Router recommendation

[Knut]

Hi

I currently have a RT N66U with Merlin and it works very well since a long time.
Now my network at home is growing and I would like to speed up some things.

I'm using the Router for:

• 100m2 apartment
• 1x QNAP NAS for files, lots of pictures and 4k streaming and DLNA
  
• 1x Open VPN Server
  
• 1x Desktop PC/Server for Webpages and Projects
  
• 2x Router USB Power Supply connected to Raspberrys
• 1x Guest Network for Projects and untrusted devices
• Some Phones, Notebooks,..
• Efficient power consumption

Location: Europe

Unfortunately the ASUS product website is not very detailed.
My favorite now is the ASUS RT-AC86U, but its advertised for gaming, I'm not a gamer.
Alternative RT-AC88U, faster WIFI?, but older.
Or RT-AC5300, much more expensive, not sure it has benefits for me.

Further I read that some devices have Amazon Alexa or Smart Phone plugins.
I definitely do not want that my router sends marketing data anywhere, so can such plugins be completely deactivated and is the Merlin firmware free of such things?

Is the Merlin firmware functionality for all routers the same or are there differences?
I'm working on a lot of technical projects, so I would prefer to have a router which offers good technical configuration options.

Could someone recommend me router, which devices are you using??

Or should I wait for IEEE 802.11ax Routers ?

Thanks a Lot

Lukas

 

[CrystalLattice]

We've been using smallnetbuilder.com 's Router Charts and Router Rankers recommendations for at least 15 years now. Just press some buttons! Also, he publishes a yearly article on where to be in the "router space." It's best to buy/sell/return a bunch of products so you can build expertise, always in December when prices are low. Great Luck on your adventure!

 

[Grisu]

Do you have the need to change it right now?
Sure if you can wait 1-2 years for 11ax would make some sense.

RT-AC86U is not really a gamer, only got good (newer and lot faster) hardware to be able to support it too.
Software is mostly the same on all routers with little differences (some features only on newer like Smart Connect on 86U and not for 68U).
Coverage is almost same on all routers as with limited EU-transmit power, if you want more take the Chinese version and set it to US with much more power and so coverage (but with limited channel selection 1-11 and 36-48 as 149+ not usable in EU)!
Set to region EU it will have 1-13, 36-64, 100-116, 128-136.
But only the chinese version 86U will allow you to change the WiFi-region, all others fixed.
Of course coverage has to be seen different from possible speeds.
As 86U is the newest for long term use it will probably get much longer updates.

Sayed this I really dont know how the can advertise routers with faster WiFi-speed for larger homes, they wont regarding to same transmit power and known attenuation, only more devices can use their faster connection speed.

 

[JDB]

I like you like to do various projects, I have the RT-AC88U (Router/Merlin/Entware)and 2x RT-AC5300 (AiMesh AP/Nodes Stock f/w).

I run many things actually on the router itself such as web servers and other home automation scripts. This limits my need for Pi’s/ComputStick’s etc.

The 88, 86 and 5300 all have the same RAM but the 86 has much faster CPU, and the 88 has 8x LAN. The 5300 is basically the same as the 88, plus a 5Ghz Radio minus 4 LAN port’s.

So all will be capable of doing lots of “things” simultaneously (thanks to plenty of RAM).

If you have lots of things to plug in the 88 is an easy winner.

If you have lots of 5Ghz Wi-fi clients the 5300 is the easy winner.

For me, a router while happily using it for some light weight side projects shouldn’t be doing any heavy loads, so while the 86 has a serious CPU, the only advantage that brings is if you want to run OpenVPN on the router. The 86 has significantly better VPN throughout compared to the 88/5300 - for me personally, this would be the only reason to get an 86, if I had VPN throughput requirements above ~50Mbps (which I don’t).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bbunge]

If you like the configuration of the N66U the RT-AC66U_B1 is the same form but has dual core and AC N WIFI. It is basically the same as an RT-AC68U performance wise but for less money. Then there is the RT-N66U_C1 which is a dual core N router.

Sent from my P01M using Tapatalk

 

[Knut]

Hi
Thanks a lot for all your answers and recommendations!

VPN throughput is a very good hint, because I'm always using VPN to sync my devices with the NAS. (~ 100Mbps)
Seems the RT-AC86U should be a good choice for me.

 

[CrystalLattice]

Applying strict logic & finance, I use a $30 Phicomm K3C as an AP. Never hiccups, advanced tech, never have to worrry about the latest firmware update cause there are none. No merlin, openwrt, no projects, few settings. More time for cocktails, no time wasted on router firmware addiction. Cheers!