearf. The advice is certainly in favour of the AEBS.