Need a new router ASAP

[Timmyfox]

So the house router finally decided to give up, a Linksys WRT-610N, and first thing tomorrow I'll stop by the store to buy a new one.

 

I'll be looking for something fairly strong and relatively future proof, thus AC-compatibility is preferable. I'm no novice with network management so I'd like a good amount of advanced customization options.

 

The most relevant models I've found are as follows:

• Linksys EA6900
• Asus RT-AC66U OR AC68U
• Netgear 'Nighthawk' R7000

I've done some brief research, but haven't been able to find too much relevant information. Most reviews (both review sites and user reviews on various websites) seem to be just praise or just complaints about countless issues. I'm currently not gonna utilize more than 2.4GHz N for most part and my only AC-compatible device is my smartphone at the time of posting. However I'm planning on getting a new laptop around summer and I like to have something that will be fairly future proof by the time I'll benefit more from the AC-compatibility.

 

Which model I'll go for depends on what they have in stock at the store and the feedback I get here. So please give me as much information as you can. If you want to suggest any other model than the ones I mentioned, feel free.

[Vitalius]

I own the RT-AC68U. It's pretty sweet. 

It's the first time I used a router that automatically made the browser on your machine open (yes, open a program) and send you to it's webpage for first time configuration. 

It has a lot of good features (the only one missing that I want is to be able to label static IPs which it doesn't have and is annoying). I noticed a huge improvement over my old Linksys WRT54G (or something or other). The transfer speeds got a lot more consistent (i.e. a constant 60-61MB/s versus bouncing between 15 and 60 MB/s where all other network infrastructure didn't change). 

I'm currently connected to it via Powerline, direct Ethernet and WiFi (2.4GHz), My personal PC, my NAS, and my PS3 respectively. The range is pretty good. 4-5 bars at 50 feet away with 1-3 walls between us (depends on location) and 1 of those walls has insulation (old garage). 

I don't like that the password to the Router is limited to about 16 characters. That's my minimum length for passwords, so that was annoying when I wanted to use a longer one.

The default Network Map interface is nice. It's the first page to open once you log into the router and gives you a button to see the list of connected devices with IPs. It also shows what's connected to your USB ports (one USB 3.0 and the other USB 2.0). Along with WiFi settings and your Internet connection status and IP. 

It can also act as a sort of mini-NAS, where the USB 3.0 port can have an external HDD attached to it and you can set up a Samba Share within the software for it. The USB 2.0 is for a printer I imagine, or you could use another HDD or Flash Drive.

It has IPTV settings and control, offers Dual WAN connection, All the basics of a router (DMZ, DDNS, Port Forwarding, etc etc), a VPN Server & Client, A firewall with URL, Keyword, and Service filters (goodbye porn, mostly), an easy automatic, self-downloading, firmware update page, and a System Log for pretty much everything (DHCP leases, Wireless logs, General Logs, Port Forwarding, Connections, etc).

It even has a built-in Wake on LAN page for waking up computers. I thought that one was pretty awesome. Obviously you need to enable it in the BIOS and the motherboard has to support it, but I just love having that "business" type feature.

YMMV, but I love this thing.

[Timmyfox]

Excellent feedback, thanks.

How well is the DHCP-handling with the common things like reservations and modifying the scope? Like limiting it to say 25 users?

 

It's not a dealbreaker but I saw some claims that it had some issues when changing the private IP to something other than 192.168.1.1, that it only creates a link or something and doesn't actually use the IP you set? This is just because I prefer the look of 10.x.x address to 192.168.x so it ain't the end of the world, although it would mean less work on the connected devices since the network printer for example as such is currently configured at 10.0.1.20.

[Vitalius]

Excellent feedback, thanks.

How well is the DHCP-handling with the common things like reservations and modifying the scope? Like limiting it to say 25 users?

 

It's not a dealbreaker but I saw some claims that it had some issues when changing the private IP to something other than 192.168.1.1, that it only creates a link or something and doesn't actually use the IP you set? This is just because I prefer the look of 10.x.x address to 192.168.x so it ain't the end of the world, although it would mean less work on the connected devices since the network printer for example as such is currently configured at 10.0.1.20.

Hahaha, I love that you prefer those. So do I! 

Mines set to 10.3.35.X (not the real one obviously) right now and it works fine. I use 10.3.35.1 (again, not the real one) to access the router (you can also use it's webpage of router.asus.com to access it regardless of IP). 

I haven't noticed any kind of linking. Not sure what I'd see in that respect, but using ping [insert IP], everything works fine between my machines. 

