Broadband Tech > Wireless Networking > What is best Dual-Band Router for Home Jan 2012

What is best Dual-Band Router for Home Jan 2012

The Asus RT N56U certainly has some awesome specs and seems like a decent router. They are releasing the Asus RT N66U this month in NA and many are waiting for test results.

Thanks! I would wait for something good.
Spent time looking at several ratings.
Netgear N750 WNDR4000 $150 supports new 450 Mpbs standard. But, users claim the worst support ever, USB not that great... but worse a degraded signal at just 30 to 40 feet.
ASus RT-56U is one of best over all (would wait for the RTN66U) the interface is S-L-O-W. Signal also degrades in a normal size house with a back yard.
Cisco Linksys E4300 true 450 bps on 5Ghz. Good range. People liked every thing but the price ($180).

Honestly, every time I am pulled off of a hourly-paid project to get the wife re-connected... If it is easy and it works? The price may not be that much in the long run.

And perhaps Linksys has a box to connect my Netflix. The wife does not like my cable run down the hallway, into the living room (who would like that?).

Maybe I will wait like everyone for the Asus RT N66U. Then make the plunge.
Would appreciate additional suggestions.

»forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showp···count=82
First review two weeks ago was fairly detailed.
Today, this is the ASUS RT N66U review after two weeks of use

reply to RobXMiller
My suggestion based on your described needs and usage metrics is to buy 2 units -- a very good router/firewall and a very good Access Point. Yes its much more expensive but in the longer run you will be much happier with the stability, performance and support.

Router/Firewall: The ZyWALL USG50 ------ Amazon Sells this for $235
The AP: The TRENDnet TEW-690 450Mbps Wireless N Access Point ----- Amazon sells this unit for $103

Why? In to-days technology marketplace, my experience is that most consumer grade mass produced wireless router products do not provide ROBUST seamless integratedcapability and functionality in FIRMWARE [embedded system integrated capability and functionality like Routing, Firewall - NAT-T/PAT/SPI, VPN - IPSec/L2TP/PPTP, Ethernet Switch, Wireless Access Point]. And no matter how good the glowing reports and reviews are for these products, they all continue within 3 months to have far too many disruptive issues.

reply to RobXMiller
I concur with Mozerd, if you have the budget. Another thing to think about is that a good solid featured flexible router (assuming IPV6) can last for quite a while. Wifi and alternate schemes seem to be changing fairly rapidly. For example Buffalo is already stated next gen much faster wifi this spring/summer. By separating the router from the wifi or any other connectivity piece (if one does not have an ethernet wired home) ie powerline type adaptors, coax adapters regardless if its MOCA, Hpna AV , or the next gen Gsomething (all which keep improving), much better that you just upgrade those and dont have to worry about the routing part.

The ASUS rt N66U's main advantage (over 56U) due to the latest broadcom chipset (besides most likely better wifi) is a more likely chance for it to be greatly supported by 3rd party firmware such as tomato. The chipset in the rt N56U is different and not quite as friendly (though if you can program the source code - linux, anything is possible.) These third party firmwares do all that for you and add lots of functionality. It remains to be seen though if the 66U can outperform the 56U on the nat engine, internal switch capabilities, throughput and handling of both internet and tv signals for those on fibreop type connections.

All to say, is wait for smallnetbuilder to formally review/rank the n66U and if the posters feedback above is corroborated, and supported by tomato, give it a whirl. Otherwise, look at getting a more upscale router (sonicwall, watchguard, zyxel, astaro, etc) and attach as many wifi devices of any ilk in your network (be they APs or often cheaper wifi routers.

Getting the latest and greatest wifi device is quite frankly useless investment if you have a mix of wifi receiving devices. In other words to get max performance all your wifi devices have to have the same apples to apples adaptors at play. Much better to increase the number of APs (or wifi routers setup as AP/switches) to serve your house. And forget all that nonsense about wifi repeaters and bridges, with the throughputs now of Powerline and HPNA AV (coax and electrical wiring system adaptor throughputs actual performances are now approaching 100Mbps) so you can add wifi devices anywhere with signficantly better performance compared to bridges/repeaters.

--
Ain't nuthin but the blues! "Albert Collins".
Leave your troubles at the door! "Pepe Peregil" De Sevilla. Just Don't Wifi without WPA, "Yul Brenner"

LlamaWorks Equipment

Thank you! I am taking all of this in and looking up the companies. Keeping up with the network models is something I never had time to do in my profession.

Since I own my own home with an accessable attic, and have a national custom cable company that sells wholesale down the street... let me ask about another option.

The cost of running modern cable to my 5 primary locations may be more efficient than a total wireless solution that outdates in 18 months. I could dock my portable for big transfers and live with a cheaper wireless for day-to-day hotspot. Your suggestions on a professional router is very appealing!

I don't really mind the cost mentioned. But, the upgrades and delays always happen at the worst times. Project delays can be expensive.

If you could hire a company to re-wire your home, what kind of network wire would you use? What is the latest and greatest? My guess is that my old 10 year old network wire did not get better with age.

Cat5e is probably what I would do, but would consdire wiring to areas of major appliances (fridge, freezer, laundry, dishwasher, furnace, humidifier, security centre and hahaha the bathroom where you sit the most) for smart appliances down the road. Entertainment areas if not already there.

Thanks again for the update. My ancient wiring was dragged through my central air/heat metal ducting since it goes to each room. It came out of the side of each vent in the rooms. I *almost* put one in the bathroom. But, my house guest already think I am too nerdy the way it is. Have to admit, was at the Broadmore in Colorado Springs two weeks ago. Yes... they do have LED TV with streaming Internet in each bathroom.

I was really interested in your other response on another thread for netgear xavb5001 powerline.
The ratings appear to be pretty good, even for 1080i multiple streams.
If it is OK, I am going to start a new thread just for this.
I may buy two pair by this weekend and try them out, then come back with some comments.

The wife wanted new insulation two years ago, so I had 3 feet blown in. (to the attic of course, not her specifically).
It is not so much the cost of new wiring... as the itching from running new wire in the attic. If the powerline network gets rid of some of my network issues, then I can use the great advice in this thread and buy a professional router, and maybe skimp on a couple of independent wireless.

reply to RobXMiller
If I had the money to hire a cabling company, I'd have them install reaceways that would accomodate several kinds of cable, and install cat5e and RG6 quadshield coax and a nylon pull cord to all rooms for now. I'd also be sure to include vertical conduits between the basement/living level/attic because going between floors is the hardest thing about cabling. Then I'd be ready for the Next Thing in cabling, and I could install the new cable myself.

TimDan

During the mean-time. Bought and installed 4 Netgear Powerline 500. I posted a long-winded story about it on a new thread. It is not the highest speed, but it was so easy and simple. This lets me concentrate on updating my office systems and routers now, then come back and update my bottlenecks.
The advancemens in powerline are worth looking at.

Thanks for all the updates!