Recommend a good value router with strong WiFi

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#1115835 26-Aug-2014 13:11

TC cable, no immediate plan for ufb as not available. If they go ufb I'd rather not support something I don't understand like a custom router so they'd use stock.

Clients are a variety of laptops, phones, and tablets, not sure any support 5ghz but would be nice to have. Any options around with that and good power? I see the Asus recommendation above but couldn't find power info.

toyonut

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#1115852 26-Aug-2014 13:35

The n12e's bigger badder brother?:
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MODAS0550&name=ASUS-DSL-N55U-ADSL22+-Wireless-N-600Mbps-Dual-Band

three stream wifi, 2.4 gig for distance and 5 gig for speed/avoiding congestion.
asus website here:http://www.asus.com/Networking/DSLN55U_Annex_A/

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

Oblivian

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#1115861 26-Aug-2014 13:52

Actually that's something to check too. Phone with 2.4 and 5, wifi analyser. Walk around.

Check that its not like near my place, pesky neighbours looking at the bandplan usage, and instead of going CH 1,6,11 with no fear of interference with WPA keys, think 'oooh. look, someone on the same channels, or already using 1,6,11.. so lets put it on 3,4,5,10 and 13'

So much overlap at spots in the house I can drop to 2 bars a room away :(

Spyware

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#1115894 26-Aug-2014 14:38

paulmilbank:
three stream wifi, 2.4 gig for distance and 5 gig for speed/avoiding congestion.
asus website here:http://www.asus.com/Networking/DSLN55U_Annex_A/

How does one route DOCSIS using an ADSL router??

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

Glassboy

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#1115929 26-Aug-2014 15:55

timmmay: A friend of mine has a Netcomm Wireless N 150 router in his lounge. The WiFi signal doesn't reach his bedroom, and his new HP laptop drops off regularly, whereas it's rock solid with my Fritzbox. He's looking for a good value router with a powerful WiFi signal - I suggested a extra WAP but he'd like to replace the router.

I put my Linksys 54GL in, at the default 70mw transmit power it didn't get a signal to their bedroom. When I turned it up to 240mw transmit power it worked well.

Can anyone recommend a good basic router that has powerful WiFi? He doesn't need anything fancy, but the latest version of 802.11 that midrange laptops support would be a good plan.

Does the HP have an Intel WLAN NIC in it by any chance? I'm currently trying to help out a couple of people who're having issues with HP laptops and Netcomm routers. I've got some $3 USB NICs coming from Aliexpress as a work around.

toyonut

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#1115934 26-Aug-2014 15:57

Spyware:
paulmilbank:
three stream wifi, 2.4 gig for distance and 5 gig for speed/avoiding congestion.
asus website here:http://www.asus.com/Networking/DSLN55U_Annex_A/

How does one route DOCSIS using an ADSL router??

I don't know, what is DOCSIS?

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

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#1115962 26-Aug-2014 16:32

Just FYI - my Mikrotik (the RB951) is connected to 100mbit UFB and I can get that over WiFi too, for me anyway 5GHz is a waste of time (not too many strong wireless networks around here). And just for the heck of it I was running a OpenWRT Virtual Machine on it earlier:

They're very powerful routers for the price. If you're just after an AP then the Ubiquiti gear is good, you've got the UniFi LR and the UniFi Pro (5GHz) but they do need to be connected to a controller. Personally, running a controller on a Raspberry Pi, or Amazon AWS instance is pretty easy to do.

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timmmay

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#1116037 26-Aug-2014 18:08

The big Asus looks good but unfortunately too expensive. Unsure if 5GHz really needed, doubt any of his devices support it, their neighbours are on 2.4GHz channels 1 and 12 (ish) so I stuck him in the middle and it's reasonably clear. I guess I give up on 5GHz.

Mikrotik looks great, but can someone with basic network knowledge administer it easily enough???? I understand IPs obviously, VLANs, subnets, etc, use DD-WRT. Really just need a good powerful router, if it can do more stuff that we can work out later, great.

If the Mikrotik is too difficult for me then I guess then Ubiquiti, just the 2.4 no way I want to have to administer a controller for a friend, too much support potentially required.

Glassboy: Does the HP have an Intel WLAN NIC in it by any chance? I'm currently trying to help out a couple of people who're having issues with HP laptops and Netcomm routers. I've got some $3 USB NICs coming from Aliexpress as a work around.

