Solved Belkin - Who Has One

[LonnieMac]

Hello all,

A few weeks ago my Belkin F5D8233 router starting dying, dropping the wireless connection > requires reboots daily which steadily started increasing so I got in touch with Belkin with its warranty and they offered me a replacement which was the Belkin Play Max F7D4301. I've literally had it 3 days now and its disconnected from the net and dropped the wireless connection which required reboots to get it working again. Before accepting the replacement offer I read loads of reviews and they all stated the Surf, Share and Play routers in the UK range all have connection issues as well as heating up a bit. I've updated the firmware on the router, tried a few work arounds with its settings but it still does the same thing. I don't use the CD setup with routers as its plug and play with its web interface so I didn't bother but with the issues I tried with installation of set and the same happened.

I accepted replacement Play Max for my old faulty router because I came across 1 comment on amazon review that said the new firmware release fixed connection issues but thats obviously wrong, it looks fake and is a fake as it doesn't do what its suppose to do.

How can Belkin have a whole range that has major issues! A routers prime purpose is to split 1 IP into 'xxx' amount of IPs allowing loads of devices to connect to the internet at once. Its flawed before even taking it out the box.

Now, I've again got in touch with Belkin and hope for another replacement but I just cannot accept a router from the UK range,

http://www.belkin.com/uk/networking/compare/wireless-routers

they all have bad feedback and personal experience with the best router in the range pretty much summed it up. Not even a day old and it lost the connection once, second day it played up the whole day and now I'm onto the third, the day I've had it with a brand new router. It needs to go back.

Belkin have a new generation of routers but there only sold in the US at the moment if I'm correct,

http://www.belkin.com/networking/wireless-routers/compare/wireless-routers/

Could someone please correct me if I'm wrong, is the link above to the new generation of routers Belkins has made? I've googled the range and I haven't found one review on amazon or any other site suggesting it drops the connection, heats up or needs several reboots.

Lastly as the title stats, has anyone got a play max - or better yet one from the new US range? Could you please offer your opinions on this please, I need this fake plastic tin replaced and as I have this warranty, I might as well get a working replacement from Belkin rather than buy another brand but this is incredible.

 

[ibshaw]

Save yourself time - if under warranty you have the right to a refund under "not fit for purpose" and buy another make ? I recommend Netgear - I have had many and never had a problem with any of them, easy to setup, use and just keep working !!!.

 

[HQuest]

It may sound as a "fanboy" statement, but the best home router I've ever used, hands down, is an Apple Airport Extreme. This piece of hardware is truly amazing. If you can afford one, give it a try.

I once had a Belkin, FD5430 or something like that. A pretty old wireless router, it was pretty decent. Another good option, with some mixed reviews, are the Linksys routers. I also have one - it is in fact my DSL modem - but I do use only as a modem. My current AEBS still beats it.

 

[Nigsy]

Save yourself time - if under warranty you have the right to a refund under "not fit for purpose" and buy another make ? I recommend Netgear - I have had many and never had a problem with any of them, easy to setup, use and just keep working !!!.

Doesn't even have to be under warranty for that piece of legislation to work:

Item must last a reasonable amount of time for the purpose it was designed.


Also go for a Linksys router, just my opinion.

 

[LonnieMac]

thanks for replies.

Belkins refused to send me the new US range router, they said the US distribution centre cannot post anything to anyone outside the states, only the European distribution centre can send me a replacement. I've given up and asked for a refund but now they want my receipt which I've lost. I was willing to stay a Belkins customer but reboots daily? unstable connection, no thanks.

I've googled till I got a bad headache, the routers I'm currently looking at are;

Not completely sure these ZyXELs support IPv6 but anyway,

ZyXEL NBG4604 or NBG4615
Problem with this is not many people are selling this model plus I'd rather it in black.

ZyXEL NBG-419N
Has excellent reviews but doesn't support gigabit

Netgear, D-Link, Buffalo, Linksys all make my mind spin, not sure which one to get.

 

[HQuest]

More points to the AEBS score: 4 GbE ports, 802.11n in 2.4 and 5GHz bands - simultanously, USB disk and printer sharing, IPv6 support. Unfortunately, white only.

On the Linksys, go for the E series.

 

[LonnieMac]

I was considering the apple router but I've come across TP-Links extreme gigabit, I'm going to give that a shot.

 

[mrobjo]

I had a belkin n+ router,it was the worst thing i ever bough in my life,i had it a week and sold it,my talktalk wireless n router is so much better.

