Need something to replace D-Link DIR-868L for 3-story home.

[Synomenon]

We moved into a new 3-story home and need something more powerful than our D-Link DIR-868L.

I'm looking at either a Netgear R8000 or Netgear R7500. Reason I have to choose b/w these two models is that I have a gift card for the store that carries these units.

This store also carries the TrendnetTEW-828DRU and Linksys WRT1900AC.


All of our laptops and mobile phones and tablets work with with AC protocol and at any moment we have around 10 devices online at a time.

 

[microchip]

instead of one single router trying to cover the whole, why not place multiple APs at certain locations?

As for which routers, if you're not prepared to run 3rd party FW on the Netgears, I would stay away from them. Very decent hardware, but the FW is to cry about. I don not have experience with the WRT1900AC

I can also recommend TP-Link routers. Have a good experience with them

 

[thiggins]

To get the benefit from 11ac, you need to be on 5 GHz and have a medium to strong signal. 5 GHz range is less than 2.4 GHz.

If you have Ethernet in the home, use one wireless router on the main floor, then routers converted to access points on the other two. If you don't have Ethernet, use powerline to connect the APs to the router.

 

[L&LD]

I would use the gift card to buy something else with in that particular store.

An Asus RT-AC56U ($100 on sale) used in conjunction with your existing router will be a better buy (as the main router or as an AP). When used with RMerlin firmware.

 

[Synomenon]

One reason I've hesitated going with router + APs in this home is that there will be multiple SSIDs which would confused some of the people living here.

 

[L&LD]

Multiple ssid's would be my preference, but it is not required, even between different vendor's products.

 

[Synomenon]

So I could easily configure the router and routers configured as APs to all have the same SSID?

 

[sfx2000]

So I could easily configure the router and routers configured as APs to all have the same SSID?

Common SSID's is my preference, but others will argue against it...

 

[remixedcat]

How I got mine is:

My Network hardware: Cisco Meraki Z1 router, 2 x Aruba RAP 109 APs, 1 Cisco Meraki MR12 AP. D-Link DGS-1210-10P PoE managed switch. Works very well and no dead spots... I got all one SSID for each tier of access (VLAN 10=MAIN SSID1, VLAN3=GUEST SSID2, and VLAN5=CLIENTS SSID3) and layer 3 roaming and load balancing

 

[Synomenon]

Others are recommending staying away from anything newer than the R7000 for Netgear and RT-AC68U for Asus.

I went ahead though and purchased two used Ubiquiti Unifi AP Pro. units and have been using the DIR-868L with them. Works well so far.