Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 16:02 Post subject: Recommended routers to date
I am due for a new router and wondering if you guys have some specific recommendations. I want to get something under $300, and do not need the get the latest and greatest.
I currently have 9 connected devices, with more to come.
From what I have gathered from the forums:
Wifi6 is a gimmick and not worth my time and money.
If I do go down that route, BCM is not currently, and may never be, supported.
Is QCA, ATH, or other traditionally considered better?
Is tri-band or MU-MIMO worth it, or also gimmicks?
What else should I be considering when looking for features?
Joined: 04 Aug 2018 Posts: 1444 Location: Appalachian mountains, USA
Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 15:41 Post subject:
FWIW, the Linksys WRT1900ACSv2 is a decent outlier in the otherwise fairly disastrous current Linksys WRT line. This means specifically the ACS and specifically the v2 per the upper-right corner of the blue label on the bottom of the case. The fact that it is a v2 is never advertised in commercial listings, but modern new sales are always the v2 as far as I know. With used ones just be sure you can return it, as you really, really don't want the earlier models.
With the WRT1900ACSv2 you will need a USB fan to keep it from going squirrely now and then from the heat. Earlier and later models had fans built in, but when they designed this particular router they were having a bad day re heat-management thinking. And you'll have to expect most of the front-panel lights to dim with age, to the point that eventually you'll need a dark room to see the ones on the left. Another bad day. Despite these two nuisances, these have been great routers for me. _________________ 2x Netgear XR500 and 3x Linksys WRT1900ACSv2 on 53544: VLANs, VAPs, NAS, station mode, OpenVPN client (AirVPN), wireguard server (AirVPN port forward) and clients (AzireVPN, AirVPN, private), 3 DNSCrypt providers via VPN.
Is there a reason you say this? With Atheros you’re stuck with SFE. With Broadcom you get CTF and Flow Acceleration which are significantly faster than SFE.
Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 4:14 Post subject: Netgear Router/AP and extender
Looking to replace an aging Linksys WRT3200ACM (gateway) and Wireless connected RE9000 extender. Too many drops from devices and other issues.
It seems Netgear is the current choice these days…. With an 7800, 8000 or 9000 being the recommended models. What is the key difference in the two and what (wirelessly connected) extender would pair up best with it?
Please don’t suggest wiring the extender, it’s not an option with our place/configuration.
WAN connection is 500/20 for what that’s worth.
Lots of Apple devices, STB streaming devices, QNAP NAS, Sonos, Hue, Pal, etc…
R8000 was never recommended. I was trying to explain *** or xxx or other generalized statements are bad.
In need of a quick fix or triband extender, see EX7500, EX7700 or EX8000 if you do not mind stock firmware.
I have EX7500 it's fine. If I see a cheap used EX8000 might pick one up out of curiosity, comparisons, 4x4:4.
R9000/R8900/XR700: fast Alpine AL-514, dual switch design headaches, active antennas reliability concerns.
EA8500 has better range, reliable daily use. R7800/XR450/XR500 commonly recommended 1.7GHz qca9984.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14125 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 14:09 Post subject:
Ship me your 3200 when you replace it, I can make use of it if you can't figure out how to make it work for you.
x2 on R8000 not being recommended. Broadcom devices do not have near the upstream support that Atheros /
MediaTek do these days. Marvell has improved some, but people keep bitterly clinging to misinformation. _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
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Extenders are not worth it. They are just crippled version of the router with less ports, less memory etc.
I have seen one with the WAN port physically removed instead of having 5 LAN ports.
I personally disagree, it really depends what the individual users needs are. The RE9000 in my current Linksys configuration deliver my iPad 100/20 when connected to it from the farthest room …. The WRT3200ACM it’s behind delivers maybe 30/10 from the same location.
I’ve no need for any LAN ports for this use case, just extending the WiFi signal and speed. _________________ Linksys WRT3200ACM
VersionDD-WRT v3.0-r50500 std (10/13/22)
Kernel VersionLinux 4.9.330 #3466 SMP Thu Oct 13 02:01:23 +07 2022 armv7l
Linksys RE9000 Extender (WiFi attached)
OpenVPN with PBR: ExpressVPN
Devices: Sonos, Apple, QNAP, Laserjet other