 

[TOMxEU]

Well, I have Belkin Surf+ 300 N+, it is my first router ever and it workes just great, never had any problems with it. Have you tried to play with settings like change channels, use 5 GHz, turn off DHCP and so on?

I am not surprised, that the most expensive version has the most issues, since more features = more problems. There is nothing like a gaming router, if the connection is stable the ping is the same, whenever it costs €10 or €1000.

 

[LonnieMac]

tried all sorts mate, loads of work arounds its still a fake plastic tin. I just want a refund now, I'm tired being loyal to Belkin. I'll get the tp link and be done with it, tp links much better anyway

 

[linnemeyerhere]

LonnieMac,
Hold up there son. Belkin makes and warrants a great product. Are you still using the default network name and password if so then you'll want to change it. I've owned a Belkin router for years and when it finally quit all I did was call and they sent me a new N wireless unit for free as they had lifetime warranty's. Anytime 24/7 I needed help they were there.....I challenge you to try that with any other make! So hang in there and work with Belkin and if needed please escalate the incident and speak with higher representative.

 

[LonnieMac]

linnemeyerhere

I've been really impressed with Belkins support their great. Who else would take your faulty old N router and hand you a replacement thats the best in their current range? I completely agree I wont get the same service if I change to another brand but I'm tired of trying work arounds. I've tried a lot to get it working mate - settings > password, network name etc. - scanned my area for an unused channel etc. its just a piece of junk, keeps dropping my net connection, wireless unstable and heating up... of course having to reboot the thing for it to work correctly again.

Their new router range in the US

http://www.belkin.com/networking/wireless-routers/compare/wireless-routers/

seem to be really good. I've not come across one comment suggesting it drops the net connection, heats up, requires several reboots for it to work but Belkin UK are unable to send me it as a replacement as its US only.

I've asked for a refund but also mentioned I don't want to end having a Belkin router. Its probably unlikely that they will somehow agree to send me the US range router so I'll probably end up having to move brands and get a working router.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

LonnieMac,
Well if you're tired of Belkin and must change then consider a Linksys. Cisco isn't the leader of the wireless world for nothing but I don't think there customer support like all the others, Dlink and the rest can hold a candle to Belkin but I'm beating a dead horse as they say.....good luck.

 

[LonnieMac]

Belkin have agreed to refund me.

I'm looking to go for the TP Link as a replacement but before I do as you've suggested linksys, is there a linksys router thats better than > Welcome to TP-LINK

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Performance/Style/Reliability

Linksys E4200 - Maximum Performance Wireless N Router - Cisco Home Products Store

http://biz.tigerdirect.com/applicat...s.asp?EdpNo=254158&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS#tabs

http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys...EZDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309895000&sr=8-1

 

[LonnieMac]

looks great and the price tag justifies what your getting but its still a bit too expensive for a router. the tp-link on the other hand is pretty cheap and slightly similar... I think.

Take a look at this if you have time mate, (translate using Google)

TP-Link TL-WR1043ND review door Nivk | Core | Tweakers.net Productreviews

 

[linnemeyerhere]

It's nice, here's the D-Link version.
Welcome to the D-Link Solutions Center at TigerDirect

 

[LonnieMac]

right I'm a bit confused. I've seen the tp link for around 40£. what would you recommend for 40£ mate

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Did a conversion rate and this just goes over a bit @ 49 pounds.
D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme Gigabit Wireless Router - 300Mbps, 802.11n (Draft N) DIR655 at TigerDirect
This one is right at the budget.
D-Link DIR-632 Wireless N 8-Port Router - 300Mbps, 802.11n, 8-Port 10100 Switch DIR632 at TigerDirect
This comes in well under at 34 pounds
Linksys E1200 Wireless-N Router - up to 300 Mbps, 4x Ports, Wireless-N at TigerDirect
Unfortunately Tiger doesn't ship to England but likely you can shop and get close....I hope but that TP-Link looks wicked so either way your going to get some great product.

 

[LonnieMac]

Take a look at this mate, just came across it looking at the 655 on dd wrt
A need for speed: 802.11n router roundup

It doesn't look promising.

The reason why I chose TP-Link is because of its factory features and firmware options as well as it being pretty future proof apart from it not having 5MHz if thats technically correct?

I actually wanted the new Belkin N750 from the new US range but its not possible with me living in England. Anywho, I'll stop bothering you mate, thank you for all your help I'll just go with the TP-Link, it seems the best choice.