DrayTek Vigor 2820Vn Dual Wan ADSL2/2+ Security Router (Wireless LAN & VoIP) BT ADSL

The Vigor 2820Vn is DrayTek's top-specification ADSL and broadband router/firewall family, featuring an entirely new stylish case design and new DrayOS 3 operating system. Packed with features, the Vigor 2820 offers truly comprehensive ADSL connetivity and security. Compatible with all variants of ADSL (include ADSLMax and ADSL2+) the Vigor 2820 can also be used for cable-modem and leased line applications thanks to its additional WAN port (Ethernet). A Gigabit Ethernet port on the WAN side provides high speed connectivity for your server (or uplink to a larger Ethernet Switch). Security features include content filtering, web application controls and a new object based firewall management system.

Robust & Comprehensive Firewall

As with previous DrayTek firewalls, security is taken seriously on the Vigor 2820 Series. The firewall features measures for protection against attacks including DoS (Denial of Service) attacks, IP-based attacks and access by unauthorised remote systems. Wireless, Ethernet and VPN are also protected by various protection systems (see later). A new DrayTek object-based firewall allows even more setup flexibility than ever, enabling you to create combinations of users, rules and restrictions to suit multi-departmental organisations. Content control features of the firewall allow you to set restrictions on web site access, blocking download of certain file types, blocking specific web sites, blocking IM/P2P applications or other potentially harmful or wasteful content. Using the SurfControl site categorisations enable you to block whole categories of web sites (e.g. gambling, pornography etc.), subject to subscription

Dual-WAN Load Balancing & Backup

As well as the primary ADSL interface, the Vigor 2820 features a secondary WAN port for Internet access. This is an Ethernet interface and can connect to a second ADSL modem, cable modem or any other Ethernet-based Internet feed. The secondary interface can be used either for WAN-Backup or load balancing. WAN-Backup provides contingenry (redunancy) in case of your primary ADSL line or ISP suffering temporary outage). Internet Traffic will be temporarily routed via the secondary Internet access. When normal services is restored to your primary ADSL line, all traffic is switch back to that.

If you don't have ADSL, the Ethernet WAN port can instead be used as your primary/only Internet connection (using NAT) so the same router can be used for either ADSL or Ethernet Internet connections. The USB port provides an alternative connection method (Firmware Upgradable) for Internet backup by connecting to a compatible USB modem (or cellphone) for access to the high speed 3G cellular networks from UK providers such as Vodafone, Orange, 3 and T-Mobile. If you don't have ADSL at all, the USB/3G access method can be used as your primary/only Internet connection, ideal for temporary locations, mobile applications or where broadband access is not available. Note : For WAN2 you can use either a Ethernet or USB 3G connection but not both at the same time.

Wireless LAN

The Vigor2820Vn features the latest 802.11n Draft 2.0 wireless LAN specification and has been certified by the WiFi alliance for cross compatibility and WiFi compliance (including WPA/WPA2 and WMM). 802.11n Draft 2.0 provides a total wireless bandwidth of up to 300Mb/s using new methods such as packet aggregation and channel bonding. Throughput depends on your own environment (factors such as obstructions, number of hosts and distance all make a significant difference), but actual transfer speeds of 100Mb/s are achievable (based on our real world tests). In addition, 802.11n Draft 2.0 provides greater coverage and resilience to interference compared to previous wireless standards thanks to the MIMO technology and the Vigor's triple-antennae diversity arrangement. This offset arrangement of aerials provides offset paths between hosts so that interference can be overcome.

Wireless Security is comprehensive too; the Vigor 2820Vn provides several independent levels of security including encryption (up to WPA2), authentication (802.11x) and methods such as MAC address locking and DHCP fixing to restrict access to authorised users only. The Web interface lets you see how many and which clients are currently connected as well as their current bandwidth usage. An 'instant' block lets you disconnect a wireless user temporarily in case of query. The Wireless VLAN facility allows you to isolate wireless clients from each other or from the 'wired' LAN.

The Multiple SSID features enables you to have up to four distinct or common virtual wireless access points. For example, you could have one for company usage, with access to your company LAN and another for public access which allows internet surfing only. Setting up wireless security is made easier thanks to the WPS feature (WiFi protected setup) whereby your client PC can get it's security keys by pressing a button on the front of the router.

Your laptop PC's built-in wireless may not support 802.11n Draft 2.0 wireless, in which case you will need to add a new wireless LAN interface such as the Vigor N61 USB adaptor. Click on 'accessories' for details.

For specialist or more demanding coverage applications, optional aerials can be used with the Vigor 2820Vn to potentially increase the range of wireless coverage (depending on enviroment) or provide directional coverage in order that your wireless transmission is focussed and concentrated into one direction only, for example into a room or across open space. With the increasing popularity of wireless LANs, you will want to choose the least congested wireless channel (Nos. 1-13) for yours. The Vigor can scan and provide a list of all devices in the vicinity so that you can choose the best channel (see screenshot below).

Voice-over-IP Features

The Vigor 2820Vn builds on the established DrayTek VoIP pedigree by adding even more new feaures. Twin analogue phone ports and an FXO analogue line port provide full PSTN and VoIP integration on the same phones, via both the Internet and your regular analogue line. The two phones can be used independently and simultaneously for both incoming and outgoing calls. As well as the two telephone ports, a third port, the FXO (Line) port, connects into your regular analogue line (PSTN/POTS*). This then gives the telephones access to your analogue line to allow you to make calls as well as your VoIP facility (you can select the PSTN line instead of VoIP by dialling #0). Incoming calls are automatically switched through to your telephone(s) (either one or both) so that each phone can be used for both VoIP and POTS calls. Both telephones plugged into your router have access to VoIP and your analogue line. In addition, using the 'Digit-Map' facility you can set rules about particular call destinations using either the POTS line or your SIP/VoIP service. For example, local calls can be routed via yo