[ubuntu-uk] What manufacturer wireless access point to buy?

[Chris Wright]

Adam McMaster wrote:
> On 08/03/07, Adam Bagnall <ajb35 at kent.ac.uk> wrote:
>> I'm using a Belkin router and it's forever crashing. My Dad has a
>> netgear router, which I believe is running Linux as it came with a copy
>> of the gpl in the box :-) Most routers have a web interface so they can
>> be configured under OSes other than Windows.
> 
> More importantly, did it come with a copy of the source?
> 

Netgear provide the source on its website these days.
I just replaced a DG834GT (which went up in smoke quite impressively), 
with a DG834N  (supports the unofficial 802.11n).

The only problem with the DG834N is that the syslog process dies after 
<30secs.

Netgear support is run in India, and you get a quick response from a 
representative, who then either asks you to ring the UK line, or they 
refer it level 2 support, who then later ask you to ring the UK line.

You ring the Non-Premium rate UK netgear line, which then gives you 4 
options, #1 for technical support. You select #1 and it says for 
Technical Support, please hang up and dial 0870...  So then you have to 
dial a NationalCall rate number which although as not as expensive as a 
Premium rate, will cost you upto 8pm/min, which after you do ring and 
wait 30mins does cost you an arm and a leg.

Functionally, it does what it says on the box, but what else is falling 
over I don't know.
Cost wise (over £100) I don't think it is worth it.
It's easy to telnet into the box once you have set it into Debug mode 
via a browser URL.

Chris