No idea, but it's pretty bog standard so probably. If you have a spare NIC probably interested though :)

chevrolux

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#1116053 26-Aug-2014 18:33

Go the Mikrotik. The RB951G-2HnD is the perfect home router.

Don't worry too much about setting it up. By default it loads a configuration that sets ether1 to be the WAN port with a DHCP client, bridges ether2-5 and sets LAN network addresses & DHCP. It also does the masquerade rule but doesn't add firewall rules.
If you like tinkering though it is the best option!

Also, buy from Campbell Software because they are awesome....
http://shop.campbell.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_56&products_id=464&zenid=50cbf5c147230669a439efa79610b474

toyonut

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#1116057 26-Aug-2014 18:42

Spyware:
paulmilbank:
three stream wifi, 2.4 gig for distance and 5 gig for speed/avoiding congestion.
asus website here:http://www.asus.com/Networking/DSLN55U_Annex_A/

How does one route DOCSIS using an ADSL router??

I see now, post above mine mentions cable.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

timmmay

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#1116084 26-Aug-2014 20:02

chevrolux: Go the Mikrotik. The RB951G-2HnD is the perfect home router.

Don't worry too much about setting it up. By default it loads a configuration that sets ether1 to be the WAN port with a DHCP client, bridges ether2-5 and sets LAN network addresses & DHCP. It also does the masquerade rule but doesn't add firewall rules.
If you like tinkering though it is the best option!

Also, buy from Campbell Software because they are awesome....
http://shop.campbell.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_56&products_id=464&zenid=50cbf5c147230669a439efa79610b474

Awesome. I don't want to tinker though, it's to set up as a standard home router for a friend, on VF cable, so all I'll do is set the static IP and leave everything else unless there's a problem. Is it pretty easy to give it a static IP? The rest sounds like a sensible default config.

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michaelmurfy

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#1116105 26-Aug-2014 20:52

timmmay:
chevrolux: Go the Mikrotik. The RB951G-2HnD is the perfect home router.

Don't worry too much about setting it up. By default it loads a configuration that sets ether1 to be the WAN port with a DHCP client, bridges ether2-5 and sets LAN network addresses & DHCP. It also does the masquerade rule but doesn't add firewall rules.
If you like tinkering though it is the best option!

Also, buy from Campbell Software because they are awesome....
http://shop.campbell.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_56&products_id=464&zenid=50cbf5c147230669a439efa79610b474

Awesome. I don't want to tinker though, it's to set up as a standard home router for a friend, on VF cable, so all I'll do is set the static IP and leave everything else unless there's a problem. Is it pretty easy to give it a static IP? The rest sounds like a sensible default config.

I have one operating on Vodafone Cable, it took me all but 5min to set up.

Set it to have a static IP in the quick start page then go to IP --> Firewall and ensure that all the firewall rules are on the ether1-gateway interface. I can potentially help out if you're in Wellington.

timmmay

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#1116116 26-Aug-2014 21:13

Cool, given it's quick and easy to do the basics I'll do that. Appreciate the offer of help, my friend and I are in Johnsonville. I'll give it a go myself first though, I should manage :)

Are the RB951-2n (normal power), RB750 (normal power) or RB951Ui-2HnD (high power) worth looking at? That last one is $20 cheaper than the RB951G-2HnD and is in stock at Aquila and a couple of other places. It's 10/100 instead of gigabit, same processor, same RAM, same transmit power. Looks like almost the same thing and I think my friend would rather have $20 than gigabit, but I'll check.

chevrolux

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#1116126 26-Aug-2014 21:26

Dead easy to change the settings. Winbox can look a bit daunting when you first log in but Mikrotik do have a really good wiki so it's quite easy to find stuff. The firewall rules are the most important things - make sure your service ports (ssh, 80, dns, ntp etc) are not allowed to hit the router. Especially SSH and DNS!! It amazes me that if I turn off the drop rules for those within about half an hour you get attempts. Bots must just be going around 24/7.

Wouldn't go the 2n as the processor is a touch smaller.

I guess if you don't want Gigabit then the Ui-2HnD is fine. I would look at it from the angle that you could spend the extra $20 now and never buy a new router as this one will be sweet for any internet connection in NZ for the next 10 years.

They are all in stock here seeing as they are the importer.....

http://shop.campbell.co.nz/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=15c19bd4d48052951be22cfe7ad1ce81&keyword=rb951&x=0&y=0

timmmay

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#1116130 26-Aug-2014 21:31

Do the drop rules come installed, or is there a guide?

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