Wireless Router information

[hark]

I need to get a new router as mine is 8 years old and is having multiple connectivity problems every day. My internet provider does offer them to lease, but I'd rather purchase mine as it is far cheaper in the long run. The problem is I don't know what specs to keep in mind.

I use my router mainly for connecting to the internet wirelessly as well as using it for an Ooma telephone hub (all calls go through it). I also have a roku box for TV although I rarely use it. My printer is also wireless and gets its signal from it. No gaming. Once in a while I move my laptop around the house, but usually I am located in the same room as the router. Eventually I may set up a security system that goes through it, too.

Any suggestions on specs that I should keep in mind? I'd rather keep the cost under $150 US dollars if possible. Thanks for any information!

 

[10 Gauge]

The absolute best, most reliable 802.11n router currently on the market is the Asus RT-N66U (or W if you fancy white). Great firmware (which can also be flashed with DD-WRT if you fancy that) which never needs to be reset, no overheating or hardware issues. The reviews you can find anywhere for it should speak for itself, it's a great router and I highly recommend it if you want something that's trouble free, fast, and most of all reliable.

Amazon.com: ASUS RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router: Computers & Accessories

 

[hark]

The absolute best, most reliable 802.11n router currently on the market is the Asus RT-N66U (or W if you fancy white). Great firmware (which can also be flashed with DD-WRT if you fancy that) which never needs to be reset, no overheating or hardware issues. The reviews you can find anywhere for it should speak for itself, it's a great router and I highly recommend it if you want something that's trouble free, fast, and most of all reliable.

Amazon.com: ASUS RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router: Computers & Accessories

Thanks! I will take a look at this one. My laptop is by Asus, and it's been the most reliable computer I've owned to date. My router was a freebie from Circuit City 8 years ago when I purchased a Toshiba laptop (which I still have in terrific working condition). This router is made by D-Link and has worked perfectly up until the past few months. I've been tolerating the connection issue, but since it affects my phone calls, I need to replace it. Thanks again, 10 Gauge!

 

[hark]

[MENTION=39102]10 Gauge[/MENTION] This is probably a dumb question, but I'll ask anyway: since I have Comcast/Xfinity as my internet provider, how will I know if this router is compatible? It isn't listed on their web site although they only list a few models. Is that something I need to look into?

Comcast-Supported Routers, Gateways and Adapters

 

[10 Gauge]

This is what you really need to do.... You need to also purchase your own modem (Motorola Surfboard) to go along with your new router, and send ALL of their equipment back. It will all pay for itself after you stop paying the ridiculous lease fees to Comcast. The only issue will be - if you use them for a land line phone - you will lose that ability. We have Xfinity as well, with a phone package (because it was cheaper), but we don't actually use the phone portion of the service.

If you absolutely must keep your phone service with them, then you will pretty much just have to go and buy the same modem/router/voip box that you are already using (which sucks, and then they wont replace it when it breaks). So my suggestion to you is dump the phone if you don't actually need or use it like us and get yourself your own modem and router.

Otherwise, you can continue to use their modem but it will have to act as the router as well if you wish to use the phone, making buying a new router pointless.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

One of your best sources of tech info is your local BestBuy. Most of the stores are very good. Mine is excellent and I have been buying from them for years. I have heard there are a couple of stores that are not so good so ask around local. Generally they will know the local providers and what routers work best there. Also from my experience if it does not work as you expect they are good to replace it or give your money back with no questions. They will also price match with the major on-line dealers so the price should not be a problem

 

[RocketCowboy]

Don't buy 802.11n if buying today. Make sure you are buying 802.11ac. Even if your laptop doesn't support it yet, your phone/tablet will soon.

My favorite is the Apple AirPort Extreme for consumer equipment. It's what I put in my in-laws house, and they are not Apple users...there is no Mac/Windows bias with the AirPort Extreme.

The AirPort Extreme does not handle the cable modem connection, you'll need a separate cable modem for that. In general, the combined cable modem/wireless routers are not as good as dedicated products.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[10 Gauge]

I digress with the decision to buy an 802.11ac router. The tech hasn't developed enough yet to be reliable. There are major overheating and reliability issues, I'd rather skip the headache. You'll also never see the benefit of it unless moving huge files to/from a NAS drive. Completely unnecessary for a phone or tablet now or 10 years from now.

Sent from my HTC One M8 using Tapatalk

 

[hark]

[MENTION=39102]10 Gauge[/MENTION] I've owned a Motorola SurfBoard SB6121 modem for 2-3 years now which I bought when I still had Verizon DSL and fortunately works perfectly when I switched to Comcast, too. My phone service is through an Ooma hub which I also own--that gets connected to the router. So I'm not leasing any equipment through Comcast. We rarely ever watch TV so we only have basic cable with 3 free digital tuners (no cable box), and a Roku box (plus Netflix and Amazon Prime which offers some free videos).

I ordered the router that 10 Gauge suggested. Hopefully the only hiccup will be figuring out how to configure its settings. With my D-Link router, their company talked me through the settings. I have no clue how to update any firmware as I've never done that nor do I have any clue how to configure the settings. I'm just taking one step at a time.

 

[hark]

One of your best sources of tech info is your local BestBuy. Most of the stores are very good. Mine is excellent and I have been buying from them for years. I have heard there are a couple of stores that are not so good so ask around local. Generally they will know the local providers and what routers work best there. Also from my experience if it does not work as you expect they are good to replace it or give your money back with no questions. They will also price match with the major on-line dealers so the price should not be a problem

Well...I ordered the router yesterday before you posted but will keep that in mind if I have any problems and need to buy a different one.

Don't buy 802.11n if buying today. Make sure you are buying 802.11ac. Even if your laptop doesn't support it yet, your phone/tablet will soon.

