> I'm doing some research to replace my aging/slow equipment [...]
I wouldn't replace anything before determining where the bottleneck
is.
> I believe i've narrowed it down to the Netgear D7000 Nighthawk AC1900
> Modem/Router [...]
I'd be careful. I have a D7000[v1], which, with the latest firmware
(V1.0.1.74_1.0.1), freezes after a couple of months of continuous
(otherwise satisfactory) operation. Judging from posts here, the newer
hardware variant (D7000v2) seems to have more firmware problems than the
D7000[v1].
Note: It just froze again while I was editing this post. See:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1706952
> I currently have a Sagemcom 4300(Eithernet ADSL) Modem (supplied by
> Windstream years ago) [...]
How fast is your DSL service? According to the modem, how fast is
its DSL link? Is there any evidence that a faster modem would improve
anything?
> [...] attached to a Belkin Wireless G Plus MIMO Router (10+ years old)
> [...]
That's not a model number, but it sounds like a boat anchor. Whether
it's a bottleneck is hard to say without some detail on your actual
service speed and what you observe when you do whatever you're doing.
"g" is certainly a couple of generations behind current wireless ("ac").
I'd guess slow ("Fast"?) Ethernet, too.
> [...] My ISP connection is fairly simple - copper 2wire from road to
> house, ADSL2+, DOCSIS, Not GBond.
DOCSIS is a cable-TV term; nothing to do with DSL, so far as I know.
Netgear DSL stuff doesn't do "bonded":
https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1802193
An old, slow DSL modem might still be a good fit for your old, slow
DSL service. I'd probably replace the old, slow router with something
better, possibly made by Netgear, but recent Netgear firmware releases
for many router models have been disappointing (to be polite). I'd
search these forums for complaints about any model before buying
anything.
Using separate modem and router units gives you more flexibility when
it's time to upgrade/replace one piece. Note, too, that an R7000
(router-only) has more features than a (comparable DSL modem+router)
D7000[vX].
