Will I See Any Benefit If I Upgrade My Wireless Router?

[fdegree]

My ISP is Comcast. I have dropped all of their services, except for their Performance Starter Internet Only. This internet plan is a 10Mbps download speed and 2Mbps upload. I am also returning their modem, and replacing it with this one -- ARRIS SURFboard SB6141 -- which is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
Currently, I have this wireless router -- Netgear WGR614 Wireless-G Router.
Also, I do have a few wireless 802.11ac devices...smartphone, laptop, etc.
So, I'm wondering if I will experience any benefit from upgrading my wireless router to the current standard of 802.11ac?

 

[JamesSneed]

If your Wifi covers a large area maybe it will help as the speed degrades over distance and obstacles like walls or if you stream files from say a PC to a TV where it is on the local LAN not using the Comcast ISP. Take a portable device hooked up to Wifi and go to fast.com and test you speed standing right at the router you should get the 10Mbps then go around the house at further points an retest. If you don't get the same speed then the ac router may help broaden the coverage area.

To sum up if you have a big house or area or a Local LAN it could help otherwise I don't expect any benefit.

 

[fdegree]

Excellent point...I'll try that.
But, to approach this from a slightly different direction -- disregarding the speed factor...is their any other benefit to upgrade a router from 802.11g to 802.11ac?

EDIT: more specifically, do you think upgrading to a dual band "AC" router will reduce any interference from the neighbors routers?

 

[boosted1g]

From a wireless G to a wireless AC you will see a huge gain in wifi range and a massive gain in device to device communication (like file shares, wifi streaming, etc).

Now if your G router gave plenty of range for your home and you do not do anything except access content on the internet then you will not "feel" any improvment with only having a 10mbps connection.

WIth all of that said though I would at minimum upgrade to a wireless N spec router so you can have the much more secure WPA2 encryption on your wifi connection.

 

[boosted1g]

Excellent point...I'll try that.
But, to approach this from a slightly different direction -- disregarding the speed factor...is their any other benefit to upgrade a router from 802.11g to 802.11ac?

EDIT: more specifically, do you think upgrading to a dual band "AC" router will reduce any interference from the neighbors routers?

If your devices support the 5ghz band of an AC router, then that will absolutely help against neighbor interference.
Your router cant change how much power your neighbors are outputing, but the wider range of the AC router may help a little bit with the 2.4 band.

 

[JamesSneed]

I also I should note if you are replacing the cable modem you may think about returning the one you bought and buy an all in one modem and router. You dont have to but you may save a bit and have a less cluttered setup. Something like the Arris TG862g or NETGEAR - AC1750. Not that I love BestBuy but they do have a good filter showing Cable Modem routers.

 

[boosted1g]

I also I should note if you are replacing the cable modem you may think about returning the one you bought and buy an all in one modem and router. You dont have to but you may save a bit and have a less cluttered setup. Something like the Arris TG862g. Not that I love BestBuy but they do have a good filer showing Cable Modem routers.

I personally never recommend getting all in one combos.
They save you $20 today but between lower build quality and having to replace both parts if one dies or if one needs upgraded; that savings quickly turns negative. Not to mention that the vast majority of stand-alone routers are better performing and more features then the vast majority of combo modem/routers.

 

[fdegree]

I do have a few different devices that support the "ac" standard. Considering that, and the potential to minimize interference from the neighbors, maybe it will be worth the upgrade.

 

[JamesSneed]

I also I should note if you are replacing the cable modem you may think about returning the one you bought and buy an all in one modem and router. You dont have to but you may save a bit and have a less cluttered setup. Something like the Arris TG862g. Not that I love BestBuy but they do have a good filer showing Cable Modem routers.

I personally never recommend getting all in one combos.
They save you $20 today but between lower build quality and having to replace both parts if one dies or if one needs upgraded; that savings quickly turns negative. Not to mention that the vast majority of stand-alone routers are better performing and more features then the vast majority of combo modem/routers.

Yeah I hear you. The "NETGEAR - AC1750" is selling for about $150 on BestBuy not sure what the OP payed for the Arris cable modem but I bet its not far off it may be like a free AC router for them so I thought It was at least worth looking into it.

 

[boosted1g]

I do have a few different devices that support the "ac" standard. Considering that, and the potential to minimize interference from the neighbors, maybe it will be worth the upgrade.

Best value you can find on AC routers is either a $80 TM-AC1900 from amazon.com or a refurbished asus ac68u/ac68p ($70-80) from newegg. They are both the exact same (except the P has a faster cpu) internally as the normal $150 model and perform really well.

This router is quite overkill for your needs but given that any half as capable router will cost nearly the same makes it a much much better value.

 

[fdegree]

Yeah I hear you. The "NETGEAR - AC1750" is selling for about $150 on BestBuy not sure what the OP payed for the Arris cable modem but I bet its not far off it may be like a free AC router for them so I thought It was at least worth looking into it.

I paid $30 for the Arris modem. If I decide to replace the router, too, I'm hoping to keep that expense below $50...if I can.

 

[JamesSneed]

One final thing. You might call up Comcast and ask how much it is for them to change your Comcast router out with there gateway that has 802.11ac which is an all in one as well.

 

[fdegree]

One final thing. You might call up Comcast and ask how much it is for them to change your Comcast router out with there gateway that has 802.11ac which is an all in one as well.

I appreciate the thought, but they want a monthly rental fee for their equipment. That's the main reason I just bought my own modem.

 

[fdegree]

Thanks for all your help on this!