Choosing ac router may 2015

Hello,

I have a Netgear WNR3500L (v1), with dd-wrt, used as a repeater to connect two buildings.

I'd like to replace it with an ac router. Which one? I'm looking for value for money (in this class of routers), coverage, and the ability to handle many devices. MU-MIMO sounds nice, but from what I've seen it's on just like hd-ready was for tv a few years back. So just a scam at this stage? Beamforming, also a bonus, if it works... Firmware also plays a large part, expencive equipment with crap interface and no updates/bugfixes sucks. I value (future) support for open source firmware.

Options, price acending:

• Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi router, R7000
• ASUS RT-AC66U 11AC AC1750 Router
• ASUS RT-AC68U 11AC AC1900 Router
• Linksys E8350 AC2400 4x4 Wireless Router
• Netgear Nighthawk X4 R7500
• Netgear Nighthawk X6 R8000

I have homed in in the two Asus routers. However, due to a temporary discount the Linksys E8350 and the Asus RT-AC66U is actually the same price, the RT-AC68 is 5% extra. Netgears R7500 and R8000 are 50% and 100% as expencive, so I've basically ruled them out. The Netgear ac1900 is currently the cheapest, by about 20%.

Which router would be your buy/not buy?

I see wave 2 is right product to purchase. So go with x4 or Asus ac87. Not sure on linksys

Best bang for your buck is AC1900 class. All AC routers support beamforming. Don't bother with AC2350/AC2400 class "MU-MIMO ready". They are being replaced by AC2500 class that has working MU-MIMO.

I've been deliberating about routers to buy that support 3rd party firmware, and was narrowing it down to the TP-Link Archer C5(v1.2)/C7 running Gargoyle vs the Tenda W1800R running Shibby Tomato. It's my first attempt at 3rd party firmware and I was going to try to establish a VPN between 3 locations.

In researching the TP-Link routers, I read that they do _NOT_ support beamforming. I had previously thought that beamforming was required for an AC router. I haven't been able to confirm beamforming for the W1800R.

Can anyone confirm if that's really the case, and if so, what real-world effect it may have? My use case is to avoid the crowded 2.4GHz bands at the desired locations, but if beamforming isn't available, can't I just use some much less expensive N600/N750 dual-band routers such as the Netgear WNDR3800 running Gargoyle?

Any help appreciated.

thiggins said:

Best bang for your buck is AC1900 class. All AC routers support beamforming. Don't bother with AC2350/AC2400 class "MU-MIMO ready". They are being replaced by AC2500 class that has working MU-MIMO.

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philpoe said:

In researching the TP-Link routers, I read that they do _NOT_ support beamforming. I had previously thought that beamforming was required for an AC router. I haven't been able to confirm beamforming for the W1800R.

Click to expand...

The issue is that Qualcomm's first-generation 802.11ac device, the QCA9880 does not support beamforming. Its second-generation devices, QCA9980 and QCA9982, do support beamforming.

So the Archer C7 V1 and V2 and C5 (basically a C7 V2) don't support beamforming.
The C8 and C9, which are Broadcom-based, do.

Remember, you need support on both router and client to get any benefit from beamforming. So you need AC clients, too.

Thanks for the info on the Qualcomm devices!
Is there away to find out if the Tenda W1800R's internal devices (or any devices for that matter) support beamforming? That could make this a quick decision.
At home all clients except for a Chromecast (which isn't even connected at the moment) are 5GHz N+AC capable, or hardwired.
I'll create another thread about my other property locations, and their possible applicability for 5GHz AC, and VPN.

thiggins said:

The issue is that Qualcomm's first-generation 802.11ac device, the QCA9880 does not support beamforming. Its second-generation devices, QCA9980 and QCA9982, do support beamforming.

So the Archer C7 V1 and V2 and C5 (basically a C7 V2) don't support beamforming.
The C8 and C9, which are Broadcom-based, do.

Remember, you need support on both router and client to get any benefit from beamforming. So you need AC clients, too.

Click to expand...

philpoe said:

Is there away to find out if the Tenda W1800R's internal devices (or any devices for that matter) support beamforming?

Click to expand...

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Tenda_W1800R

I wouldn't hold much hope for beamforming improving performance significantly. That hasn't been my experience. It definitely does not increase range. At best it provides higher throughput at locations with medium signal levels.

Thanks for the link and the info.
I've posted a separate thread regarding 5GHz N vs AC for my particular situation. Any feedback appreciated.

thiggins said:

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Tenda_W1800R

I wouldn't hold much hope for beamforming improving performance significantly. That hasn't been my experience. It definitely does not increase range. At best it provides higher throughput at locations with medium signal levels.

Click to expand...