Best High End UFB Router

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Scott3

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#154813 8-Nov-2014 17:35

Hi Everybody

Hope thread isn't to similar to the other router treads, but the others seem to have a focus on lower end gear.

Essentially I am having stability issues with my Vodafone supplied HG659. and am hoping a better router will sort them out and give me better proformance at the same time

My network configuration is shown below.

I have been looking at:

Netgear R7000 $273.70
Netgear R8000 $343.85
Asus RT-AC66U $325
Asus RT-AC68U $388
TP-Link Archer C7 $201.25

Prices are from PBtech

Alternatively I could also go for a separate router (I could put it in my networking cabinet) and access point. Currently I
have used Cat 6 fixed wiring (some patch leads are cat5e) to locate the router in my office away from the ONT.

Anybody got any preferences.

I have heard good things about ASUS, but the Netgear routers seem better speced and cheaper. I also have a soft spot-TP link as I have one has been near flawless on ADSL2 for the last few years, but no gigabit ethernet ports mean its time for me to move on.

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#1171417 8-Nov-2014 18:17

The new Netcomm NF8AC seems a good unit and it's got AC wireless. I've been testing one for a week without a problem, but can't comment on the AC performance.

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chevrolux

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#1171431 8-Nov-2014 18:43

Mikrotik CCR1036-8G-2S+EM router is fairly high end.

No wireless though so maybe a Ruckus AC access point for that.

Scott3

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#1171478 8-Nov-2014 20:32

chevrolux: Mikrotik CCR1036-8G-2S+EM router is fairly high end.

No wireless though so maybe a Ruckus AC access point for that.

http://www.gowifi.co.nz/coming-soon-new-products/mikrotik-ccr1036-8g-2s-em-10gbit-sfp.html

Wow, 1.2GHZ 36 core CPU, 16GB Ram, $1775+GST.

Sure it is a really nice router, But I think it will be overkill for my residential network.

DarkShadow

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#1171527 8-Nov-2014 22:55

LOL slightly overkill that thing.

A $100-200 Mikrotik will be fine I think.

timbosan

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#1171535 8-Nov-2014 23:35

If you want the "best high end UFB router" and the microtek is a bit much, why not take the DIY route? You can take the Ethernet from the ONT into a PC with dual NIC's running something like Untangle, set up the VLAN tagging correctly, and bob's your fathers brother - you have a UFB router that is only limited by the components use choose. Go with Intel NIC's for great performance, and any modem CPU should be fine.

Plus you get all the other functionality such as reporting, firewall, virus scanner, etc.

Aredwood

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#1171552 9-Nov-2014 00:58

Ubiquity Edge Router lite. https://nicegear.co.nz/routers/ubiquiti-edgerouter-lite/
Im probably the only person on GZ who uses it. But in short, it just does what it is supposed to do. Best part about it is that you don't have to restart it all the time. Like you have to on consumer grade routers. Current uptime on mine is 2 months, 3 weeks, 6 days. It would be far longer but I wanted to install a firmware update. It is recommended that you have it running on a UPS though. (mine is running off a simple 12V UPS) Either way is seems like you have "outgrown" consumer grade routers. Assuming you have some networking knowledge, Get either the Edge Router, or 1 of the Mikrotik routers as suggested. Then re-purpose your old routers as Wifi APs. If you do get the Edge Router, I can give you a copy of my config files. To make it easy for you to get it going on NZ UFB.

Bugzptr

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#1171562 9-Nov-2014 07:34

+1 for the Edge Router Lite

But, of course, it doesn't do Wireless and you'd probably also need a switch. But it does what it does extremely well.

michaelmurfy

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#1171600 9-Nov-2014 11:31

I personally use the RB951G-2nHD on my UFB connection - a good cheap router and is very stable, requires quite a bit of configuration though: http://goo.gl/DznAvw

You could also go towards the UniFi security gateway which has a UniFi Controller built in + add UniFi access points for your wireless network? Quite high end and a nice solution: http://goo.gl/9XfW4g

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Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

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chevrolux

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#1171642 9-Nov-2014 13:52

Scott3:
chevrolux: Mikrotik CCR1036-8G-2S+EM router is fairly high end.

No wireless though so maybe a Ruckus AC access point for that.

http://www.gowifi.co.nz/coming-soon-new-products/mikrotik-ccr1036-8g-2s-em-10gbit-sfp.html

Wow, 1.2GHZ 36 core CPU, 16GB Ram, $1775+GST.

Sure it is a really nice router, But I think it will be overkill for my residential network.

Haha yea sorry, Just being a d1ck.

Personally I would go for the Mikrotik RB951G-2HnD like MichealMurfy said.

Only problem with Mikrotik is RouterOS. Amazing software but steep learning curve.

The Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Lite is not a bad piece of kit but the GUI is still somewhat lacking which means do to anything remotely clever you are on the CLI which, again, steep learning curve. For the same price you will get the RB951 and get wireless too.

DarkShadow

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#1171730 9-Nov-2014 17:28

How fast can the WiFi go on the RB951G-2HnD ?

michaelmurfy

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#1171739 9-Nov-2014 18:12

DarkShadow: How fast can the WiFi go on the RB951G-2HnD ?

I'm able to get 100mbit down, 50mbit up WiFi up-to 10m away from the router (via a Speedtest) but it drops off significantly after this. If you're on a 100mbit+ UFB plan you shouldn't really be using anything but WiFi AC or Ethernet anyway (most of my devices are connected via Ethernet). It is Wireless N 300.

Here is the noise floor around my router, there is a little bit of congestion but nothing as bad as living in the city:

(Note, that screenshot shows the non-gigabit version, it was before I upgraded it to the Gigabit version)

chevrolux

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#1171794 9-Nov-2014 20:18

Totally depends on the client.
the '2HnD' in the model codes means:
2.4GHz
High Power
802.11n
Dual chain.

In my tiny place it provides plenty of coverage and is reliable. As Michealmurfy said, you can't expect to fully utilise your 100Mbps via wifi.

littleheaven

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#1175287 13-Nov-2014 16:03

I've recently purchased the Asus RT-AC68U for my VDSL connection and I'm very happy with it. It improved my average wireless speeds from 12-22Mbps to 24-32Mbps. This is on a line that is only capable of a maximum 36Mbps due to distance from the cabinet. I was quite astonished at the improvement over the Spark-supplied modem/router.

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graemeh

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#1180416 20-Nov-2014 22:29

Aredwood: Im probably the only person on GZ who uses it. But in short, it just does what it is supposed to do. Best part about it is that you don't have to restart it all the time.

No, you're not the only one.

It is a great router but a big of a pig to configure as the documentation is a bit rubbish.

I think the more recent firmware versions are easier but it is not really that hard.

Aredwood

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#1180502 21-Nov-2014 01:52

I see that firmware V1.6 has been released. So looks like I will be updating mine this weekend. And I should be able to setup a working UFB config using only the GUI. (V1.5 came close but a bug prevented firewall rules being applied to interfaces that had both VLAN and PPP stacked on them, using only the GUI - worked fine in CLI). Will report back how it goes.

Maybe I should do a Write up on how to configure the Edge Router for NZ internet connections.

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