OT: Wireless Router

[J-Dawg]

Have been looking for reasons to dump UVerse, and we just recently had C-Spire Fiber installed in our neighborhood. They give you the option to use your own router as opposed to renting theirs for $5/mo. Been a while since I had to deal with my own WiFi router, but what are some good options these days that handle 802.11ac and 1000+mbs (per C-Spires recommendations)?

 

[KingCharlesSpaniel]

Asus makes the best high-end home routers. I like Linksys (owned by Cisco) for more affordable options. I have had problems with D-Link and Netgear products in the past and have avoided them for many years.

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,28...54050631408&device=c&dps=1&network=s&source=s

https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/bas...177-how-to-buy-a-wireless-router-2018-edition

 

[ababyatemydingo]

Have been looking for reasons to dump UVerse, and we just recently had C-Spire Fiber installed in our neighborhood. They give you the option to use your own router as opposed to renting theirs for $5/mo. Been a while since I had to deal with my own WiFi router, but what are some good options these days that handle 802.11ac and 1000+mbs (per C-Spires recommendations)?

Here you go. Buy one of each of these, and you'll be set.



https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Unifi-Security-Gateway-USG/dp/B00LV8YZLK


https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Net...rd_wg=hmgr7&psc=1&refRID=SC1G768RQXYXSH3B0ZG7

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I bought google wifi about a year ago and have been very pleased.

 

[tired]

Did you happen to get the Google 3 pack?

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Did you happen to get the Google 3 pack?

Yes

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Have been looking for reasons to dump UVerse, and we just recently had C-Spire Fiber installed in our neighborhood. They give you the option to use your own router as opposed to renting theirs for $5/mo. Been a while since I had to deal with my own WiFi router, but what are some good options these days that handle 802.11ac and 1000+mbs (per C-Spires recommendations)?

I went through this a few weeks ago. The router/modem combo I needed was $150. I then realized that would be 30 months to break even. At any point along the way, the leased device can break and get replaced for free. I figure in 30 more months we will be on 5g anyway, this year in my case.

 

[ronpolk]

Here you go. Buy one of each of these, and you'll be set.



https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Unifi-Security-Gateway-USG/dp/B00LV8YZLK


https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Net...rd_wg=hmgr7&psc=1&refRID=SC1G768RQXYXSH3B0ZG7

I will soon be on cspire internet. Why the need to buy one of each? I read the description of each product but I’m not a very tech savvy person.

 

[aTotal360]

If you live in an suburban environment where there are many networks, get a Portal router. You'll thank me.

https://www.amazon.com/Portal-wifi-router-technology-affordable/dp/B01JQROZZS

 

[BigMotherTucker]

I've had good experiences with the apple airport express and now airport extreme. They both just work with not much hassle. I replaced the express with the extreme because I wanted to be able to share a USB hard drive through out my network. EASY setup... Just works...

 

[ababyatemydingo]

I will soon be on cspire internet. Why the need to buy one of each? I read the description of each product but I’m not a very tech savvy person.

The Unifi Security Gateway is the router (that's what hands out IP addresses to your devices, and is a firewall to outside threats). The Access point in the second link is your wifi. That's oversimplifying it, but all you really need to know. You can set both of them up, with a simple youtube video. Ubiiquiti makes things very simple to setup. You can actually plug and play both, but you'll want to configure your own SSID (ronpolkhomewifi, for example) and wifi password.

 

[anon1787432961]

Orbi, worldwide leader in whole home wifi speed

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Orbi-Whole-System-Tri-band/dp/B01K4CZOBS

 

[RocketDawg]

I've had good experiences with the apple airport express and now airport extreme. They both just work with not much hassle. I replaced the express with the extreme because I wanted to be able to share a USB hard drive through out my network. EASY setup... Just works...

