Time for a new router (?)

[winhack]

I think it is time to upgrade my router. I have a Linksys E3000 that has really weak wireless support (range-wise), and the USB 2.0 port for external storage is acting weird and can't use my 4TB drive properly anyway.

I have been looking at the most recent consumer offerings, like the Linksys EA9600, the Asus RT-AC68U, and the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900. When I read the negative reviews of each (and they all have plenty of them) on both Amazon and NewEgg, they all seem to have at least one or two significant issues right out of the box, be it dropped wireless connections, unstable HW, or whatever. I don't mind paying $200 to $300 to get a good router, but I do not want to pay that much for one that I know will have problems right from the get go. I can at least say that for all the issues I may have with my E3000, at least it's consistent and reliable (including the issues).

I am very comfortable with configuring routers and my home network, so I am not worried about whether or not the features are "hard to use." My only concern is that they work at all and stay that way. I have very little tolerance for flaky hardware. It's not like home routers are rocket science these days. So why is it so hard for someone to make a really good one?

I am not interested in the off-off-off-market brands, as they typically have worse support and update offerings than their product quality. And I do not feel the need to install a Cisco 3945 in my house. So what is the right middle ground? Who makes a solid $300+/- product that I can count on with modern-day security features and good wireless range?

 

[dustinhunt78]

Your search is over. I have the RT-AC66U, the predecessor to the RT-AC68U. You will never find a better router. Every review that I have ever seen picks the RT-AC68U as the hands down best. The USB ports on the AC68U are USB 3.0, the AC66U (my router) has USB 2.0) I have a 1TB WD external drive plugged in to the router, which serves as a VERY nice NAS. The router even has a build in bit torrent downloader/manager that I use almost every day at thepiratebay.se .

If you do go with this router, you need to upgrade your computer with a wireless AC card to take advantage of the phenomenal speed that the router has. The ONLY adapter that gives you full advantage of the power of the router is the http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1900-PCI-E-Adapter-PCE-AC68/dp/B00F42V83C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1395201169&sr=8-3&keywords=asus+wireless+ac+adapter .

Here is a link to the router on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC68U-Wireless-AC1900-Dual-Band-Gigabit-Router/dp/B00FB45SI4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395201216&sr=8-1&keywords=asus+AC68U

I recommended these a few days ago to a guy. He went out and bought them and came back here giving thanks after thanks. He was getting upwards of 700mb/s out of it! Crazy, huh?

If you have any questions about it, ask. I'll be glad to help.

 

[mbreslin1954]

Understand that most people who buy products such as routers never give a review of it. Studies have shown that people who are dissatisfied with their product are ten times more likely to advertise that fact than are those who are satisfied.

Having said that, I have rarely had a problem with anything Asus makes. I've had Linksys, Netgear, and Asus routers and never had a problem with any. I really like the Asus RT N56U wireless router I have now, and although I know it's not their top-of-the-line router, it meets my needs nicely. No, I've never written a review of it on Newegg, where I purchased it, probably because it just does its job nicely and I rarely think about it. It has nice range, but whether it's a lot better range than competitors, I don't know.

So to make a long story short, I have no problem recommending anything that Asus makes (laptops, routers, motherboards, you name it).

 

[dustinhunt78]

I'll also add that everything in the router's setup page is very well grouped and easy to work with. I could list a million good things about the router and the adapter, but I swear I can't think of a single negative. I've never had a router that I just absolutely loved before.....until now.

 

[winhack]

Hello dustinhunt and mbreslin. First and foremost, thank you for your feedback.

Let me say that as far as reviews go, I certainly understand the unwashed masses and their propensity to complain when things don't go their way and not say (or post) anything when things go well. I am well aware that someone who gives a router 1 star because it is "difficult to configure" doesn't necessarily mean that it was really the router's fault. Maybe that reviewer has no business configuring routers and probably doesn't understand the process as well as they think they do. Certainly likely if not probable.

