Ok so I'm in need of a new router, I've currently got a really out dated Dlink 2890al (ac1750) router, its struggling to handle all my devices and smart cameras etc. I need some recommendations on a new router, are mesh systems the way to go or spend the money on a decent high end router? sorry if this has been posted before, i could only see a forum on FTTB.
any advice or opinions would be great!
I’m pretty aware of what the mesh system is, I’ve been looking at the Ubiquiti brand in particular there mesh system for coverage in my home, in terms of devices at least 20+ devices, when theyre all on at at the same time (rarely but it can happen with family over) it struggles and devices go slow. Thanks for you input though cheers
Fanboys like to neg whenever I write that mesh is not the answer to every WiFi problem. They contribute nothing to the discussion because they know nothing but buzzwords.
Back to @MickLee93. Is your problem with WiFi struggling under load (thus wired devices are unaffected) or with the router struggling under load (all wired and wireless devices are affected)? In the description you said you want to replace the router, but now in this comment it seems you want to replace the WAP. In the end you might end up replacing both, either with separate devices or an all-in-one, but you are not making clear your problem.
Let's suppose your WAP is struggling under load, with 20+ simultaneously active devices using up all available bandwidth and clogging up the radio spectra. Can you explain to me how a mesh WiFi system will solve that problem? You know that mesh offers less bandwidth than conventional WAP because one of the radio bands is used exclusively for the mesh backhaul, don't you? And the backhaul can also jam under load. Buying Ubiquiti or mesh will not help solve the problem of over utilised radio spectra.
With just 3 single-band WAPs set on non-overlapping channels, you open up the entire 2.4GHz spectrum to your clients. With tri-band WAPs you'll double your bandwidth on 5GHz too. A mesh system cannot do this.
Slow legacy clients hog airtime and interrupt fast modern clients. So check for legacy clients and then decommission them or move them exclusively to a non-overlapping channel. A mesh system cannot help speed up a network with legacy clients.
The latest and greatest solution is Wi-Fi 6 MU-MIMO, but it works only with compatible clients.
RT-AC88U.
Any Asus that fits in your budget. You can always expand with Asus' mesh later on.
Are you another user who is sucked in by the latest trendy buzz word "mesh" without actually knowing what it is and why you may (not) want it? How is your current router struggling? How many devices are there? What is your budget? Do you want the latest and greatest or the tried and true?
There is no such thing as a mesh router. Routers do not come in mesh or non-mesh variants. A mesh system is a mesh Wi-Fi network which incorporates a router into one of its nodes, but the router may or may not be crap.
So if it is the router that is not up to the task, then why are you looking to replace the Wi-Fi with mesh? Do you replace your car's antenna because its tyres are bald?
Network device discussions usually take place in the Computing and Internet forums. You might want to move this post to over there. You can use the information in discussions on nbn modem/routers for FTTN/FTTB/FTTC/HFC too, you simply won't be using the modem part on those all-in-one devices. ASUS routers are popular recommendations: RT-AC86U, RT-AC88U, RT-AC68U.