Can anyone recommend fibre modems: ASUS RT-AC66U, Netcomm NF8AC or something else?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Can anyone recommend fibre modems: ASUS RT-AC66U, Netcomm NF8AC or something else?

Riv

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#195641 27-Apr-2016 23:08

Short and sweet; got set up with BigPipe fibre recently (excellent service btw) and just quickly bought the cheepo Archer C2 since I hadn't put much time into investigating for a new fibre modem.

The ethernet has been fine (aside from the odd connection hitches while online gaming etc) but the wireless has started to get frustrating.

I've always found that $200-$300 is a sweet spot for good modems and the ASUS RT-AC66U and Netcomm NF8AC fall in that region, but I would spend a bit more if someone could highly recommend something else. An important thing for me is stable performance for online gaming.

I had a very positive experience with ASUS N55U on my previous DSL connection which is why I am leaning towards RT-AC66U.

Thanks for your time!

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760 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1543140 28-Apr-2016 01:08

I don't want to be overly geeky, but you don't need a modem (="modulator / demodulator") for UFB.

You do need a router to route the data from the ONT correctly around your network, via a switch and - usually - broadcast out via wifi access points (APs).

The source of confusion is that most of these network functions are usually contained in a single cheaply made, under-powered consumer device. Yes, I include the ASUS boxes in this category, even though I use an RT68U as a wireless AP (and an even older WRT54G also as an AP).

So - hook up a decent router (Edge Router Lite, Mikrotik, pfSense box etc) to your fibre ONT, then connect the router to a switch (PoE/managed if you're fancy) and from the switch out to devices directly and/or to wifi APs. Then you'll have a robust home network topology capable of making full use of 200/200 fibre speeds across multiple devices. Good luck!

littleheaven

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#1543141 28-Apr-2016 01:08

I have the Asus RT-AC68U on my VDSL connection (bridged to Spark modem) and have found the wi-fi to be excellent. I have a 2-story townhouse and it gives a good, strong signal in every room. It improved the wireless speeds my iPad and computer were reporting by up to 30% over the Spark-provided Technicolour, and I get almost the same speeds wirelessly as I do via Ethernet. Asus claims it's the worlds fastest router. Not only is the default network dual band, you can also set up extra 5Ghz-only "guest" networks which means you can reduce clutter if you have a lot of devices connecting at once. I'm not sure what the differences are between the 66 and the 68 models, but I'm absolutely happy with mine.

Edited to add the AC68U is a router only, as the above poster has mentioned.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

Currently using: Custom-built AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Desktop, HP M6-1017TX Laptop, iPad Pro, iPhone 7, iPhone XR, AppleTV4.

BlackHand

93 posts

Master Geek

#1543154 28-Apr-2016 07:43

I have the Linksys WRT1900AC (the newer one is Linksys WRT1900ACS) on Bigpipe 200/200 and it works beautifully + you can flash it with OpenWRT if you wish.
If you want something more "geeky" you should look at the Ubiquiti Edgerouters or the MikroTik Routers (there are heaps of discussions about them on this forum) - just depends on what you need.

sbiddle

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#1543157 28-Apr-2016 07:56

Out of curiosity what wireless issues did you see with the TP-Link? IMHO these are a pretty rock solid device for the price.

I'd previously recommended the NF8AC but would recommend everybody to avoid these at present. There is something that causes the local DNS service to crash requiring a router restart to fix. This issue previously existed with the NF4V but was fixed, but hasn't been fixed in the NF8AC. It won't happen all the time, but it's something I pick related to Apple devices on the network causing the issue.

Jase2985

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#1543158 28-Apr-2016 08:05

sbiddle:

I'd previously recommended the NF8AC but would recommend everybody to avoid these at present. There is something that causes the local DNS service to crash requiring a router restart to fix. This issue previously existed with the NF4V but was fixed, but hasn't been fixed in the NF8AC. It won't happen all the time, but it's something I pick related to Apple devices on the network causing the issue.

I have had this happen only once in the 2 years of owning mine, and the router had been up for nearly 70 days when it happened. but yes there are a few flaws in the device and netcomm are in no hurry to fix it

tripp

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#1543159 28-Apr-2016 08:05

Asus RT-AC68U

Best router i have ever had

timmmay

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#1543164 28-Apr-2016 08:22

My Fritzbox 7390 is rock solid with good WiFi, but they're expensive. Some people don't rate the Wifi as that good.

sbiddle

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#1543167 28-Apr-2016 08:26

Jase2985:

sbiddle:

I'd previously recommended the NF8AC but would recommend everybody to avoid these at present. There is something that causes the local DNS service to crash requiring a router restart to fix. This issue previously existed with the NF4V but was fixed, but hasn't been fixed in the NF8AC. It won't happen all the time, but it's something I pick related to Apple devices on the network causing the issue.

