Helping me pick the right router..

WDParsell

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Feb 22, 2015
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We we're looking to upgrade our router, simply because this current router is at least 5 years old and we have a feeling it might be a bottle neck to our home network.

We keep our router on the floor below where we use WiFi, but the only thing WiFi is used for in our house is phone stuff (Surfing, YouTube, downloading apps, ellipses) so the WiFi will be good as long as it works. If you need to know the wireless devices we use are 3 galaxy s3's, a windows phone, and an inspiron laptop. At most, two of those things are using WiFi at a time.

All the cables in use are cat5e or cat 5. The cat5 cables are the ones we put in the walls, so chances are we're not upgrading those. If we aren't upgrading the cat5's then upgrading the cat5e's won't do us any good. Besides I've heard that cat6 cables aren't worth upgrading to anyway.

What I'm really concerned about is Gigabit speeds on the wired side of things. Gaming, downloading, video streaming, hosting a Minecraft server for a group of friends. So what i need is a router that has competent WiFi, Gigabit wired, and if possible a usb port (either 2.0 or 3.0) for a external harddrive NAS for music.

The cheaper the better, as long as it gets the job done, and is of good quality.
 
Solution
One thing to remember - if you don't have wireless AC devices (I don't see one mentioned above), I would skip the wireless AC devices (they are between $100 and $200 more than a wireless B/G/N router). Virtually all GB routers are close to the same - one that I have used and like a lot is the ASUS RT-N56U - good Gigabit ethernet (your cat 5 cabling inside the wall could limit full Gigabit ethernet connections), it has two USB 2.0 ports for either printers or USB hard drives (it can share with almost any operating system), great wireless coverage - and it doesn't break the bank at $79.99 (when I bought it I think I paid $149.99 - that was a few years ago.).
One thing to remember - if you don't have wireless AC devices (I don't see one mentioned above), I would skip the wireless AC devices (they are between $100 and $200 more than a wireless B/G/N router). Virtually all GB routers are close to the same - one that I have used and like a lot is the ASUS RT-N56U - good Gigabit ethernet (your cat 5 cabling inside the wall could limit full Gigabit ethernet connections), it has two USB 2.0 ports for either printers or USB hard drives (it can share with almost any operating system), great wireless coverage - and it doesn't break the bank at $79.99 (when I bought it I think I paid $149.99 - that was a few years ago.).
 
Solution
The reason cat5e came into existence was a way to ensure gig compatibility. Many cat5 cables can easily run gig problem is not all could so unless you read lots of the technical specs you could never be 100% sure. It is highly likely your cable can run at gig speeds.

 
Actually AC routers aren't all that expensive, you can get some for $100 or so.

good example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704234

Definitely stick with finding at LEAST a dual band router.

Here's a sorted list with good brands. You can change the sort for price/ratings etc as you browse through them.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100010076%20%2050001233%20%2050001015%20%2050012120%20%2050001315%20%2050001413%2050001646&IsNodeId=1&srchInDesc=gigabit&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&hisInDesc=dual%20band&Page=1&PageSize=30
 
At 100M (approximately 330 feet), Category 5 cable handles 100Mbps without issue, but it would have difficulty handling 1Gbps. At 10-20 feet, the Cat 5 cable should be able to handle 1Gbps without issue. It has to do with the length of the cable. Cat 5e allows the 100M cable to do the 1Gpbs.

Cat 6 can handle 10Gbps, and it is also better shielded (if you have electrical interference, cat 6 can help, also, the longer the cable, the greater the chance of interference).

Since the typical home is less than 100 feet end to end, and typically the longest cable in a home would USUALLY be less than 150 feet, Cat 5 will USUALLY support 1Gbps - CAT 5e almost all the time will support 1Gbps, and CAT 6 will always support 1Gbps or 10Gbps.

You can get a good router, with good features (like the dual USB ports, Gigabit ethernet, dual channel B/G/N) for $70 - $100. A good AC router with those features typically is $150 - $250. Of course, there are always sales, discontinued items, etc.....and great buys....I was just referring to the fact that if you don't have any wireless AC devices, buying an AC router doesn't make sense. As of last year, I was shocked that most devices don't connect dual-channel (2.5Ghz and 5Ghz radios)....