While I would not consider myself a fanboi, I have much ASUS gear (motherboards, graphics cards) and consider them a solid organization. When I see a significant number of 1-star/1-egg reviews about the RT-AC66U and RT-AC68U wireless dropping speeds or cutting out frequently (multiple times per day), each corroborating the other's experiences, I think some caution and concern is merited. And again, I will say that all the routers I have researched have the same issue: a significant (but not majority) of negative reviews with the same set of features being called out each time.

Additionally, since those reviews are spread out consistently over time (all makes and models have both positive and negative reviews right up to 16-Mar-2014), it tells me that either someone is selling really old product from an older production run batch that did legitimately have a problem, or that the problem is still inherent in current production run batches and has not been addressed.

This is what brought me here to ask about other possible options, or if someone is aware of the specific problems cited in these negative reviews and knows what is the real issue and whether it is something that can be mitigated or avoided.

 

[dustinhunt78]

Hello dustinhunt and mbreslin. First and foremost, thank you for your feedback.

Let me say that as far as reviews go, I certainly understand the unwashed masses and their propensity to complain when things don't go their way and not say (or post) anything when things go well. I am well aware that someone who gives a router 1 star because it is "difficult to configure" doesn't necessarily mean that it was really the router's fault. Maybe that reviewer has no business configuring routers and probably doesn't understand the process as well as they think they do. Certainly likely if not probable.

While I would not consider myself a fanboi, I have much ASUS gear (motherboards, graphics cards) and consider them a solid organization. When I see a significant number of 1-star/1-egg reviews about the RT-AC66U and RT-AC68U wireless dropping speeds or cutting out frequently (multiple times per day), each corroborating the other's experiences, I think some caution and concern is merited. And again, I will say that all the routers I have researched have the same issue: a significant (but not majority) of negative reviews with the same set of features being called out each time.

Additionally, since those reviews are spread out consistently over time (all makes and models have both positive and negative reviews right up to 16-Mar-2014), it tells me that either someone is selling really old product from an older production run batch that did legitimately have a problem, or that the problem is still inherent in current production run batches and has not been addressed.

This is what brought me here to ask about other possible options, or if someone is aware of the specific problems cited in these negative reviews and knows what is the real issue and whether it is something that can be mitigated or avoided.

I am completely lost as to what negative reviews that you refer to.

 

[winhack]

Amazon (1-star) and NewEgg (1-egg) reviews are what I am referring to specifically, though there are other sources that have similar feedback (user reviews at c|net, PCMAG, etc.). Additionally, I recognize that all the referenced products also have lots of positive reviews, which is a good sign. With 200+ max positive (5-stars, 5-eggs) reviews and 70+ negative reviews, that does give me reason to be wary at the very least.

 

[dustinhunt78]

Oh dude......if you're talking about the RT-AC68U, I'll PERSONALLY tell anyone that says it's crap that they need a head shrink. LOL It really is that good.

 

[mbreslin1954]

You also need to consider that wireless networking in general is rife with problems. People don't understand that it's basically using radio signals (or microwave), and radio signals don't go through objects very well. They do OK with one layer of wood, but add more layers or metal or concrete, and, well, guess what? Very poor signal.

then there's weak NICs, such as wireless USB devices, which, when stuck in the back of a desktop buried under the desk (another layer of wood or metal), don't do very well.

Not to mention interference from the neighbors' routers, most of which fire up on the same default channel. How many soccer moms do you think know how to log onto their router? How many do you think it would occur to change their router channel?

Then you add in the legitimate issues with faulty routers, and what a mess.

 

[dustinhunt78]

You also need to consider that wireless networking in general is rife with problems. People don't understand that it's basically using radio signals (or microwave), and radio signals don't go through objects very well. They do OK with one layer of wood, but add more layers or metal or concrete, and, well, guess what? Very poor signal.

then there's weak NICs, such as wireless USB devices, which, when stuck in the back of a desktop buried under the desk (another layer of wood or metal), don't do very well.

Not to mention interference from the neighbors' routers, most of which fire up on the same default channel. How many soccer moms do you think know how to log onto their router? How many do you think it would occur to change their router channel?

