Draytek Vigor 2600VG Review
This box is an ADSL modem, router, wireless router, USB print server and 2 port VOIP interface all rolled into one. Jack of all trades and master of none perhaps? Let's find out.
Features
Here's what Vigor have to say about it:-
ADSL Router & Firewall with built-in ADSL modem
Four port 10/100BaseT Switch, with VLAN and port throttling
Internet/VPN Facilities
Internet Content Filtering
Voice calls can be carried over existing ADSL connection
Two VOIP ports (RJ11 to BT type sockets)
Automatic QoS Assurance for Voice-over-IP Calls
Configurable/Selectable QoS for other services
Output of ring current and call progress tones (dialtone, busy, ring)
FXS Phone Ports - Connect any standard analogue phone into the phone ports
Setting up
You can plug 1 or 2 POTS telephones into it for VOIP use. You can set up up to 99 "quick dial" numbers, or dial from the handset as required. It took me 2 minutes to set it up to use with VoIP User's service, via the web control interface. Draytek's UK website has a good, technical set of FAQs. Firmware upgrades are posted as needed.
There is a huge range of facilities for firewalling and whatever you need for networking. Various codecs and settings are available for VoIP. This is a powerful piece of kit, but with a pretty clear web interface for most of what it can do (the odd obscure command can only be entered by telneting into it). You can save and load your configuration, which is handy as a backup.
Firmware can be upgraded remotely by ftp - if you are brave enough to allow it. There are different firmware versions for varying countries.
Build quality is OK - its the usual plastic box and seems sturdy enough. The phones actually plug into 2 little white boxes marked PABX which then plug into the Draytek itself - these are about 8cm x 1.5cm x 1cm. Seems odd that they are needed separately, but this may vary from Country to Country.
Conclusion
All in all, this is a very handy all-in-one piece of kit which does just what I want for wireless networking and VoIP. The QoS functionality is a useful addition.
About the only thing it lacks is a PSTN socket as a fall back, or for routing from VoIP-PSTN, but I believe other Draytek models do that (while perhaps lacking other features).
I've given it an overall score of 8/10 given a UK RRP of £150. If it was a little cheaper, I'd have given it a 9.
Ralph
Added: Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Reviewer: Ralph
Score:
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Language: eng
