Help understanding modem v router, and what to upgrade

n1ckwylie on 21/05/2020 - 15:23

Hey guys,

I'm normally pretty tech savvy but all the networking research I'm doing is just making it more confusing. Can someone help break it down for me?

Scenario:
I'm on an NBN50 plan, FTTN, and the plan came with a Tplink VR500v modem/router. I have no idea whether that's good or not, but recently been having problems with packet loss when gaming, and also phones randomly losing internet, even though the wifi signal is still connected and strong. I hear that upgrading away from the basic modem/router that the NBN provider supplied can be good for this stuff.

Here's where I get confused. I hear that upgrading the router can fix these things, but then what about the modem? Do I just keep the old tplink device and use it as a modem, or would that be bottlenecking the signal and defeat the purpose of the upgrade?

I don't know if this an apt metaphor, but it sounds to me like upgrading your GPU, but still using your 20-year old monitor, effectively negating the upgrade.

So, should I be upgrading to a new router, and keep the old device as a modem? Or should I be upgrading both? Or should I be buying a new modem/router combo?

Thanks

Internet

Comments

  • MilkDrinker on 21/05/2020 - 15:38
    +3

    Modem connects to the internet and makes it usable from street.

    Router spreads the internet out, like to multiple computers+ wifi connectivity for wireless ~ipads etc.

    If you have literally only one internet device getting a modem only could work, but most go for modem/router combo device or modem AND router if they want more combinations.

    Packet loss could be an old device acting funny, could be a squished cable after someone rolled a couch over it etc. Could be heavy traffic on your internet providers line…so you can test some of it by speedtest.com and looking to see if your cables arent chewed on etc. Honestly I put my router with my netphone line as my main for a few months and was wondering where my problem was until I noticed, so there are many reasons it could be acting funny.

    Combo devices are common these days for ease of use so if after you contact your isp (internet provider) they couldnt find a problem then just buy one for $300 max and you should be fine for most tasks.

  • scrimshaw on 21/05/2020 - 15:43

    More testing is required before you can actually pin the blame of packet loss on your modem router. NBN congestion usually results in packet loss, if the network is too busy it's possible your ISP is simply dropping data packets rather than queuing them into the pipeline

    You can check for packet loss by pinging a server. Try connecting your PC to the TP-Link modem directly via ethernet (Not Wifi) and ping your ISP using windows powershell / terminal
    for e.g if you're on Telstra try

    ping telstra.com -n 30

    The test will run for short while and it'll tell you the statistics (latency and percentage of packet loss)

  • ToonarmY on 21/05/2020 - 15:45

    If you have an nbn box and need WiFi and multiple devices connected you only need a router connected to the NBN box.

    I bought a TP-Link Archer C3150 AC3150 to connect to mine rather than take the one the provider offered to sell me and my gaming has zero packet loss on Warzone

  • jimdotpud on 21/05/2020 - 16:04

    but recently been having problems with packet loss when gaming

    so you didn't have this problem in the beginning? Who is your ISP? how long have you been connected to NBN?

    Also bear in mind that tonnes of people are now "at home" and using more bandwidth than they normally would have.

  • Gunther on 21/05/2020 - 16:07

    The Tplink VR500v has terrible WiFi coverage and WiFi quality, I am talking from my personal TPG experience. I could only ever hit 30Mbps on a 100Mbps FTTB connection - and that was with the WiFi'd PC in the same room.

    Could explain the packet loss…

    • n1ckwylie on 22/05/2020 - 08:56

      Good to know someone else has a bad experience with that one. I don't generally have a problem with speed, still getting 44mbps most of the time, but the packet loss issues are rampant whenever i play rocket league.

      But yeah, sounds like the modem/router is kind of trash, so maybe time for a replacement anyway. What did you upgrade to?

  • shezx on 21/05/2020 - 16:09

    start with talking to your ISP, ping test to help narrow down where he packet losses are: ping from a device to your modem, ping from modem to 1.1.1.1.
    check dls stats on the modem, e.g. Sinal to Noise Ratio, packet drops, line faults and the like. hit up whirlpool forums for where it should be.

    most free devices that isps send arent great, but like someone said, it could be a whole bunch of things.

  • YadaYadaYada on 21/05/2020 - 17:28
    +1

    Did you try plugging an ethernet cable from your machine directly into the router and see if you still have any issues? If you did this at least you would eliminate any wifi issues.

    • n1ckwylie on 22/05/2020 - 08:54

      I haven't tried that yet, but based on some of the other comments, that sounds like a good first step towards troubleshooting, along with doing a ping test.

      That being said, still been having issues with phones losing internet despite being still connected to the wifi signal, so this would only fix my gaming issue.

      • YadaYadaYada on 22/05/2020 - 09:17

        I did some research on that router recently. I was almost going to get one, but there were various reports of great wifi signal only within 3m of where the device was. I went with the VR600V because it had better range, better broadcom chip and reviews.

        Best to diagnose the issue first before investing $$$ in any new device.

  • oscargamer on 22/05/2020 - 08:21

    Would the new Xiaomi Router AX1800 wifi 6 be a good replacement for the vr500v?

    Seems to have great reviews and cheap.

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