[Urgent Router Suggestion] Stuck with 3 options

[deephousebtc]

Hi there,

I am getting a Comcast connection for my new apartment home next week and I need to buy a modem + router today. I am opting to buy the modem and router separately and not a combo.


I have narrowed down my choice to three


1) NETGEAR N600 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router (WNDR3400) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041LYY6K/


2) TP-Link Archer AC1200 Reliable Dual-band WiFi Router (C50) - https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Archer-Reliable-Dual-band-C50/dp/B0168G0KZY


3) ASUS RT-ACRH13 Dual-Band 2x2 AC1300 Wifi 4-port Gigabit Router - https://www.amazon.com/RT-ACRH13-Dual-Band-AC1300-4-port-Gigabit/dp/B01LXL1AR8/


The price of 3 routers is almost the same range.


Note 1: I live in an apartment complex with multiple units.
Note 2: My Comcast internet plan is for 60 Mbps connection.
Note 3: I mostly use my internet for streaming online media like netflix & surfing.


Note 4: The modem I am planning to buy - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XH46MWW/



I can't to understand the difference bet 2.4Ghz vs 5Ghz vs 802.11ac vs 802.11n and how will it impact my use?


Any help would be appreciated.

 

[kanewolf]

In an apartment complex where ALL your neighbors have competing WIFI, you might as well forget about using 2.4 Ghz. There will be so much interference that your performance will probably be horrible. 2.4 vs 5Ghz -- These are two different frequency bands that WIFI is allowed to broadcast. They are fairly small frequency ranges. The 2.4Ghz band can only support three non-overlapping channels. That is why I said you would not get good performance with 2.4Ghz WIFI in an apartment complex. 5Ghz has more non-overlapping channels possible, IF your neighbors play nicely. One neighbor could hog much of the 5Ghz band also. But for 5Ghz to be useful, your device has to support it also. Just having a 5Ghz WIFI router does no good if the device you are trying to stream to is only 2.4Ghz compatible.

Of the three The Asus has the most capabilities.

 

[deephousebtc]

In an apartment complex where ALL your neighbors have competing WIFI, you might as well forget about using 2.4 Ghz. There will be so much interference that your performance will probably be horrible. 2.4 vs 5Ghz -- These are two different frequency bands that WIFI is allowed to broadcast. They are fairly small frequency ranges. The 2.4Ghz band can only support three non-overlapping channels. That is why I said you would not get good performance with 2.4Ghz WIFI in an apartment complex. 5Ghz has more non-overlapping channels possible, IF your neighbors play nicely. One neighbor could hog much of the 5Ghz band also. But for 5Ghz to be useful, your device has to support it also. Just having a 5Ghz WIFI router does no good if the device you are trying to stream to is only 2.4Ghz compatible.

Of the three The Asus has the most capabilities.

So I guess Asus AC1300 is the best options. Can I use this if I upgrade my connection to 150 Mbps in the future?

 

[kanewolf]

In an apartment complex where ALL your neighbors have competing WIFI, you might as well forget about using 2.4 Ghz. There will be so much interference that your performance will probably be horrible. 2.4 vs 5Ghz -- These are two different frequency bands that WIFI is allowed to broadcast. They are fairly small frequency ranges. The 2.4Ghz band can only support three non-overlapping channels. That is why I said you would not get good performance with 2.4Ghz WIFI in an apartment complex. 5Ghz has more non-overlapping channels possible, IF your neighbors play nicely. One neighbor could hog much of the 5Ghz band also. But for 5Ghz to be useful, your device has to support it also. Just having a 5Ghz WIFI router does no good if the device you are trying to stream to is only 2.4Ghz compatible.

Of the three The Asus has the most capabilities.

So I guess Asus AC1300 is the best options. Can I use this if I upgrade my connection to 150 Mbps in the future?

Yes. Again, the WIFI performance is a function of the router and the device. Changing your ISP speed may or may not speed up a specific device.

 

[deephousebtc]

In an apartment complex where ALL your neighbors have competing WIFI, you might as well forget about using 2.4 Ghz. There will be so much interference that your performance will probably be horrible. 2.4 vs 5Ghz -- These are two different frequency bands that WIFI is allowed to broadcast. They are fairly small frequency ranges. The 2.4Ghz band can only support three non-overlapping channels. That is why I said you would not get good performance with 2.4Ghz WIFI in an apartment complex. 5Ghz has more non-overlapping channels possible, IF your neighbors play nicely. One neighbor could hog much of the 5Ghz band also. But for 5Ghz to be useful, your device has to support it also. Just having a 5Ghz WIFI router does no good if the device you are trying to stream to is only 2.4Ghz compatible.

Of the three The Asus has the most capabilities.

So I guess Asus AC1300 is the best options. Can I use this if I upgrade my connection to 150 Mbps in the future?

Yes. Again, the WIFI performance is a function of the router and the device. Changing your ISP speed may or may not speed up a specific device.

Thanks, I was about to buy the Asus 1300 today but now I see a sale on Netgear AC1750 (R6700) making it the same price as Asus 1300. It's going on sale now on Amazon and I am confused if I should get the Asus 1300 or Netgear AC1750? Do you know if Netgear one is an older model when to compared to Asus?

Netgear AC1750 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R2AZLD2

Here is the link to the sale - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R8W11Z

 

[kanewolf]

The Asus and the Netgear will probably be similar. I don't think the Netgear will be worse than the Asus.

 

[deephousebtc]

The Asus and the Netgear will probably be similar. I don't think the Netgear will be worse than the Asus.

Do you recommend Asus or the Netgear?

 

[kanewolf]

Between the specific Asus and the Netgear I don't have a preference. Either one should be fine.