Which router is the best?

[johnjohn67]

Hi, I'm looking to get a new router but I'm not sure on how to make a decision. My current router/modem combo works but not very well. The problem is that the router has to be on the third floor which isn't optimal so having a long range is important. We have two gaming pc's that use an Ethernet cable, a few laptops, an htpc, and an assortment of tablets and smartphones that will be connected to it as well. These are a few I selected, feel free to add your suggestions, but I'd like to keep it under $200.

My top two choices are the asus and netgear though.
edit: My original link was broken
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127525CVF

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320115

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124501

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122581

 

[arges86]

I like the ASUS RT-AC66U personally
All of their RT models are good products.
Enough bandwidth for your needs, and the ability to customize the firmware to suite your needs

 

[johnjohn67]

How's the netgear one though? If it's cheaper than the asus would it be worth getting? And how much of an improvement would the rt68 be over the rt66 and is it worth spending $30 more?

 

[MartinWilson]

I'd go for the Netgear Nighthawk out of that list.

It's got an awesome dual core CPU and some pretty decent reviews.

Rather than the Asus RT-AC66U, would you consider the RT-AC68U? I have it (in my sig below) and have been very impressed

 

[bill001g]

What do you mean "better". The primary difference between routers like this are going to be software features. If coverage distance is your main concern then they all will be very similar. Your house and its layout make more difference than any tiny difference they measure in some lab. That is why you see reviews that love or hate every router there is.

If you want to save money do not buy a AC router. You can only run AC on the 5g band and 5g is absorbed more easily by walls and floors so it does not have as good a range. The only true advantage to 5g is there is less interference from other people...partially because their signals cant get into your house as easy.

You likely will need 2 device solution to cover your house. A router on one floor and router/ap cabled via ethernet on a different floor.

 

[johnjohn67]

So an ac router will not offer better range than an N one?

 

[Hawkeye22]

if you are looking for an N router, I just got this asus recently and it works great.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320091&Tpk=asus%20rt%20n66u

 

[bill001g]

Range is a function of radio transmit power. The power you are allowed to use on 2.4 and 5 is the same no matter if your use N or AC or even the older G or B or A. So the distance the signal goes will not be affected. What is different is at a given signal level I can get more data in the same signal with AC than N. So lets say I always get 2 time the data with AC as N. If the signal strength was 50% and I can get 10m with N I could get 20m with AC. BUT if the signal strength is so low I get zero with N i will get 2 x zero which is still zero.

Now what makes this issue even more confusing is 802.11AC only runs on 5g. 802.11N runs on both 2.4g and 5g. So if you run on 5g 802.11AC and 802.11N will have similar range but your will get data more data though. Now if you ask I run 802.11n on 2.4 and 802.11ac on 5g which has more range..it will almost always be the 802.11n not because it is 802.11n but because it is 2.4g

 

[johnjohn67]

But what about the Nighthawk router for example it says it uses 2.4/5ghz simultaneously. So will i have the best of both worlds, where the 2.4ghz covers what the 5ghz band can't? And whatever is within the 5ghz range will use the AC for extra speed?

 

[eibgrad]

Best is subjective. Personally, I won't even consider a router that doesn't support Tomato (third party firmware). As it happens, the ASUS RT-N66U does (I didn't check the others). If I was in the market today, that's probably what I’d would buy. I don't believe in jumping on the absolute newest thing (e.g., AC). I like to let these things flush out. If I wanted to save a little more, I might even go w/ the ASUS RT-N16.

 

[bill001g]

I have not researched the nighthawk router. The key would be to dig thought the FCC site where they must specify which radios and such they are using. You will likely find that they use the exact same chips as other routers in there class. Pretty much the only AC chipset on the market right now are made by broadcom. You have to remember asking which router is better is like asking which has a better CPU clock speed a DELL or a HP when they have exactly the same INTEL CPU chip. There are other features that vary from router to router but anything related to the radio signals is controlled by these radio chips.

The only dual band routers that cannot run 2.4 and 5 simultaneously are some of the very cheap off brand ones.

 

[johnjohn67]

OK thanks for the help everyone. I think I will get the asus rt n66u and the nighthawk and try each out for a week and see how they both work in my house.