My favorite is the Apple AirPort Extreme for consumer equipment. It's what I put in my in-laws house, and they are not Apple users...there is no Mac/Windows bias with the AirPort Extreme.

The AirPort Extreme does not handle the cable modem connection, you'll need a separate cable modem for that. In general, the combined cable modem/wireless routers are not as good as dedicated products.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That type of router looks like it a router on steroids. Lol! At one time Comcast upped my speed, but my download speed couldn't reach the higher levels. Comcast said perhaps it has to do with how far I live from their hub. I don't know if my D-Link router factored into the speed limit, but I guess I will find out if this new router will make any difference. There have been times when my download speed was less than 1 mbps, but ever since Comcast added an outside box to protect the connections, it's been much better. Prior to the box for the outside connections, Comcast would find water inside where two pieces of cable were joined together.

Below is my speed right now which seems to be the norm--will see if anything changes after the new router is installed.

 

[10 Gauge]

@10 Gauge I've owned a Motorola SurfBoard SB6121 modem for 2-3 years now which I bought when I still had Verizon DSL and fortunately works perfectly when I switched to Comcast, too. My phone service is through an Ooma hub which I also own--that gets connected to the router. So I'm not leasing any equipment through Comcast. We rarely ever watch TV so we only have basic cable with 3 free digital tuners (no cable box), and a Roku box (plus Netflix and Amazon Prime which offers some free videos).

I ordered the router that 10 Gauge suggested. Hopefully the only hiccup will be figuring out how to configure its settings. With my D-Link router, their company talked me through the settings. I have no clue how to update any firmware as I've never done that nor do I have any clue how to configure the settings. I'm just taking one step at a time.

Good choice! Setup is a breeze with this router, they really have their settings interface nailed down well. Updating the firmware is a snap, just click one button in the settings and it will take care of the rest for you. If you run in to any problems just let me know. This is the router that I recommend to a lot of my clients so I have a lot of them in use and am very familiar with them, I'm more than happy to lend any assistance necessary.

 

[skater]

I hope that Asus router is better than my Asus tablet was. One year and I had to replace it.

I have a Netgear WNDR3700 - every few weeks it refuses to let devices that just joined the network communicate - so my iPad that was sitting at home all day will work fine, but my iPhone won't connect when I get home. It took me a while to figure out that the router was the problem. Unplugging it for a minute fixes this issue. So, I wouldn't recommend Netgear. One of these days I'm going to put dd-wrt on it and hope that solves it.

I miss my old WRT54G. Well, I still have it, but it only does B and G. I only replaced it because slinging RAW files around the network was taking a long time at those speeds. So, I'm going to respectfully disagree with the assertion that we won't need even faster speeds. When we're all toting around 65 megapixel cameras, we'll want faster network speeds.

 

[hark]

Good choice! Setup is a breeze with this router, they really have their settings interface nailed down well. Updating the firmware is a snap, just click one button in the settings and it will take care of the rest for you. If you run in to any problems just let me know. This is the router that I recommend to a lot of my clients so I have a lot of them in use and am very familiar with them, I'm more than happy to lend any assistance necessary.

Thanks! Appreciate the offer to help. Will a lot of the settings be automatic or not? I had to call D-Link and manually inputted all the numeric and text values and had to be talked through the settings to make the router secure. If there are set-up videos available, what will I need to look for?

 

[10 Gauge]

I miss my old WRT54G. Well, I still have it, but it only does B and G. I only replaced it because slinging RAW files around the network was taking a long time at those speeds. So, I'm going to respectfully disagree with the assertion that we won't need even faster speeds. When we're all toting around 65 megapixel cameras, we'll want faster network speeds.

I never said we wouldn't need faster speeds, and I noted that the faster speeds are great for transferring large files across the server. My point was, that for phones and tablets, you'll never need that kind of speed.


@hark The setup should be about 99% automatic, you shouldn't need to do much but plug it in to everything and turn it on.

 

[hark]

I never said we wouldn't need faster speeds, and I noted that the faster speeds are great for transferring large files across the server. My point was, that for phones and tablets, you'll never need that kind of speed.


@hark The setup should be about 99% automatic, you shouldn't need to do much but plug it in to everything and turn it on.

Thanks 10 Gauge!

 

[RocketCowboy]

I digress with the decision to buy an 802.11ac router. The tech hasn't developed enough yet to be reliable. There are major overheating and reliability issues, I'd rather skip the headache. You'll also never see the benefit of it unless moving huge files to/from a NAS drive. Completely unnecessary for a phone or tablet now or 10 years from now.

Sent from my HTC One M8 using Tapatalk

We'll agree to disagree on this one. I wouldn't be able to experiment with photography if wireless texhnology was that broken, but that's a discussion better suited for a different forum.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hark]

The router arrived Saturday (Amazon offered 1-day free shipping), but I had to chase down the substitute mailman because he didn't leave the package when he left our mail.

So today I had time to get it hooked up. I did wind up calling for assistance during the set-up, but since I already have an Asus laptop, I know Asus has excellent customer service. The guy talked me through everything except I still have my Ooma telephone hub and my Roku box to connect (need to find the instructions first).

This is a dual-band router. My computer can only find the 2.4 GHz band while my iphone finds both that one and the 5 GHz band. Good news is my laptop's download speed went from 12 mbps to 30 mbps just from changing the router. And hopefully I won't have any further problems with posting. So many times I wrote responses only to get a prompt that I didn't have an internet connection...everything I wrote was usually lost except for a few times the back button saved me.

Thanks [MENTION=39102]10 Gauge[/MENTION] for letting me know about this router. I'm sure it will work well for my needs.

 

[10 Gauge]

Glad you got it all setup and that you've already noticed an improvement! Don't hesitate to drop me a PM if you have any questions about it or its capabilities.