In Need of a New Router - Recommendations?

Morien on 24/05/2022 - 13:06
Last edited 24/05/2022 - 18:43 by 1 other user

Hello everyone, currently on NBN HFC using an old ASUS RT-AC68U for connectivity.

Was umming and ahhing over the ASUS RT-AX86U when there were a few Afterpay deals a few months ago, but took too long and haven't seen it back in stock locally since.

In lieu of that, does anyone have any recommendations for hardware? I really haven't kept up to date with it since around 2015.

Ubiquiti is mentioned a lot. Often hear the U6-Lite talked about, but reading on Whirlpool it seems to have lower speeds and wireless coverage than the Asus.

When I bought the AC68U the main competitor was a Netgear Nighthawk, but it doesn't appear there is a direct competitor for the AX86U now (from my limited searching, anyway).

**Basically wanting a stronger version of what I had. Wi-Fi 6, wireless coverage and transfer rates are important. Gaming over wireless isn't a great idea, but we all work with what we have. Mesh isn't a great option because of the layout of the house (few places to keep each node). **

AC68U was perfect when I got it, but over the years seems to be slowly failing. After fiddling around trying to find the best Wi-Fi settings, I think it's time to upgrade.

Thank you in advance.

Edit:

Here is a picture of the floor space. Forget MS Paint, vacuum lidar scans are the future!
Cleaning area is about 67m2, so I guess that's what we are working with. Double brick walls.

NBN Arris box and router are both in the middle of the house, indicated by the blue squares.

Currently wifi most notably cuts out in the bottom left room. Rooms that aren't fully mapped aren't important for coverage.

Devises on wireless network include:
- Smart home devices (Philips Hue, robot vacuum, broadlink, smart speakers)
- Computers (3 x MacBooks, 1 x desktop PC)
- Tablets (4 x iPads, 2020 and later)
- Phones (3 x iPhones, 1 x Android, more recent than 2020)
- 2 x PS5, 1 x Xbox SX, 1x Switch

Gaming performance is a priority (as priority as you can get without going ethernet. At the moment it is working FINE.)

Thanks

Computing ASUS Wireless Router

Comments

  • Mikgsxr on 24/05/2022 - 13:16
    +2

    The U6 is an access point, not a router. You need a router to use it. The router I use is a Unifi Dream Machine Pro.

    • Morien on 24/05/2022 - 13:53

      More info for me. Thank you.

  • Mikgsxr on 24/05/2022 - 13:16

    The Unifi Dream Machine Base has an access point built in. Would probably suit your needs

    • Morien on 24/05/2022 - 13:54

      Great! I will start looking into this model. Thank you

      • Twix on 24/05/2022 - 13:56
        +1

        Not suitable if you want Wi-Fi 6. The UDM has built-in Wi-Fi 5.

        • winderic on 24/05/2022 - 19:19
          +1

          Quite sure a new wifi 6 dream machine is out but don't think available in Aus yet.

  • spackbace on 24/05/2022 - 13:26
    +1

    Mesh isn't a great option because of the layout of the house (few places to keep each node).

    You sure? Nodes with Ethernet can be handy behind devices like TV's etc, generally more reliable than the inbuilt wifi

    • Morien on 24/05/2022 - 13:53

      Only one TV in the house, and it is where the wifi isn't properly getting to at the moment. The only suitable places for nodes are at the extreme edges of the house. Perhaps I'm missing something? I am thinking the nodes need to be solidly within range of one another, right?

      • spackbace on 24/05/2022 - 14:00

        I think you'd be surprised how well mesh wifi can work

        • shalala on 24/05/2022 - 15:09

          Second that. Spend $200, get a ASUS AC (wifi 5) mesh and fix the wifi issue you have. You haven't mention what clients you have nor the exact problem you have in the original post.

