Which Modem/Router - TP-Link TD-W8960N or ASUS DSL-N12E

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Which Modem/Router - TP-Link TD-W8960N or ASUS DSL-N12E_C1

robjg63

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#152199 19-Sep-2014 10:06

I have an older model TP-Link TD-W8960N - the older style case with not much ventilation.

It has worked ok until recently when its started to become a bit slow and cranky - I think its probably overheated over a couple of summers in a rather warm room.

As much as I would like to play with a Dual band router I suspect the layout of the house will mean the 5Ghz band might not be worth the extra money.

So my shortlist has come down to either:

TP-Link TD-8960N (the current model appears to have some ventilation on the top now)
ASUS DSL-N12E_C1

The ASUS has apparently a low power mode that keeps it cooler and "5dBi high-gain antennas" as opposed to the TP-Link which has 3dBi - which I gather means better range from the ASUS.

The problem is I just cant find much in the way of reviews for the ASUS.
Anyone got one of these and how do you find it?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

hsvhel

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#1131980 19-Sep-2014 10:10

Im running the TP, about 2 weeks old. No issues with it to date.
Does everything I need and was priced right for us.

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robjg63

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#1132088 19-Sep-2014 12:26

Thanks hsvhel - I might just have to stick to the devil I know - no-one seems to know about the Asus router....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

toyonut

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#1132119 19-Sep-2014 13:30

I had the Asus and loved it. Rock solid, good reception and great speed. Our house is up a hill next to a school and the phone was able to see the network at the far side of the main school field. Never had any issues with it. Had lots of features too. Currently my parents in law are using it as they had a really poor d-link and it works great for them. I really rate these modems especially for the price. If our house was big enough that the whitebox POS modem Vodafone supply couldn't cover it, I would definitely be picking up another one.

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

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

robjg63

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#1132126 19-Sep-2014 13:40

Thanks Paul - Couldnt really find any interesting reviews on that Asus model - Odd to not be able to find useful reviews on the internet...
Even looked on Amazon - doesnt look to be sold in the USA - thats odd as well.
Any reviews I did find seemed to be russian or hungarian or something!

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Xeon

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#1132160 19-Sep-2014 14:43

That Asus model seems to be a very specific one as normally they don't have those 5dBi antennas. You can find a similar model without the antennas but with a usb on Amazon.co.uk. You don't commonly find modem-routers in the USA which is why you can't find it on Amazon.com but you will find router only versions of the devices.

toyonut

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#1132428 19-Sep-2014 22:37

Yeah, there is a non DSL, rt-n12e, version which has more reviews. The big brother to this one, the N55u, is very highly regarded.
I am sure either the tp-link or the asus should work fine. Generally I have found TP-Link gear to be good with the exception of a dsl wireless router bought for my parents that was DOA.

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

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