Bit of a noob when it comes to finding a router - any budget recommendations?

[rachaelt123]

Hi,

Looking to buy a new router due to random disconnections/slowness I've been experiencing on both my WiFi and Ethernet devices (it's really annoying!). So I'm currently using the ISP provided EE Smart Hub+ - it's an FTTP connection and appreciate that it's probably very poor (had a replacement which improved nothing). FTTP line has been checked and is now good after an engineer visit.

Looking to spend up to around £100


Any recommendations please?

 

[Tech9]

Any recommendations please?

I would get one Asus TUF Gaming AX3000 V2 for £88, Amazon UK.

This is basically RT-AX58U V2 with 2.5GbE WAN port and some Gaming marketing around it.

Runs on stock Asuswrt 4.0, has Asuswrt-Merlin fork available for it in case you are interested in 3rd party firmware.

Broadcom BCM6756 quad-core 1.7GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 2-stream 2.4GHz + 2-stream 5GHz built-in SoC radios.

Product Page:

TUF Gaming AX3000 V2｜WiFi Routers｜ASUS Global

ASUS gaming routers provide the very best gaming experience, with an arsenal of features and tools designed to improve online gaming performance and give you the competitive edge you need to win.

www.asus.com

 

[coxhaus]

If you are in a small place then 1 wireless router will work. Anything bigger start moving into a small business class system with multiple APs.

 

[Paliv]

If you are in a small place then 1 wireless router will work. Anything bigger start moving into a small business class system with multiple APs.

Small is relative. I have full coverage from a single router in a 1900sqft single story house. Some of the back yard and front yard also have useable coverage for web browsing and videos/music.

 

[DominikHoffmann]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09J4VB4GP?tag=smallncom-21

Sharevdi Micro Firewall Appliance, Fanless Mini PC

Install pfSense on it.

 

[coxhaus]

Small is relative. I have full coverage from a single router in a 1900sqft single story house. Some of the back yard and front yard also have useable coverage for web browsing and videos/music.

Yea, relative...I am not happy with 2.4GHz speed. I run fast CPUs on my laptops. Think i9. iPhone, it scrolls pictures much slower using 2.4 GHz.

So, I guess it depends on what quality of network you want. All relative.

I build my wireless networks for 5GHz.

 

[rachaelt123]

I have a 3 bedroom house and the upstairs in itself hasn’t got the best signal.

Would a ‘good’ router fix this or are APs (and the associated expensive cost of wiring - I can’t do that myself) in my future?

In terms of PFSense - what would I be looking for if I was going down the route of a used mini PC (probably looking at OptiPlexes and that kind of thing I presume)

 

[Paliv]

Yea, relative...I am not happy with 2.4GHz speed. I run fast CPUs on my laptops. Think i9. iPhone, it scrolls pictures much slower using 2.4 GHz.

So, I guess it depends on what quality of network you want. All relative.

I build my wireless networks for 5GHz.

I mean that is 5GHz. Anywhere in my house, including the garage and back porch the 5GHz is sufficiently strong. No one is doing large file transfers outside at our house, though. Anywhere else in the yard it’s not really necessary.

 

[Tech9]

I have full coverage from a single router in a 1900sqft single story house.

And you live in the UK?

In terms of PFSense

Just get the router above from Amazon. If it doesn't work initially - come back here for settings advice. If it still doesn't work - return it to Amazon and come back here for other options above £100.

 

[Paliv]

And you live in the UK?



Just get the router above from Amazon. If it doesn't work initially - come back here for settings advice. If it still doesn't work - return it to Amazon and come back here for other options above £100.

Didn’t register the £. Many neighbors, but similar size houses and decent sized yards in the US. Maybe not comparable. Though I agree with your recommendation as a good first step.

 

[Tech9]

In the UK/Europe the houses are built differently and the routers are restricted to 100mW on 2.4GHz and 200mW on 5GHz non-DFS range with many not offering high 5GHz channels even though allowed for some time (UK). The situation is different.

 

[coxhaus]

I mean that is 5GHz. Anywhere in my house, including the garage and back porch the 5GHz is sufficiently strong. No one is doing large file transfers outside at our house, though. Anywhere else in the yard it’s not really necessary.

My daughter lives in a 1990 to 2ooo sq ft house with 4 bedrooms and a office in the front of her house. No way can I cover her house with 1 wireless. She has 2 bathrooms and a kitchen in the middle with tile. The tile, refrig and top microwave block signal to the office.

Basically, I figure there must be something special about your house that is not typical. Otherwise, you can't have 5GHz through walls with tile or 3 walls inline. Metal of the refrig and Microwave also block signal. So, I would not tell people you can cover a typical home with one 5 GHz wireless as it is not going to happen for the average person and people are going to be pissed off with the recommendation when it does not work for them.

 

[Paliv]

Don’t know what to say, I guess my house is impossible. But it’s the second house I’ve had where a single somewhat centrally located router is more than sufficient. Sufficient being 300+ Mbps for high performance devices in any major room or bedroom with a consistent signal. In my current house it’s not even located as centrally as the last one, kind of at the meeting point of a T shape. We definitely have very little interference. And the highest performance devices like my desktop and NAS are in the office wired to the router. I will say the doorbell camera on the front of our house with a brick facade does have a consistent but weak signal. It’s all dependent on needs. I don’t want to be broadcasting well into my neighbor’s houses.

I wouldn’t tell people they need more until I know they need more. As @Tech9 said, test it and if it’s insufficient then look at a higher budget. Just sharing my experience. Not everyone needs large mesh systems or multiple APs. I’m not saying my situation will fit theirs. I’m saying it’s one possibility and not to overspend on things that aren’t necessary. Every environment is unique with many factors.

 

[rachaelt123]

Agreed - it’s best to start small and then adapt as needed.

I’ll get the ASUS @Tech9 suggested.

 

[coxhaus]

I think if you have around 2000 sq ft or bigger you need to go multiple APs and not even screw with a small system as it traps you and you waste money. Start with 2 APs and then add more if you want high speed.
Your system will be much faster with 2 active APs running at the same time. You can't do this with 1 AP.

 

[Tech9]

I’ll get the ASUS @Tech9 suggested.

Not the best, but fits in your budget. You can get another one later for coverage expansion. AiMesh is relatively user friendly, works well with 2x identical units. If you can wire them together - even better.

 

[coxhaus]

Choose the slower wireless network like some advice on these forums.

 

[Tech9]

And what exactly faster wireless network fits in £100 budget requirement?

 

[rachaelt123]

Exactly - looking into things a little more I see the cheapest WiFi6E router is over £150!

 

[Tech9]

You don't need Wi-Fi 6E router. It will have even shorter range on 6GHz band with limited available clients. Your clients determine the performance. Common 2-stream AC - around 500Mbps. Common 2-stream AX - around 800Mbps. Close to the router and with clear Wi-Fi environment.