          Unless you have a lot of newer clients I'd wait for wifi 7 and will not spend the extra on 4x4 mimo devices unless you have 4x4 clients. Otherwise you'll be stuck with 2x2 speed anyway. Also wifi 6 is only about 11% faster than wifi 5.

          https://www.duckware.com/tech/wifi-in-the-us.html

        • Morien on 24/05/2022 - 22:16

          Don't Mesh introduce additional latency? Unfortunately I'm not able to connect gaming consoles via ethernet.

          • spackbace on 24/05/2022 - 22:32
            +1

            @Morien: I don't game professionally, but for my Series X, mesh is fine 😉 4K streaming works across the house

            I'd say a 3 node for you - 1 at the nbn point, 1 up top and 1 down bottom

  • Duckie2hh on 24/05/2022 - 13:41
    +2

    I am in the exact same boat at OP. Thinking of Asus TUF AX-3000

  • insomniaxed on 24/05/2022 - 14:11
    +1

    Without knowing the complete layout, I wouldn't be too quick to rule out mesh.
    If going the ubiquiti route, something to consider is that Enterprise equipment generally offer greater performance over consumer hardware.

    Have you tried using power line Ethernet adapter?
    If the router itself is functional and your primary problem is wifi connectivity, using the powerline adapter directly connecting into the device or an access point with the other end connected to the router could be a quick fix.

    Depending on how comfortable you are, consider looking into dd-wrt firmware.

    I'd suggest downloading wifiman or something similar on your phone and walk around the space to see what the signal strength is in different areas to get a better idea of what is needed.

    Unifi Dream machine pro is with a couple access points is what I have.

    • Morien on 24/05/2022 - 19:16

      I've updated with a better idea of the layout. PLA would be difficult because of the circuits of the house.

      I'm comfortable with dd-wrt, but concerned Mesh would introduce increased lag into gaming?

  • Aquagen on 24/05/2022 - 14:12

    How bigs the house? A dream machine with 2 u6 nodes will easily blanket it in wifi ac/ax

    • Aquagen on 24/05/2022 - 14:13
      +1

      And remember it will only be phone and laptop ever using wifi 6. Anything that can be wired should be

      • Morien on 24/05/2022 - 19:19

        Only thing able to be connected by ethernet is a server and hue bridge. Everything else is in different rooms, and physical installation isn't an option, unfortunately.

        I have updated the OP with some more information about the layout of the house.

        Buget is really only about $500. Sounds like the UDM would fit into that, but not the u6 nodes as well.

  • Twix on 24/05/2022 - 14:19
    +1

    The ASUS RT-AX3000 is worth considering for $279.

    Look at the ASUS RT-AX86S variant. The main differences are in the CPU, RAM, 2.5Gb LAN port and USB ports. The Wi-Fi on the ASUS RT-AX86S and ASUS RT-AX86U is the same.

    ASUS RT-AX86S ASUS RT-AX86U
    Dual-Core CPU @ 1.8GHz Quad-Core CPU @ 1.8GHz
    512MB RAM 1GB RAM
    2.5Gb WAN/LAN port = removed 2.5Gb WAN/LAN port built-in
    1x USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 + 1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1x1
  • pokaichiam on 24/05/2022 - 15:40

    just bought the ax86s from umart for 349, needed a new router to bridge my tpg vr1600

  • revhead on 24/05/2022 - 16:20
    +1

    if you feel like you're ready for the Ubiquity gear - start with Edge Router X (ERX) as router and U6-Lite access point.
    ERX will set you off for about $90 plus $120 - $140 for an U6 Lite.
    So roughly for less than $250 you'll get much more potent and future-proofed setup compare to overpriced Wifi 6 consumer-grade all-in-ones from Dlink, Asus or Netgear.

    • Romper Stomper on 29/05/2022 - 09:58

      Ubiquity firmware can't block ads, can they? Unless flash the routers with OpenWrt I guess.

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 24/05/2022 - 17:44

    I used to like Netgear, until I had to send it away. The support line for warranty was horrific! They could not comprehend the words dead, no lights etc

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