Actually... wait. I do think I know what you mean. We bought a router at work recently, and if I connect it to the network via the WAN port (i.e. the ethernet port from the wall goes into the separate port), all computers connected to it get 192.168.1.X IP addresses while it gets an address within our company correctly (10.X.X.X). 

That might be the linking someone mentioned, but it would only be a problem if you don't also set the DHCP settings to 10.X.X.X IP range as well as the default settings for the Router. 

That'd be a problem with any network and any router. It's all down to if you set it up right or not.

We solved that problem by not using the WAN port. If you are directly connecting it to your Modem, then you should use the WAN port. However, if you are using the router to extend your network, you shouldn't plug anything into the WAN port so the router doesn't act as a Gateway as well (thing that bridges 2 networks). 

[Timmyfox]

Of course, I'm planning to connect it directly to the modem so I will indeed use the WAN port to do so. I've used multiple routers in an extended network like you described however so I know what you mean, I had one of them connected to the modem and the other configured as an AP to extend the wireless coverage.

 

The way you describe it sounds like the way NAT works, so I guess I shouldn't need to be too worried then.

 

That said, one of the top rated user reviews on a local shopping site had nothing but negative feedback that I wouldn't mind if you could clarify. It seems there's been at least one firmware revision since it was posted (around 3 months ago) but it's still something that had me a tad worried.

 

It's the same one that talked about the IP address thing I mentioned.

 

Do note that the quoted has been translated from my native language - Swedish.

 

1. Is probably the wired connection to the router. If I have Canons software running on the computer simultanously the routers *wireless* network stops working (!). Unbelievable....
2. When you are using a wired connection, there is a large amount of packet loss for no apparent reason. Probably the packets are being routed incorrectly.
3. The web interface is slow and buggy. You have to reload the page several times (unsure if it's the same problem as the previous).

4. The DHCP server doesn't always work and give out any IP. If you hardcode MACIP there is no hostname visible on the computer. Just IP and MAC.
5. I'm using a Huawei 4G dongle and there is no way to see i.e. connection speeds, 3G/4G mode etc. etc etc. Just the most basic.

6. The routers IP is always 192.168.1.1 and if you set it to any other IP such as 192.168.0.1 it just creates a bridge to 192.168.1.1. Stupid, but at least it works.

 

Now of course I'll take all this with a grain of salt, but it's just the fact that it's the highest rated user review on the site for the AC68U with 10 'thumbs up' and 81% of the ratings saying "good review". That said the 2nd top rated one is 1 month more recent and essentially says that the latest firmware seemed to have fixed all the weird bugs and everything.

 

Of course though, I've seen similar negative reviews and comments on the other two models I listed so I'm not gonna let a few negative reviews amongst many other positive ones dictate my decision more than necessary.

 

If anyone else has any thoughts on any other models, I'd be glad to hear them too for the sake of getting an as complete picture as I can about the various models currently on the market.

[Vitalius]

-snip-

I have used it with Canon software, so I can't comment on that. I've never seen the WiFi just stop working on it though.

I'm using it with Powerline. I haven't seen any packet loss, so yeah.

I have the latest Firmware.

 

The web interface is slow and buggy. You have to reload the page several times (unsure if it's the same problem as the previous).

I actually agree with it being slow. I haven't seen it be buggy, but when you apply new settings, it sits there with a "Proceed:[percentage]" and you have to wait a good 30 seconds to 1 minute for them to apply. Then you move to the next tab. Very annoying for first time setups, but fine after that. 

 

The DHCP server doesn't always work and give out any IP. If you hardcode MACIP there is no hostname visible on the computer. Just IP and MAC.

This is also partially true. I haven't ever seen the DHCP server not give out an IP, it always does, but around 60% of the time, the DHCP Lease list only shows IP + MACs and no hostnames. Randomly, it will show hostnames, so I know it's not the hosts themselves. Weirdness.

No idea. Don't use that Dongle.

 

The routers IP is always 192.168.1.1 and if you set it to any other IP such as 192.168.0.1 it just creates a bridge to 192.168.1.1. Stupid, but at least it works.

I haven't seen it do that. Checking every single page on the Router, I don't see an IP address of 192.168.X.X anywhere at all. So I doubt mine is doing that. It's 10.X.X.X everywhere.

I figured the Firmware update fixed whatever issues there were.

[Timmyfox]

Excellent, so just minor inconveniences rather than actual problems.

 

I went with the RT-AC68U

[Vitalius]

Cool. I hope it works well for you.

[Timmyfox]

Thanks, been setting it up and playing with the settings - So far so good!