New Router Time

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Monza

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#164365 7-Feb-2015 01:13

Recently got a UFB installed house but now finding the ISP supplied router to be poor.

I have WAF to spend up to $300 on a new router but has to meet the below

-good range. The lack of range is the number one problem I'm currently experiencing
-5GHz support. Picking up a lot of neighbours 2.4GHz which is also causing performance issues, would like to be able to use 5GHz when close to the router.
-Vlan tagging. This is needed for UFB, can be a bit tricky to know if a router supports this
-Gigabit Ethernet ports. Plan to run an Ethernet cable eventually to the media room
-wall mountable. The ONT is on the kitchen wall, to keep wife happy I would like to mount the router on the wall too.

michaelmurfy

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#1232459 7-Feb-2015 01:51

All in one routers:

For around $300: Nighthawk X6
For Under $300: Linksys WRT1900AC

Best Performance + Reliability (the solution I am going for):

Access Point: UniFi AC ceiling mounted access point ($469) or UniFi Pro ($359) - these access are one of the best access points you can buy if you're wanting awesome WiFi.
Router: Ubiquiti Security Gateway ($195), Ubiquiti Edgrouter Lite ($169) or Mikrotik RB951G-2HnD (my current router).

I am getting the UniFi AC and an Edgerouter more to try it but pick your poison from the above and just go with it. Really, if you want awesome WiFi I would recommend just getting a UniFi AC or UniFi Pro and installing it on the ceiling in a central location (they're powered via PoE meaning you only need to run Ethernet to it), this way you could disable WiFi on your existing router and just use the UniFi. The Mikrotik is a very good choice for a good base router (again, just disable WiFi on it) and I have written a quick tutorial on how to get it running with UFB on most providers, my Mikrotik at the moment can route 200/200 UFB no problems.

Really, if you want a decent solution then spend the money and just go for it - you won't regret it.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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sbiddle

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#1232480 7-Feb-2015 09:26

As an all in one unit I'd recommend the Netcomm NF8AC. Nothing comes close for the price.

Aredwood

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#1232950 8-Feb-2015 16:01

Is poor WiFi the only problem with the ISP supplied router? Or are there other issues with it as well? If only the WiFi then just get a better access point and keep your current router. As the first question should be "is the current router location also a good location for a Wifi Access Point?" Other advantage of this is ISP tech support is happy because you are still using "their" router.

My house is a good example of this. Best location for the router, ONT, Gigabit switch ect. Is also the worst location for a Wifi AP

In using the Ubiquity Edge Router Lite myself. And currently using a Fritzbox 7390 as my Wifi AP. (Only because Snap gave me a free one). It works well for me. Bot you wouldn't want that or the Mikrotik if you just want something that you plug in and works. You haven't said which ISP / Router you are using currently. But the setup wizard in the Edge router doesn't work for Chorus UFB with ISPs that use PPP. (Don't know about the Mikrotik) If you do end up getting the Edge Router I have a config file for them to easily get them working on Chorus UFB. (PM me if you want it)

Monza

299 posts

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#1236105 11-Feb-2015 22:23

michaelmurfy: All in one routers:

For around $300: Nighthawk X6
For Under $300: Linksys WRT1900AC

Best Performance + Reliability (the solution I am going for):

Access Point: UniFi AC ceiling mounted access point ($469) or UniFi Pro ($359) - these access are one of the best access points you can buy if you're wanting awesome WiFi.
Router: Ubiquiti Security Gateway ($195), Ubiquiti Edgrouter Lite ($169) or Mikrotik RB951G-2HnD (my current router).

I am getting the UniFi AC and an Edgerouter more to try it but pick your poison from the above and just go with it. Really, if you want awesome WiFi I would recommend just getting a UniFi AC or UniFi Pro and installing it on the ceiling in a central location (they're powered via PoE meaning you only need to run Ethernet to it), this way you could disable WiFi on your existing router and just use the UniFi. The Mikrotik is a very good choice for a good base router (again, just disable WiFi on it) and I have written a quick tutorial on how to get it running with UFB on most providers, my Mikrotik at the moment can route 200/200 UFB no problems.

Really, if you want a decent solution then spend the money and just go for it - you won't regret it.

The Nighthawk X6 is on my short list, very tempted. Have you actually used it yourself? Some horror stories on the internet but seems to be minority making big noise.

The separate router with a Unifi Access point is a solution that keeps coming up on these forums but I really want an all in one solution due to the location of the ONT in the kitchen.

Monza

299 posts

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+1 received by user: 30

#1236109 11-Feb-2015 22:26

sbiddle: As an all in one unit I'd recommend the Netcomm NF8AC. Nothing comes close for the price.

I used to have a Netcomm ADSL router when I was with Telstraclear, didn't think much of it then. Also no external antenna, wouldn't this make quite a difference to wifi range?

Monza

299 posts

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#1236116 11-Feb-2015 22:34

Aredwood: Is poor WiFi the only problem with the ISP supplied router? Or are there other issues with it as well? If only the WiFi then just get a better access point and keep your current router. As the first question should be "is the current router location also a good location for a Wifi Access Point?" Other advantage of this is ISP tech support is happy because you are still using "their" router.

My house is a good example of this. Best location for the router, ONT, Gigabit switch ect. Is also the worst location for a Wifi AP

In using the Ubiquity Edge Router Lite myself. And currently using a Fritzbox 7390 as my Wifi AP. (Only because Snap gave me a free one). It works well for me. Bot you wouldn't want that or the Mikrotik if you just want something that you plug in and works. You haven't said which ISP / Router you are using currently. But the setup wizard in the Edge router doesn't work for Chorus UFB with ISPs that use PPP. (Don't know about the Mikrotik) If you do end up getting the Edge Router I have a config file for them to easily get them working on Chorus UFB. (PM me if you want it)

The supplied router is from Spark, it is the Huawei HG630B

http://help.spark.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/34264/~/huawei-hg630b-gateway---help-%26-support

On top of the issue that it isn't wall mountable and the LAN ports are only 100MB the wifi seems to perform poorly. I've used Inssider Home to best avoid overlapping channels from the neighbours but nothing really works. Streaming Youtube or Lightbox is a bufferfest, run a ethernet cable down the hallway and all works perfectly. Getting permanent ethernet is not an option for now so want to give wifi a chance with a better all in one router. Hopefully mount it on the wall and be done.

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Monza

299 posts

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+1 received by user: 30

#1241514 18-Feb-2015 12:12

Went with the Netgear Nighthawk X6 in the end, have been running for a week and very happy so far. Great coverage throughout the house, surprised how far the 5.0Ghz is reaching too. Streaming Youtube/Lightbox/Neon etc now works flawlessly.

tkgit

33 posts

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#1241530 18-Feb-2015 12:29

this ?
http://www.priceme.co.nz/Netgear-X6-R8000/p-890716342.aspx

why you do not by this?
http://www.priceme.co.nz/Linksys-XAC1900-AU/p-890663155.aspx

regards, tkgit
MTCNA

Monza

299 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 30

#1241540 18-Feb-2015 12:41

tkgit: this ?
http://www.priceme.co.nz/Netgear-X6-R8000/p-890716342.aspx

why you do not by this?
http://www.priceme.co.nz/Linksys-XAC1900-AU/p-890663155.aspx

Only paid $317 for the X6 from PB Tech, Priceme is way off saying that the cheapest you can get it for is $429. Pricespy seems more accurate (http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=2737208)