The router guide - what to look for and what is best.

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › The router guide - what to look for and what is best.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ... | 34

356 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 123

#1830442 26-Jul-2017 07:47

The one redeeming feature of the FB is the DECT base station features, allows me to use cheap DECT cordless phones.
All I use my FB7390 for is VOIP, where it excels at
I can't fault it at all in that regard, and would get another do to just the same thing, pricing has come down of late on these.

Never used the Wifi as R7000 excels at that
And as of very lately the ERL-3 excels at routing, this before was done by the R7000 which is also OK at it but not great.
Never really got inspired to use the FB as a router.
I didn't use the xDSL feature either as the DV130 did a better job at that in both aDSL and vDSL

The 7390 is an OK device that does a bit of everything, excepting VOIP none really well
On a budget its a device that will get you started with once device and then leave you wanting more :)

Item

1739 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 726

Subscriber

#1830455 26-Jul-2017 08:14

I have gone through various routers/modems/Access points over the years from D-Link (rubbish) Belkin (rubbish) Asus (some good, some rubbish), Netgear (meh) and various weird-brands from the ISP (almost always rubbish) and I think the best one I have had in terms of performance, stability and reliability is my current Fritzbox 7490.

It hasn't put a foot wrong, doesn't drop or crap out, FW upgrades have always been slick and smooth and it handles a large volume of concurrent WiFi devices with aplomb.

Would happily buy another one - I always prefer a One-Box solution where possible rather than separate Modem/Router/WAP and this meets my needs perfectly

ripdog

548 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 373
Inactive user

#1832001 27-Jul-2017 08:35

The rubbish wifi was an earlier model of fritzbox. The current one does excellent wifi, as Item said.

Obviously it's not going to be a good device for uber-geeks who love to tweak everything, but it's incredibly solid - a quality sorely lacking in so many other devices that I've tried. If you want a router which just works and doesn't need rebooting every week, there's nothing better.

kiwicam

136 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 54

#1832011 27-Jul-2017 08:51

Sorry if I've missed it somewhere but what is the Netflix issue with the HG659? I've set mine up this week with DNS4Me and it's been working great. I guess the only thing is that I've only setup the AppleTV to use DNS4Me as it's the only place I need it and I want other devices to be able to use IPv6.

I have also found it to be a great device with BigPipe's firmware - especially when you consider that I only paid $25 for it on TradeMe. I picked it up cheap for a comparison to my over priced and under featured Netgear and it's performance was noticeably better - and it supports VoIP and IPv6.

Great idea for a thread - I'll be checking back here when I'm feeling rich.

Wiggum

1199 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 472
Inactive user

#1832071 27-Jul-2017 09:45

My personal favorite has always been the constant of having a DD-WRT capable router. I have had many brand types, over the years, and would not necessarily recommend one above the others. It will be hard to go to anything without DD-WRT.

My latest router is a Linksys WRT1900ACv2 running the latest brainslayer DD-WRT build.

Saying that, I do also have a Fritzbox 7490. Its used for parental controls/IP phone only. It lacks the ability to customize it like DD-WRT.

If I was looking for a new router to replace my Linksys WRT1900AC, it will probably be a Linksys WRT3200ACM, which I will also use with DD-WRT.

rwittert

19 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 11

Cambium Networks

#1853084 26-Aug-2017 20:01

Hi, cannot remember if we sent you an R201 last year? Would you be interested in evaluating and reporting on our new Wave2 4x4 MIMO AP - E600?

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

michaelmurfy

meow
13579 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10910

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1853086 26-Aug-2017 20:12

rwittert: Hi, cannot remember if we sent you an R201 last year? Would you be interested in evaluating and reporting on our new Wave2 4x4 MIMO AP - E600?

Sure - I've flicked you a PM. And yes you flicked me a R201 last year too.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Ford

330 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2
Inactive user

#1859143 5-Sep-2017 17:45

What are the categories based on? An international standard or your invention.

I do like the categories idea.

ARK

30 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 7

ID Verified

#1861030 8-Sep-2017 16:23

Thanks for this recommendation and the tutorial on the Edgerouter Lite Michael. It is a superb router and real easy to setup thanks to your guide.

