Why buy a broadband router off-the-shelf?

Not sure about this “which” research conclusion.
I can only speak from experience. I’m with TalkTalk and I went through three wireless routers in as many years. I got to the stage where I bought a better quality wireless router off ebay at a budget price (£10) and I keep the TalkTalk offering as a reserve. So far the cheapo ebay unit which is also of a higher technical spec’ has lasted better than any of the TalkTalk units, the latest of which is now sat on the reserves bench.
This approach works better for me because it’s such a hassel getting a new router out of TalkTalk when their low quality unit goes pop each time.
Perhaps customers of other ISP’s do better?
Don’t know.

I use a non-branded router bought online. The ones found in high street shops are usually overpriced and possibly not suitable – do your own research if possible. Back street (independent) shops not part of a chain are usually far better than high street, particularly when asking for advice.

I have a router [business hub] supplied by BT.
2Wire gateway 2701HGV-C.
After the 3rd failed they gave me money to buy one, a simple £40 Netgear 150 does the trick for my office as we download very little, do not game online at the office and just use it for communication, surfing, web maintenance and the radio.

At home I have an older netgear model which has stayed on for about 4 years now without any breakdowns, just the occasional reset.

Every modem [remember the alcatel speed touch] and now routers provided by my ISP’s has failed.
I wouldent even bother taking one out of the box anymore.

I’m with Be who provide a router that has to be returned when you terminate your contract. I prefer to use my own Netgear router because it incorporates a hardware firewall which complements the software firewalls on my PC’s. Admittedly the downside is that you have to have some knowledge to be able to set the firewall up effectively.

I switched my BE supplied wireless router (a SpeedTouch) for a Linksys WAG160n. A lesson learnt from both routers is the need to ensure that you have the latest firmware installed.

The Linksys raised my Internet speed from approximately 8 MBp/s to over 10 MBp/s and the wireless-N enables me to get a full 55 dBm signal in my garden office compared to 65-70 dBm

Although I note that a number of ISPs do provide better routers these days, I still recommend getting a good mid-range router.

I’ve got a very old D-Link that AOL gave about 2 tot 3 years ago. They said I’d got a new one when I signed up for super fast broadband for 12 months last year. I didn’t get it until late Jan year when they rang me up to sell me something and I informed them that I intended to switch to BT once my contract with them is up.
I’ve been with AOL for over 15 years and had no real problems but I do intend to change ISP ( probably to BT ) later this year.

It all depends..
I’ve never had a problem with reliability but the Virgin router I use at home gives much better wireless through the house than the Sky router I had last year.

If you’re trying to run videoconference on your broadband in the office some of the free routers cannot handle the open ports that you need. Buy a router for proper management.

This article does little to tell us anything about router performance.

We have a house with very thick walls through which WiFi doesn’t travel well so we use several Apple Airport routers which create one seamless network throughout the house.

I bought my Belkin router new on eBay for £13 and have never had any problems with it.

I have used a Netgear WiFi DGN2200 router for about a year now, but it appears to be unreliable; am I correct in remembering that Netgear units were reportedly overheating and failing – mine does run hot even though it is in a good air flow.? It does not seem to be the WiFi connection that fails, but the wired internet connection via the phone line that fails. Is there a way that the reliability of the ‘wired’ connection back to the BT exchange can be proved?
I doubt that I would buy Netgear again.

Many of the ISP supplied router/modems are just re-badged Netgear, Dlink etc versions with different firmware which can make it difficult to use with other ISPs.

ISP supplied ones are often going to be easier to set up as they are often pre-configured with username, password and wifi passphrases, I dont think this makes them inherently easier to use though ?

I struggled fro months after my BT-supplied Voyager 2091 router failed and I installed a Home Hub 2 that BT had provided. Drop-out was dreadful. I called BT and an engineer eventually came out and spent a long time not solving the issue, despite changing the Home Hub 2 for a new one in his van. I’d thought the wirelss coverage would have been better with later model routers. Wrong! I bought a Netgear Extender in the beleief that I would add range to the wireless signal from the HH2. Right! And wrong! WHen it connected with the router, it gave a strong signal. Problem was that the router was so poor that the Netgear extender frequently lost the poor wireless signal from the HH2. By this time, I’m getting bad earache from wife and daughter who also couldn’t hold a decent wireless connection, although the HH2 is still internet-connected (lights are all blue). I finally decided that I’d speculatively try a Belkin Play DB600N+ modem/router. Problem solved instantly. Dispensed with HH2 AND Netgear Extender (now redundant) because I have a wireless signal direct from the Belkin everywhere in the house! I’ve used the Belkin for fully a year now and I can’t remember having lost a wireless connection even once in all that time. You’ll NEVER convince me in a month of Sundays that independent suppliers’ devices are no better than ISP-supplied equipment!
Despite having been courted on numerous occasions by BT to upgrade to Infinity since the local exchange went fibre optic, I’ve resisted doing so because I don’t trust BT’s Home Hubs any more. I still read in forums about wireless connection issues with HH3s. So, at the end of this month, when my renewal falls due, I expect to be going elsewhere.

I had BT for 12 months including calls but the monthly charges usually came in between £35 ang £38.
I had no problems with their router. We changed to the Post Office and are on router no. 4. We were told we were a long way from the exchange, is it a different exchange? This last router doesn’t drop out but we cannot get one laptop to bring up the Internet even though it says its connected.

Be very careful to check with your new supplier if their router will do everything you need. We switched recently to John Lewis Broadband having researched Which? articles and have now found that the Sagemcom router they supplied cannot support our home burglar alarm. Don’t just rely on their statements check with others. Our alarm company has tired and the problem seems to be not so much the router but the firmware. We are now having to get our own router, but which one!