EntropySink

Technical & Scientific => Hardware => Topic started by: charlie on August 01, 2014, 09:06:11 PM

Title: Another router topic
Post by: charlie on August 01, 2014, 09:06:11 PM

About to run out the door but wanted to throw this question out there real quick. I'm buying a new router for my Dad because his current one sometimes randomly cuts out and the signal is not so good in the living room (which is weird because the house is pretty small).

Recommendations? What brands should I steer towards or away from? Don't want super fancy, just a regular wireless router.

I might have to pick one up from Best Buy in the morning. Thought I had more time to weigh options and order online, but maybe not.

Input would be appreciated.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: ober on August 01, 2014, 09:21:44 PM

I've tried others, but stuck with my Linksys WRT54G... which is not N.  It has excellent signal all over our house (it has DD-WRT on it which helps).  Obviously you're not going to find that in a store.  So I am not sure why I posted because I have nothing of value to add.  I guess just that they all seem to suck.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: hans on August 04, 2014, 12:39:13 PM

I switched over to this one and like it well enough.

http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN66U/

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: charlie on August 04, 2014, 12:43:05 PM

Thanks, guys.

I went with Linksys while standing in the store looking at online reviews. Got to my dad's house, and he had a cable modem with built-in wifi. Returned the Linksys router yesterday.

The cable modem was pretty easy to set up thankfully, so now he's switched over and we'll juts have to see how well it performs.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: ober on August 04, 2014, 01:57:49 PM

Quote from: tgm on August 04, 2014, 12:39:13 PM

I switched over to this one and like it well enough.

http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN66U/

Can you speak to the range on that?

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: hans on August 04, 2014, 04:08:19 PM

Good throughout my house. Seem pretty good for upstairs/downstairs too. I haven't really checked how far I get outside with it, front steps is all the farther I've really tested it. So I'd say at least 30ft in each direction. Better at upstairs/downstairs than my WRT54G was.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on August 04, 2014, 05:06:21 PM

Routers worth their salt IMO...

BT Home Hub 5

Linksys:  WRT1900AC

Asus:  ASUS RT-AC56U and RT-AC66U

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: ober on October 24, 2014, 09:50:58 AM

Can anyone suggest a decent adapter?  I have one of those crappy USB dongles right now and I need to upgrade to something reasonable on my wife's computer.

And yes, the powerlink technology is a total fucking failure.  Drops out constantly.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: ober on October 24, 2014, 03:07:20 PM

I ended up buying the one TGM got.  And when I looked at it on Newegg, they were offering a free wifi extender to go with it (until 10/30).  So... win/win.  I didn't get an adapter quite yet.  I'm hoping that between the new router and the extender that her current adapter functions well enough.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on October 24, 2014, 10:50:52 PM

Good freakin luck.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: ober on October 25, 2014, 11:46:52 AM

I'll be sure to post a review.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: hans on October 25, 2014, 12:01:47 PM

Make sure you upgrade the firmware right away.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: ober on October 25, 2014, 07:25:08 PM

Yeah I read that in the reviews.

Title: Re: Another router topic
Post by: ober on October 29, 2014, 12:14:00 AM

Just hooked it all up.  I'm impressed.  I like the router interface.  Very clean and easy to understand.  My wife now has a consistent 4-5 bars and a very solid connection.  I connected the range extender and I think it actually made the connection worse, if that's possible.  I still might leave it connected in another room.  We'll see.  So far I'm happy with the router choice though.