RT-N66u Still has the best range?

[soepkip]

I am considering buying a new router and from the charts available on SNB I get that the RT-N66U still has the best range available, e.g.:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/charts/router/graph/118-2_4-ghz-profile-up/1113-asus-rtn66u-dark-knight/1140-asus-rtac66u/1235-asus-rtac68u/1689-asus-rtac87u

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tool...s-rtac66u/1235-asus-rtac68u/1689-asus-rtac87u

Would this picture look different after "unlocking" the AC routers (wrt FCC rules, power, etc) or is the N66U just outperforming the AC routers on high attenuation?

 

[L&LD]

Don't forget that if you want to run the latest firmware with the most current security fixes, those old charts are not particularly useful anymore. Firmware has been upgraded at least a dozen times or more since those tests were run.

In my experience, with RMerlin firmware (latest version is 376.49_4) the AC class routers are at least on par with the RT-N66U in the 2.4GHz band and greatly outperform it in the 5GHz band.

Sure, the picture would be different if you mangled the firmware. But that is not a long term solution, imo. Not if you want your digital door way to be as secure as possible going forward for as long as you owned your router.

Unless you have intimate knowledge of the laws and regulations in your area, and, you have equivalent knowledge of the implementation of each routers various outputs depending on the amplifier and antenna combo, then you only risk violating laws which will give you zero benefits behind bars and / or a huge fine too.

 

[Lethasniper007]

How would this router compare to other N routers? Can they handle a lot of load say like 2 Xbox one consoles and 2 laptops. Should it over heat or slow down my speeds.

 

[soepkip]

I would want to run the latest firmware and probably wont need to 'unlock' anything.

Only thing stopping me from getting an AC router now is the supposedly high temperature at which the ac 66/68 run... is there any difference between the asus and e.g. netgear on temperature? Or between the ARM based or older chipsets? If I touch the housing of my Asus WL500g its not even warm to the hand.

 

[jim769]

I would want to run the latest firmware and probably wont need to 'unlock' anything.

Only thing stopping me from getting an AC router now is the supposedly high temperature at which the ac 66/68 run... is there any difference between the asus and e.g. netgear on temperature? Or between the ARM based or older chipsets? If I touch the housing of my Asus WL500g its not even warm to the hand.

At this point i would not even consider a N router unless price is an issue. AC is the future and thats what i would buy the AC68U or P is a great router dont worry about heat they are designed to run this way its not really a issue.

 

[Lethasniper007]

How's the Asus RT-AC66U ?

 

[slyphnier]

How would this router compare to other N routers? Can they handle a lot of load say like 2 Xbox one consoles and 2 laptops. Should it over heat or slow down my speeds.

imho most N router should capable handling <10client without problem
so 2xbox and 2laptops should be fine

most of time, rather than router, its line connection that bottleneck the connection

 

[doczenith1]

My old comcast provided Netgear WRN3500 N 300 router would choke under heavy bittorrent traffic and would not allow full utilization of my 105 mb/s connection. The RT-N66U handles it just fine. The highest cpu load I have seen is around 70%. The unit is warm but not hot. I chose the N66U over an AC router to save money plus my only wireless clients are cell phones and tablets so didn't need the extra speed plus I have a 1400 sft house so didn't need any extra range that I've heard AC can provide to AC clients. If and when I need the extra speed of AC I'll upgrade at that time.

 

[jerry6]

I find the N-66 has better signal through the house than my AC - 66U and Netgear 6250 , am using the N-66 as main router and the AC-66 and Netgear 6250 as a media bridges . Only have 3 AC clients , and they get a better , stronger signal(30' 2 walls between ) from the N 66 than the AC 66 , no idea how the other AC routers are though , they might be better than the AC 66 .