The Huawei HG659 is severly limited - I hit the 32 device limit and this router will even kick off a video stream in mid-flight when another device needs to connect! Also the lack of NAT loopback is a pain if like me you have IP cameras on the property. It is also a bit flakely if you try reserving IP addresses.

michaelmurfy

meow
13579 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10910

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1861043 8-Sep-2017 16:58

Thanks @ARK. I'll be updating the list and will include the limitations of the HG659. Also got more routers to add. Glad you're all sorted now!

TruenoAE86

15 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#1875776 1-Oct-2017 23:28

I landed here trying to search router with rock solid performance and stability.

Since I use Fibre I replaced my Asus N54 with Asus RT-AC87U, it was working fine for 1.5 years then Wifi start to go wacky. Then replaced it with Asus RT-AC88U, straightaway after setting it I face issue with un-useable 2.4G speed/timing out and 5G instability (5G Wifi just disappear with decent load like streaming movie and browsing). After update the firmware it goes even worse.

I'm looking for router that has 5G wifi and 8 LAN ports but most importantly rock solid performance and VERY STABLE that does not need me to spend hours and hours troubleshooting issues.

Thank you.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

michaelmurfy

meow
13579 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10910

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1875784 2-Oct-2017 01:10

@TruenoAE86 for starters - did you even look at the list?

1) You don't want an all in one router if you're wanting wireless performance.
2) You don't need a router that has 8 ports (nor is there really any with that many ports built in) - get a cheap Gigabit switch from PB-Tech.
3) 2.4GHz WiFi will always have its problems.

The Grandstream GWN7000 router (Link) coupled with the GWN7610 (Link) and a cheap 8 port switch is what you're after. Also remember to buy a PoE adapter (Link). It beats the living crap out of any all in one router you can get both price wise and performance wise.

Tinkerisk

4798 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3660

#1875786 2-Oct-2017 02:12

michaelmurfy: The Grandstream GWN7000 router (Link) coupled with the GWN7610 (Link) and ...

Haven't yet exchanged my AP. So the GWN7610 will outperform even the Ubiquiti AP pro (and maybe upwards)? I prefer NOT to have the Unify controller stuff even I could establish it easily with an own instance.

- NET: FTTH & VDSL, OPNsense, 10G backbone, GWN APs
- SRV: 12 RU HA server cluster, 0.1 PB storage on premise
- IoT: thread, zigbee, tasmota, BidCoS, LoRa, WX suite, IR
- 3D: two 3D printers, 3D scanner, CNC router, laser cutter

TruenoAE86

15 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#1876078 2-Oct-2017 13:13

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the response, yes I did look at the list but just want more assurance and advice.

1) Yep agree with you, this bring back memory from the days 56k modem :) I guess I will be back to non all in one setup again.
2) Cool, noted with this.
3) My previous Asus RT-AC87U 2.4 was really good (or good enough for its performance) until it become problem. I replace with RT-AC88U and the 2.4 was pretty much un-useable, the speed remind me of 56k modem and alot of timing out.

I will have a look on the Grandstream setup, I had a bit looking on Edgerouter you mentioned looks interesting as well.

Thank you.

TruenoAE86

15 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#1883793 15-Oct-2017 13:57

michaelmurfy:

@TruenoAE86 for starters - did you even look at the list?

1) You don't want an all in one router if you're wanting wireless performance.
2) You don't need a router that has 8 ports (nor is there really any with that many ports built in) - get a cheap Gigabit switch from PB-Tech.
3) 2.4GHz WiFi will always have its problems.

The Grandstream GWN7000 router (Link) coupled with the GWN7610 (Link) and a cheap 8 port switch is what you're after. Also remember to buy a PoE adapter (Link). It beats the living crap out of any all in one router you can get both price wise and performance wise.

I finally decided to go for the Edgerouter lite, Edgeswitch8, Ubiquiti AP lite. Been having lots of fun playing with these devices, although the first Edgerouter have issue on the adapter and had to swap it. Next going to play around on the reporting stuff on the Unifi.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ... | 34