I too have an AirPort Extreme. I have 300 mbps down service and consistently get about 340 on my "main" computer wired straight to the modem. On wireless, the best I've gotten is about 140 and it's typically 120. I don't know if that's because the AirPort Extreme is getting dated, or if that's about all I can expect via wireless.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I just had Ceasefire fiber TTH installed. I bought the router linked below based on a Best Buy nerd's advice, it works well. You do not need a modem. Have the router ready so the tech can hook it up when he installs your home, else there will be another service call if you go with the Ceasefire router initially and change to your own router later. I can tell the difference in speed between their router and the one below. This router will cover a two-story, 3,000+ SF house.

Linksys WRT AC3200 Open Source Dual-Band Gigabit Smart Wireless Router with MU-MIMO, Tri-Stream 160 (WRT3200ACM)

 

[MarriedtoStateGrad]

How bit is your house?

Orbi, worldwide leader in whole home wifi speed

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Orbi-Whole-System-Tri-band/dp/B01K4CZOBS

I had a problem with an upstairs with poor reception. In the past I used a "repeater" there, but the problem is that you had to select it when upstairs as if it were a separate system. My wife sitting in a chair a few feet from the stairs kept having her Iphone and Ipad try to connect to the upstairs and got poor reception. The Orbi , with a base and another "node" upstairs solved this since it broadcasts the signal but is still part of the same system. You can use your cell phone on the internet as you leave the room and go upstairs with no glitch and both up and down stairs gets great signal strength. No reclogging in to a repeater system.

It is expensive and if your house if smaller or you had better sense than to run the internet into the end of the house in the master suite [guilty] then you might not need a whole house system. Orbi is not a truly integrated system, but it has a channel reserved just for communication between the two and works well unless you have a really spread out house with porches, basements and upstairs etc. If you have a sprawling configuration you might need a system with several nodes that operates as one system to get good signal with no interference. Google has this and there are others, search on Amazon.

My daughter lives in a small house in California [not small for out there] but has an upstairs and since the house is about 1900 sq feet she replaced her old Apple airport with the airport extreme and it works fine all over the house.

There is no one answer to everyone's situation.
P.S. I now have Cspire fiber and it is much, much faster than Comcast.

Good luck

 

[Junction John]

I've wondered about this. I think some of my neighbors (or their kids) are tapping into my supposedly 1 gig fiber network. So this will stop that?

 

[aTotal360]

No. The Portal router is designed for areas that have dozens of networks causing congestion. My community has 1/3 acre lots so when I pull up my list of networks, I see networks from 8-12 different houses. Some people have multiple networks as well. All these networks can cause congestion based on a lot of technical **** that is over my head. I had a $240 Blackhawk router and it worked fine. I heard about the Portal from a friend that does IT/networking in office spaces. He got me one at a discount and I absolutely love it. It's software is average at best, but it's functionality is top notch. According to speedtest.net, I picked up about 40 mbs just by using this router. Supposedly it has exclusive "rights" to use specific frequencies in the 2.4 and 5 ghz ranges that other routers cannot use. I just know my interwebs is much more reliable and faster since swapping over to it. It's also has great range too.

https://portalwifi.com/technology

 

[Irondawg]

I have the supplied Cspire router and have been disappointed in it. I have a 3k square foot house included the one upstairs bonus room. Router is pretty much middle of the house. Receptions in the corners of the house is spotty and pretty weak outside in the yard. It's also not very good upstairs. Meanwhile I can see full bar service from neighbors 3-4 doors down inside my own house.

So I can't recommend the Netgear router Cspire packages. Been meaning to figure out the best fix solution so am following this thread b/c i'm not very tech savvy

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I too have an AirPort Extreme. I have 300 mbps down service and consistently get about 340 on my "main" computer wired straight to the modem. On wireless, the best I've gotten is about 140 and it's typically 120. I don't know if that's because the AirPort Extreme is getting dated, or if that's about all I can expect via wireless.

I have the same and get close to 300 on wifi unless I am in one or two rooms. Never had a problem with the Apple Extreme.

 

[RocketDawg]

I could also be too far away from my router. It's basically in the middle of the house on the second floor, and I do most of my "computing" on the first, well off to the side. I know my phone is considerably faster when I'm in the kitchen, directly under the Extreme, but haven't checked my laptop there.