Advice to replace Linksys e4200 v1 router

Hello -
I am looking at replacing a Linksys e4200 router. I have a gift card for office max, so unfortunately I'm stuck buying there. I've been reading up on the Linksys WRT 1900 and the Netgear R7000. I have no specific features I want or need. I tend to set it and forget it. I have several devices pulling off the wireless. 2 iPhones, 2 iPads, 2 roku, a chromecast and up 2 laptops, one is ac compatible. We have a fiber connection that is 40/3.

The local office max has the v1 of the WRT 1900. If I go with Linksys, should I try to find the v2 instead? Office max has the R7000 on sale for $169. I've always had Linksys, my only reason for not jumping on the Netgear as yet.
The e4200 has been a good router, however I want better range out of the 5ghz band. I also plan on using the stock firmware, so stability is big for me.
Thanks for any advice!

Avoid the Netgear one. Even though its stock FW is rock solid, it still has numerous issues reported by quite a few on the Netgear forum. Unless you're prepared to run a third party FW (XVortex/Shibby), I would not recommend it

CyHawk said:

Hello -
I am looking at replacing a Linksys e4200 router. I have a gift card for office max, so unfortunately I'm stuck buying there. I've been reading up on the Linksys WRT 1900 and the Netgear R7000. I have no specific features I want or need. I tend to set it and forget it. I have several devices pulling off the wireless. 2 iPhones, 2 iPads, 2 roku, a chromecast and up 2 laptops, one is ac compatible. We have a fiber connection that is 40/3.

The local office max has the v1 of the WRT 1900. If I go with Linksys, should I try to find the v2 instead? Office max has the R7000 on sale for $169. I've always had Linksys, my only reason for not jumping on the Netgear as yet.
The e4200 has been a good router, however I want better range out of the 5ghz band. I also plan on using the stock firmware, so stability is big for me.
Thanks for any advice!

Click to expand...

I didn't get good range with the WRT1900 so I bought a EA6900 and have been very pleased with it. I also bought an EA8500 and it's range has been even better.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the replies! Any other advice? Any reservations about getting a v1 WRT1900 vs a v2?

CyHawk said:

Thanks for the replies! Any other advice? Any reservations about getting a v1 WRT1900 vs a v2?

Click to expand...

If you can get a WRT1900AC v2, I'd do that. Or get a WRT1900ACS, which is essentially a re-labeled WRT1900AC v2.

I do like the R7000 with third-party firmware. Strong wireless, reliable, and great overall performance. Skip the stock Netgear firmware, though. I've had an R7000 for a couple of years now, and haven't used the stock firmware much at all.

So I've decided to get an Asus router. I would like some feedback on which one you would get and why. The RT-AC68P or the RT-AC3100. Currently there is $100 price difference.
Thanks!

I would suggest that the newest router (that is know to be stable, of course) be considered (always). Even at a high premium of $100 as in this case.

The RT-AC68U is almost three years old today. The RT-AC3100 is much better hardware and design (all aspects) and works flawlessly for many people right now.

What is the prices of the two models you are considering? It would not change my mind too much (just curious though).

Buying old hardware/design choices may give you the 'most' stable router possible. But I cannot support suggesting to others to buy effectively obsolete products that are essentially end of life today.

To Asus' credit though, they will likely support both routers for security and feature updates for a very long time (as possible, depending on the hardware they each have). But unless you're buying a router every year or so, buying an older model today is not what I would call 'progress'.

Thanks L&LD! The 68P is $179.99 and the 3100 is $279.99

That is about 55% more cost for about 40% more router (processors) and 3 years or so newer design.

I think that that 15% markup is fair.