What is the best home router on the market?

Reba

Reba

Retired Terp
Premium Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
54,899
Reaction score
1,518
I'm considering an upgrade at home. We have our own modem and router devices (separate). They're good but could be better.

Here's the particulars:

1. We run two laptops, two desk top PC's, one large wifi HD TV, one wifi Squeezebox, two smartphones, three wifi printers. We sometimes also use two tablets.

2. Our cable runs from outside into our upstairs office. That's where the modem and router are located, side-by-side. We use the desktop computers upstairs and most other devices downstairs.

3. Our laptops downstairs run very slow, and internet frequently stops. At least once a week it seems I have to reboot the modem and router because the internet drops out.

4. In the past, I used a wifi bridge for downstairs but it didn't seem to help. I no longer use that.

5. We're not gamers.

Linksys has been bombarding me with emails about their latest products. They look very interesting. I've used Linksys before.

Which is better--separate modem and router, as I have now, or modem/router combo?
 
The best home router is the one that routes your kids to the homework area.
 
Muse said:
The best home router is the one that routes your kids to the homework area.
Click to expand...
My "kid" and her hubby are 42 years old and their "kids" are in college. They don't live with us.
 
I'm no expert but will give a little insight hopefully... We've done both ways- modem and router separate (linksys router which is a tad...old have had it for at least 5 years by now) and now just modem with router built in and WiFi through Time Warner (we're trying it out to see- the cost kind of came out the same with the added idea that with a router that ages quickly in terms of tech).

Our set up is not as extensive as yours- just a Mac, 2 Windows pcs, a 2008 laptop, an iPad, an android phone and occasionally a few others when family visits (split between android and mac devices). For me I haven't really seen a difference in either. The signal strength seems really good downstairs which actually surprised me but then it may be the way the house is set up so that the wifi signal is unimpeded when broadcasting to downstairs.

I've heard/read that Linksys or Netgear are both good choices for routers. Part of the reason why we decided on the modem/router combo is that I was worried in getting the older router to play nice with the newer modem- probably not a big issue but it can happen. Another thing to maybe check on is the channel you are broadcasting on...I'm trying to remember the most common/default ones- I know 11 is one of them. Sometimes switching the channel can help with the signal strength.

Hmm I will have to save those links! Mine is an E2000 lol.
 
Reba said:
My "kid" and her hubby are 42 years old and their "kids" are in college. They don't live with us.
Click to expand...


Was just adding a bit of humor. Sorry if I implied anything otherwise, Reba! I hope you find a great router.
 
My experience says that I perfer to keep cable modem and router separate...
 
What I have here is Verizon mi424wr router and I hate it. So I purchase Ubiquiti Unifi AP and I love it. I only need one in the middle of the house and it's powerful in term of distance. I can still pick up Wi-Fi outside about 70 ft out. This require POE injector (it come with it) or switches. So my Wi-Fi sit on the ceiling in the middle of our house (see pix below) and signal spread very nice. Full bar all over, no matter where you are. Of course it require to run Ethernet cable in the wall or into the attic and the POE injector can be near where the router and outlet located. The one I purchase is Unifi UAP-Pro model. Yes it's look expensive but it's powerful and well worth it. It goes up to 450 Mbps and two frequencies, 2.5 and 5 Mhz. So I disable Verizon Wifi and just use Unifi Wifi.

https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-ap/
 

Attachments

  • UnifiAP.jpg
    UnifiAP.jpg
    124.5 KB · Views: 15
SneakerNet said:
What I have here is Verizon mi424wr router and I hate it. So I purchase Ubiquiti Unifi AP and I love it. I only need one in the middle of the house and it's powerful in term of distance. I can still pick up Wi-Fi outside about 70 ft out. This require POE injector (it come with it) or switches. So my Wi-Fi sit on the ceiling in the middle of our house (see pix below) and signal spread very nice. Full bar all over, no matter where you are. Of course it require to run Ethernet cable in the wall or into the attic and the POE injector can be near where the router and outlet located. The one I purchase is Unifi UAP-Pro model. Yes it's look expensive but it's powerful and well worth it. It goes up to 450 Mbps and two frequencies, 2.5 and 5 Mhz. So I disable Verizon Wifi and just use Unifi Wifi.

https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-ap/
Click to expand...

Very space-age looking! Definitely worth investigating.

Our wifi signal sometimes drops and I have to go thru the whole unplug-router-and-modem-wait-replug-in-modem-router routine. Do you ever have that problem?
 
Reba said:
Very space-age looking! Definitely worth investigating.

Our wifi signal sometimes drops and I have to go thru the whole unplug-router-and-modem-wait-replug-in-modem-router routine. Do you ever have that problem?
Click to expand...