Then you add in the legitimate issues with faulty routers, and what a mess.

That's a good point. For what you just said, it is very true. That is also one of the big advantages of the Asus RT-AC68U. It operates on two bandwidths. The first bandwidth is in the 2.4Ghz range and controls the "wireless-N" bandwidth. The 2.4Ghz bandwidth is EXTREMELY crowded. So many devices use it that it creates a lot of traffic. Your wireless home phone would be one of many that do this. The second bandwidth that the RT-AC68U operates on is the 5.0Ghz range. This controls the "Wireless-AC" function. Wireless-AC is more than 3 times as fast as "Wireless-N" And because of the 5.0Ghz bandwidth not being so crowded, you get an even greater advantage. Something to keep in mind if you do indeed decide to go the route of the RT-AC68U is that you need to add a "Wireless-AC" adapter to all devices that you want to connect to your network. I listed one in a link above. Here is the model number again: PCE-AC68. There are less expensive adapters out there, but they don't give you anywhere near the full capability that this one gives. It takes full advantage of the capabilities of the RT-AC68U, as it was built specifically to pair with this router. And if you're pressed for money, you don't have to go out and convert all of your devices to "Wireless-AC" in one day. The router is backwards compatible with all the different types of wireless adapters. You can just add the adapters as you can afford them.

I know that getting this router up and running is more expensive than other options, but this is undoubtedly one of those times that you get what you pay for. Without having to think about it, I can say that it's worth every penny you pay for it.

 

[winhack]

...How many soccer moms do you think know how to log onto their router? How many do you think it would occur to change their router channel?

Then you add in the legitimate issues with faulty routers, and what a mess.

Absolutely correct, mbreslin. I am very well aware of the exact principle to which you are referring. I have seen it before. That is why, when looking at poor/negative reviews, I make sure I normalize how much of that review is factual (legitimate, documented issue) and how much of it is circumstantial (I couldn't find the power button -- probably because I didn't look all that hard -- so your product gets 1 star). This is why I check in with several different forums to see if there is additional empirical and/or experiential data to back up/corroborate or challenge/refute those poor reviews as opposed to just plain, overt sales pitches. I am trying to determine which reviews represent the "legitimate issues" and which ones fall under the "you had no business attempting that on your own in the first place" category.

 

[mbreslin1954]

Dustinhunt,

Keep in mind that although the 5 GHz band is much faster than the 2.4 GHz band, it does not penetrate barriers as well, and so the distance it will work at usually does not compare well against the 2.4 GHz range.

 

[dustinhunt78]

Dustinhunt,

Keep in mind that although the 5 GHz band is much faster than the 2.4 GHz band, it does not penetrate barriers as well, and so the distance it will work at usually does not compare well against the 2.4 GHz range.

This is true, but the vast majority of people have their desktop at least in the same room as their modem/router. And even if it isn't, you can do what I did and just take the router to the computer. I used a 50 foot Cat 6 ethernet cable, drilled a small hole in the floor, ran the cable under the house and right up to my computer desk. The rest of my devices still get WAY better performance as well......even through walls. Wireless AC is light years ahead of wireless N in terms of speed. I recommended this same setup to a guy around a week ago. He was getting 700mb/s and wasn't even in the same room as the router!

 

[winhack]

Hey guys,

All of these points are valid and provide good perspective to have, and certainly have earned the merit to discuss. But if we look at my original concern: if the router -- for whatever reason -- suffers from intermittent hardware and/or other stability issues that prevent it from serving a wifi signal properly or at all, none of these other points matter. No amount of wall thickness or thinness, or number of channels or frequency ranges or QAM or drilling holes and running cable will solve those kinds of problems. And based on some of the reviews I referred to earlier, this is the very kind of problem I am concerned with.

