Help picking a new Router w/ AP

xiao

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Nov 23, 2014
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Hi All

I bought a Netgear D6300 WiFi router around 2 years ago for £160.
I been using it for 2 years but I have been very unhappy with it. I was unhappy with the WiFi performance as i felt it was unbelievably poor, the USB network storage did not work for me. And i was unhappy about the firmware and GUI. The only thing i liked about it was i could do USB over WiFi. I attached my Printer to the router via USB (i do not have a network printer) and the Netgear software would emulate the USB from the router to the PC. I loved that.
It just felt like a waste of money.

I need a new router with WiFi or a router with add on AP. I prefer build in to make things easy, but i would not sacrifice performance for it.
My priority is performance over features. However I would like to see if i can get one with USB over WiFi, but this is not a priority.
I also would like it if it was easy to hack with 3rd party firmware if required, eg DD WRT, Tomato. again this is a benefit i would like but it is not a priority, especially if the stock GUI is easy to use.

My usage is at a Home/Home Office.
2 PCs via LAN
1 NAS via LAN also used for streaming media
10 to 12 tablets/smartphones/notebooks via WLAN
3 Media streaming devices for entertainment via WLAN

Note: I have a lot of walls in the house to get through.

I am considering between Netgear R7000 and Asus RT-AC68U
Is there anything you guys could suggest?

Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
For a 10 pound difference in price, the R7000 is the better buy if Tomato will do and you can do without DD-WRT. I too prefer the ASUS though and have installed a number of them with great results.

You still may find that a separate wireless AP is helpful with so many devices and the wall density, but you can decide that later. I would set up the wireless with separate 2.4 and 5GHz SSIDs so you can divide up the devices to avoid overloading one radio set.
I like the ASUS, it will run both Tomato and DD-WRT. The R7000 will run Tomato and is also a great router on par with the ASUS.

Consider keeping the current router and configuring it as a wireless AP attached to your new main router to improve range and provide better connections for many devices.

Do any of your devices have AC adapters?
 


I want to try the ASUS because of my past experience with the D6300.
However I have been reading reviews and benchmarks between the R7000 and AC68U
The R7000 is a little bit better in AC 5Ghz coverage and also better on USB 3 speed.

The ASUS is a little bit more expensive than then R7000, i guess due it is popularity.
Asus: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-RT-AC68U-Wireless-Broadband-Router/dp/B00G323PG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416767195&sr=8-1&keywords=asus+rt-ac68u
Netgear: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nighthawk-Wireless-Implicit-Beamforming-Downstream/dp/B00HDK4GAK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416767208&sr=8-1&keywords=netgear+r7000

I dont know if it is worth spending a tiny bit more and trying something new and going for the ASUS even though the Netgear ius cheaper and performance a tiny bit better.

As for my old D6300 i sold it ¬¬. for 2/3 the price of a R7000 or AC68U, to help pay for a new router.

I have quite a few AC PCs. A Intel NUC and 3 Intel Ultrabooks, and i might buy a USB AC dongle for a desktop in the near future.
 
For a 10 pound difference in price, the R7000 is the better buy if Tomato will do and you can do without DD-WRT. I too prefer the ASUS though and have installed a number of them with great results.

You still may find that a separate wireless AP is helpful with so many devices and the wall density, but you can decide that later. I would set up the wireless with separate 2.4 and 5GHz SSIDs so you can divide up the devices to avoid overloading one radio set.
 
Solution


Hey Thanks

As the netgear is around £6.50 cheaper and slightly better I might for go for the R7000 see what its like.

Thanks :)