Space age?? Mmm....Okay....(smile) You mentioned you have Linksys router/wifi, what model is it?

I had a few experiences with my employees who work at home and when one person was using VPN to connect to our work and it keep on dropping out and sometime he had to restart the router. I told him my recommendation is to try to move the cable modem to his office and use Ethernet instead of wifi. One month later he got fed up with it and contact cable company requesting to move the modem to his office. And now it work beautiful using Ethernet. So, some Wifi may get over heated because of heavy traffic, which make sense that when he download a large radar data (up to gig worth) and once it get too heavy and over heated the chip which eventually quit..Wifi completely stop or drop out. That's the only I can think of it. The other time when one employee asked me about his EIG dept was using Comcast wifi and not giving out strong signal so I told him that I have extra Unifi AP (we use it at work too) and when he installed he told me that this AP was very stable, nice and strong signal. So, when he said about being stable I'm assuming that it's not a stable connections.

So, with this Unifi UAP-Pro, it's nice when you see the light on the dome, it will show Blue (UAP-Pro) meaning connection is good, orange mean no connection (between the router and AP) and blinking blue means no internet.

Updated:
One more thing, you can find it in Amazon.
 
Last edited:
You need at least a DOCSIS 3.0 modem and at least a wired/wireless N router. You want Gigabyte speeds even if your carrier doesn't support them yet. There are later standards, but for now you are still good with these.

Personally, I'd make sure you router has USB and perhaps storage(if you want to access files from home securely).
 
Thanks everyone. I haven't forgotten or ignored this thread. I'm still researching my options and checking out your suggestions. It's just been put on the back burner during these hectic days before Christmas. :)
 
Hey Reba,

Try this Motorola SBG6782AC Modem Cable. You do not need additional routers....

Your old friend....
 
SneakerNet said:
Space age?? Mmm....Okay....(smile) You mentioned you have Linksys router/wifi, what model is it?

I had a few experiences with my employees who work at home and when one person was using VPN to connect to our work and it keep on dropping out and sometime he had to restart the router. I told him my recommendation is to try to move the cable modem to his office and use Ethernet instead of wifi. One month later he got fed up with it and contact cable company requesting to move the modem to his office. And now it work beautiful using Ethernet. So, some Wifi may get over heated because of heavy traffic, which make sense that when he download a large radar data (up to gig worth) and once it get too heavy and over heated the chip which eventually quit..Wifi completely stop or drop out. That's the only I can think of it. The other time when one employee asked me about his EIG dept was using Comcast wifi and not giving out strong signal so I told him that I have extra Unifi AP (we use it at work too) and when he installed he told me that this AP was very stable, nice and strong signal. So, when he said about being stable I'm assuming that it's not a stable connections.

So, with this Unifi UAP-Pro, it's nice when you see the light on the dome, it will show Blue (UAP-Pro) meaning connection is good, orange mean no connection (between the router and AP) and blinking blue means no internet.

Updated:
One more thing, you can find it in Amazon.
Click to expand...


I looked at website, wow. I have a question. I do have both modem and wifi router. Suppose if I want to get rid of wifi router and replace it with Unifi UAP Pro? How can it connect with the modem?

When I explore information on that wifi system, it got me thinking.. it is for optic fiber only?

I am interested to know. Thanks.
 
I prefer ASUS router for best extended range, even 5 GHz works in living room from my bedroom.
 
Oddball said:
I looked at website, wow. I have a question. I do have both modem and wifi router. Suppose if I want to get rid of wifi router and replace it with Unifi UAP Pro? How can it connect with the modem?

When I explore information on that wifi system, it got me thinking.. it is for optic fiber only?

I am interested to know. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Unifi UAP Pro is design as Access Point. You still need either Modem or Router. If modem have built in DCHP server which dynamically assigned IP address to each machine or device then all you need is both Modem and Unifi UAP Pro, you don't need router.
Some modem provide only one data port and you are not connecting to any other wired connection devices like printer, desktop computer or VP Then that will be fine to use completely wireless connection, no wired connected device. If you still need to use the wired connections, Then you will need to use router which acted as data port expansion, that have 5 ports on the back of the router. You know, modem have one port in the back, how you can add more wired devices? Router is the way to go. It's like a plug strip, to add more plug for each device. Make sense?

Any cable provider almost always required a modem so you will need it anyway.

About the fiber optic, the answer is no. it's all connected via Ethernet with power injector (to provide power for Unifi UAP Pro). So, the Ethernet cable is connected between the modem (or router) and the Unifi UAP Pro.

I hope this helped.
 
Back
Top