 

[dustinhunt78]

There really is nothing more that anyone here can help you with. Bottom line: You need a new router. Choose one that has the quality and features that you want and go with it. Close the discussion out, decide, go buy it, install it. That's all that's left to do! 😀

 

[mbreslin1954]

Yeah, I'm not sure what you want us to tell you. From what you've said, every router you've looked at has negative reviews that make you concerned they might cut out on you or drop connections. I'm sorry, but you're not going to find perfection in this world. Pick a router and buy one, or get off the pot.

 

[winhack]

Hi Dustin. To be perfectly honest, my initial question still stands. Perhaps I didn't phrase it properly, but my original issue still exists. While I definitely appreciate the feedback you and mbreslin provided in this thread, I was really trying to find out if anyone could explain why all of my potential new router selections have as many CURRENT negative reviews as they have -- beyond the whole "They probably didn't know what they were doing" answer, that is. There was good feedback here, and very strong endorsement of the Asus product in particular (and, consequently, I have since gone ahead and ordered that product just today), but my original question/concern still stands unresolved. This is why I did not select "an answer" and call this "solved." I think anyone looking at this thread should understand that reasoning.

If you would like to take another shot at explaining why 12.5% of all ASUS RT-AC68U reviews on Amazon are 1 star and all complain about the exact same set of issues -- even while others during the same period provide 5 starts and have no problems, I'd be glad to hear that feedback. If you want to explain why the similar-level product offerings from NetGear and Linksys exhibit roughly the same ratio of negative to total reviews and owners complain about the same general set of issues, that'd be great, too.

Just telling me that none of them are perfect or that they are all the same, or X is great are truisms at best and do not qualify as "solutions." Things like go buy that one and mark this resolved and answered" do not (to me) qualify as "resolved." I'm not looking for perfection; I just want to understand why several of the top-of-the-line-consumer-level choices all seem to suffer the same issues and why hasn't anyone figured out how to address that problem. Maybe this isn't the right forum to ask the question in the first place. My apologies.

 

[dustinhunt78]

Hi Dustin. To be perfectly honest, my initial question still stands. Perhaps I didn't phrase it properly, but my original issue still exists. While I definitely appreciate the feedback you and mbreslin provided in this thread, I was really trying to find out if anyone could explain why all of my potential new router selections have as many CURRENT negative reviews as they have -- beyond the whole "They probably didn't know what they were doing" answer, that is. There was good feedback here, and very strong endorsement of the Asus product in particular (and, consequently, I have since gone ahead and ordered that product just today), but my original question/concern still stands unresolved. This is why I did not select "an answer" and call this "solved." I think anyone looking at this thread should understand that reasoning.

If you would like to take another shot at explaining why 12.5% of all ASUS RT-AC68U reviews on Amazon are 1 star and all complain about the exact same set of issues -- even while others during the same period provide 5 starts and have no problems, I'd be glad to hear that feedback. If you want to explain why the similar-level product offerings from NetGear and Linksys exhibit roughly the same ratio of negative to total reviews and owners complain about the same general set of issues, that'd be great, too.

Just telling me that none of them are perfect or that they are all the same, or X is great are truisms at best and do not qualify as "solutions." Things like go buy that one and mark this resolved and answered" do not (to me) qualify as "resolved." I'm not looking for perfection; I just want to understand why several of the top-of-the-line-consumer-level choices all seem to suffer the same issues and why hasn't anyone figured out how to address that problem. Maybe this isn't the right forum to ask the question in the first place. My apologies.

Well, winhack......you have to consider what I call the "Idiot Factor" And at 12.5%, I'd say that's pretty good because I deem more than 12.5% of the population to be idiots. God only knows as to what they based their reviews on. The package could have come in the mail a day late, so they took it out on the router.

Bottom line is this. I can't say what their reasons are, but I DO know that I own the router and absolutely LOVE it. It's fast, has EXCELLENT features such as the bit torrent downloader/manager. It has 2 USB ports for plugging in either one external hard drive and one network printer, or you can use them both for storage. The router even has it's own CPU built in, so it serves as a personal NAS accessible from anywhere with internet.

That's my take. If someone doesn't like it, I would LOVE to know why, because there isn't a single thing about it that doesn't work to perfection!