ZyXEL Router

[Lunchbox]

Telkom presented me with a ZyXEL P2602 ADSL Router the other day. This is a brand which I have never head of and I was just wondering if it is a decent router or if the Mega series is better. Any suggestions...

 

[ColinR]

I know someone that also got one of those; no complaints so far, it also has VOIP built in - extra bonus - retails for R1600 odd IIRC.

I wouldn't be complaining.

 

[WebhostingTalk]

This router does not have a Ethernet port only usb. For me that’s a major downside

 

[photonman]

It's one of the better router's so far I'd say. Havn't had any complaints yet regarding them as opposed to other routers.
Just a tad ugly looking and huge though

 

[Lunchbox]

I wont lie, it is quite a beast... I guess I'll put it through its paces and see what happens.

 

[WebhostingTalk]

I also didn’t take it because it looks like a iBurst modem and frankly I have enough of them, don’t want something sitting on my desk reminding me of them.

 

[MrMikey]

This router does not have a Ethernet port only usb. For me that’s a major downside

Nope this is not a usb modem. It does in fact have ethernet ports.

 

[WebhostingTalk]

Funny I was told other wise.

 

[CodeMaster]

Why Buy?

ZyXEL's P-2602HW series is a powerful, all-in-one ADSL VoIP IAD (Integrated Access Device) for SOHO and SMB applications. The IAD integrates high-speed ADSL access, 4-port Ethernet switch, IEEE 802.11g high-speed wireless connectivity, and 2 POTS ports for Voice over IP functionalities.

Specifications

Networking Features:-
ADSL or Cable: ADSL/ADSL2/ADSL2+
Configuration: Web Based/Command Line
WAN Interface: 1 x RJ11 (ADSL)
LAN Interface: 4 x 10/100 Ethernet
Firewall: SPI, DoS/DDoS Protection, Access Control, IP Filtering
NAT/DHCP: Yes/Yes
UPnP Compatible: Yes

Wireless Features:-
Wireless Speed: 54Mbps
Wireless Standard: 802.11g
WEP Support: 64/128/256Bit
WPA Support: No
MAC Address Filter: Yes
Antenna Type: 2 Fixed External

VPN Features:-
VPN Passthrough: Yes
VPN Termination: 20 IPSec Tunnels
VPN Encrpytion Support: DES, 3DES, AES

VoIP Support with 2 POTS ports (see detailed spec for details)

The part in red is what would really worry me.

 

[JohnnyQ]

It is a good product, but the mega200 is better. The Mega200 is a Billion. Strange that the Zyxel do not support wpa, it does however support wep up to 256bit (thats gonna be a looooong key).

This router does not have a Ethernet port only usb. For me that’s a major downside

It is actually the other way round, it does not have a USB port, but 4 ethernet ports. Found that out after installing the modem on a client's machine that did not have a ethernet port. The Mega200 also does not have a USB port.

 

[CodeMaster]

Even with WPA2, I still use a 32bit key consisting upper, lower-case, alpha-numerical and numerical... would take a lifetime to crack

 

[WebhostingTalk]

Thanks for the correction. Just shows how much the people at the Telkom shop knows.

 

[Yotch]

Some of the Zyxel routers come with very useful ADSL diagnostic software such as the bits per tone and SNR per tone plots etc. If you know how to read these plots you can even estimate the length of any bridge taps on your line etc. You can use these plots to get a signature for your telephone line and use them as a reference to detect any deterioration or abnormalities on your line over time.

Take a look at the link to the DMT software in the kitz link. Software like DMT allows you to fine tune parameters in your router like the downstream and upstream Tx powers, the target SNR value at the DSLAM etc. If Telkom ever decides to increase line speeds then these kinds of features could allow you to get faster download speeds etc. out of your router. Some routers can even give an indication of the position of the line fault etc from the choice of hybrid. I don't think that any of the Billion routers are supported though.

http://www.marconisa.co.za/telkom_Zyxel.htm
http://zyxmon.3daffex.com/downloade.php
http://www.kitz.co.uk/tute/voyager2100_DMT.htm (see DMT link)

Bridge tap determination (scroll down for plot)
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r18967859-Comparison-of-spectrum-beforeafter-bridge-tap-removed
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/14333

 

[Alchemist]

Rectron distribute the ZyXEL range of products (www.rectron.co.za)

 

[willems]

Why Buy?

WPA Support: No
VoIP Support with 2 POTS ports (see detailed spec for details)

The part in red is what would really worry me.

The Zyxel P2602 supports WEP, WPA and WPA2
The default is WPA with a unique ID per each device. The WPA Key is printed on the label underneath the device

 

[CodeMaster]

Just goes to show that you can never fully believe specs

 

[Grofft]

This router does not have a Ethernet port only usb. For me that’s a major downside

Maybe I'm just being a n00b, but can you call it a router if it doesn't have ethernet? Does it allow you to share the connection with more than one device? When is it just a modem, and when is it a router.

My dad bought the Mega and I was very impressed with it (a bit expensive though)

 

[Grofft]

Never mind, just being a n00b