I have had this happen only once in the 2 years of owning mine, and the router had been up for nearly 70 days when it happened. but yes there are a few flaws in the device and netcomm are in no hurry to fix it

There is something specific that causes this to happen, and having a lot of these deployed I've seen it happen multiple per day with some, and maybe once a month on others. My pick is it's related to Apple device use when it's happening multiple times per day.

Jase2985

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#1543209 28-Apr-2016 09:29

sbiddle:

Jase2985:

sbiddle:

I'd previously recommended the NF8AC but would recommend everybody to avoid these at present. There is something that causes the local DNS service to crash requiring a router restart to fix. This issue previously existed with the NF4V but was fixed, but hasn't been fixed in the NF8AC. It won't happen all the time, but it's something I pick related to Apple devices on the network causing the issue.

I have had this happen only once in the 2 years of owning mine, and the router had been up for nearly 70 days when it happened. but yes there are a few flaws in the device and netcomm are in no hurry to fix it

There is something specific that causes this to happen, and having a lot of these deployed I've seen it happen multiple per day with some, and maybe once a month on others. My pick is it's related to Apple device use when it's happening multiple times per day.

does not surprise me. we only have an I-pad in the house but a lot of our family have I devices so could have been that, I actually didn't notice it because I had hard coded the DNS servers into my laptop

Riv

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1543228 28-Apr-2016 09:54

tripp:

Asus RT-AC68U

Best router i have ever had

Ordered one xD

Riv

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1543237 28-Apr-2016 10:03

sbiddle:

Out of curiosity what wireless issues did you see with the TP-Link? IMHO these are a pretty rock solid device for the price.

I'd previously recommended the NF8AC but would recommend everybody to avoid these at present. There is something that causes the local DNS service to crash requiring a router restart to fix. This issue previously existed with the NF4V but was fixed, but hasn't been fixed in the NF8AC. It won't happen all the time, but it's something I pick related to Apple devices on the network causing the issue.

I can't say for sure that it was the C2 causing the problems, but it was similar experiences that I've had way back with $100 modems. Micro disconnects from VoIPs like Teamspeak and online games maybe once a week? Not often enough for me to immediately rush out and buy a new one, but it was only really a place holder device for me so the time has come!

For the most part it has been really good, easily reaching my speed cap (200/20) on ethernet, but the wifi hasn't been great in other rooms (I'm in an apartment so it's not a huge range for it to cover).

sbiddle

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#1543245 28-Apr-2016 10:15

Riv:

For the most part it has been really good, easily reaching my speed cap (200/20) on ethernet, but the wifi hasn't been great in other rooms (I'm in an apartment so it's not a huge range for it to cover).

Is that on 2.4 or 5GHz? 5GHz will drop off really quickly, even in something small like an apartment.

Riv

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1543263 28-Apr-2016 10:43

sbiddle:

Riv:

For the most part it has been really good, easily reaching my speed cap (200/20) on ethernet, but the wifi hasn't been great in other rooms (I'm in an apartment so it's not a huge range for it to cover).

Is that on 2.4 or 5GHz? 5GHz will drop off really quickly, even in something small like an apartment.

Either, to be honest. 2.4 is better like you say, but for some reason my Android TV can't stream Netfix very well on 2.4, either bad quality or gets stuck on buffering so I have it on 5

stevenz

2788 posts

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#1543276 28-Apr-2016 11:04

tripp:

Asus RT-AC68U

Best router i have ever had

Bigpipe don't require VLAN tagging so pretty much any router with a WAN port should work in theory, but the Asus units with Merlin's firmware are the business.

@KnightNZ

littleheaven

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#1543306 28-Apr-2016 11:46

stevenz:

tripp:

Asus RT-AC68U

Best router i have ever had

+1

Bigpipe don't require VLAN tagging so pretty much any router with a WAN port should work in theory, but the Asus units with Merlin's firmware are the business.

Will an RT-AC68U be suitable for Spark fibre? I'm keen to retain mine when we get fibre in my street.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

Currently using: Custom-built AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Desktop, HP M6-1017TX Laptop, iPad Pro, iPhone 7, iPhone XR, AppleTV4.

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