Good Router under $150 for 3BR Brick House?

Skinnycap on 08/12/2021 - 20:27
Last edited 08/12/2021 - 20:45 by 1 other user

Hi,

Looking for a router for the parentals and their brick home.

They've been with Kogan NBN for a few years now and whatever basic router came with the plan.

For the most part the value has suited them well, except we've noticed quite regularly (sometimes multiple times a day) devices dropping off of the network, or remaining connected to the router but with no internet connection. This is particularly frustrating for a mobile phone, where it remains with no internet connection and not triggering to switch data to 4G until the wifi on the phone is switched off and back on again.

I can only suspect it's the router. Does Ozbagrain have any suggestions on what to upgrade them to?

Thanks!

Computing Wireless Router

Comments

  • gryphn on 08/12/2021 - 21:09
    +1

    I've been running a second hand Asus DSL-AC68U on Merlin firmware for 4 years now.
    2 years on Optus 4G 2 years in FTTN.
    Absolutely rock solid as a modem as a router and wifi coverage is great.
    Even for a two week period where we had 4 additional people in the house each with at least another two devices and 2 extra guest networks. Ran flawlessly.

    Can highly recommend the Asus units.

    • Skinnycap on 08/12/2021 - 21:58

      Thanks, will check them out! Is this also in brick home? And do you know main spec differences to look for that helped you make that decision?

      • iamherenow on 09/12/2021 - 08:18

        Typing here on Asus ac86u through 4 brick walls.

  • 7ekn00 on 08/12/2021 - 21:16
    +2

    Yeah, ASUS is rock solid, can get a standard router here:
    https://www.amazon.com.au/ASUS-Wireless-Ultra-Fast-Accelerat…
    (note: this is without DSL, so if you are on that technology, you need a different version)

    • Skinnycap on 08/12/2021 - 22:05

      Thanks for that. Yep, no DSL required.
      Reviews look great. Do you know what the main spec differences are between the stock ISP router and something like this to help explain to them why it should fix their issue?

      • 7ekn00 on 09/12/2021 - 07:43

        Cheap routers from cheap companies (especially the Kogan / Beyond / TPG / etc) tend to have a lot of issues!
        Some examples are:
        -cheap routers have small NAT tables that fill quickly, do they ever notice they have to "reboot" their current router every couple of days to keep all devices working?
        -cheap routers have cheap WiFi chipsets, often having devices lose connection (remember it can be either device though - but decent devices, like most phones, have decent WiFi chipsets, so most of the time it's a cheap router issue)
        -cheap routers often have "range" issues due to the same cheap chipset
        I used to have a Telstra gateway (it's better than a "cheap" device, but not by much!) where all of these issues were solved by using ASUS gear ;)

  • netjock on 08/12/2021 - 23:18

    For the most part the value has suited them well, except we've noticed quite regularly (sometimes multiple times a day) devices dropping off of the network, or remaining connected to the router but with no internet connection

    You really need to check if it is the router (logs should tell you) or whether it is phones dropping the wifi connection (may also want to use wifi scanner to see if neighbours using same wifi channel)

    If it is a wifi interference issue (can't go through walls etc) then a cheap mesh kit (3 access points for $100) might be an option.

    One good example is I have a 2BR apartment and TPG TP Link modem which can hardly get to the other end. Then there is a Netcomm modem from AGL internet that covers a 3BR (2x the size of the apartment) internally quite well even though it is located one end of the house.

  • n2h on 31/12/2021 - 23:56
    -1

    If you can buy 2nd hand ones, they should be the best. I bought a MikroTik rb4011 for $70, 2 Ruckus access point R600 for $60. Total of them are $130 and i am extremely happy with them. You can't find anything brand new better than them for less than $1000

    • Purec on 09/01/2022 - 18:10

      those are some pretty amazing prices, where'd you get a deal like that?

      • n2h on 10/01/2022 - 13:09

        I bought all of them on facebook market in Melbourne.

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