Need advice on replacing dying Netgear WNDR3700v2

[htismaqe]

I have gotten almost 4 years - good years - out of my WNDR3700 but it's starting to die.

In reading over the SNB charts and reviews this morning, I came to the realization that the WiFi market has advanced way too far in those 4 years for me to make a really good educated decision without asking for help...

My setup today is exclusively 2.4Ghz, 20Mhz-only. I'm currently not using the 5Ghz band at all (lack of range, limited number of devices can even use it).

I have 2 kids and my mother in law lives with us - we have Kindles, iPods, Androids, iPhones, multiple laptops, PCs, my iMac, a PS3, 2 Nintendo Wii's, NetFlix/BluRay players, and all of the devices I use in my home office. We actually have nearly 50 devices right now.

To facilitate that many devices, I have two Netgear WGR614 routers setup in AP mode and connected to the WNDR3700 via wired ethernet. Each of those 614's has a unique SSID - my wife and I use one and my kids are connected to the other. All of our media devices (Netflix players, Wii's, etc.) are connected to the private SSID of the WNDR3700. I also have the Guest network on the WNDR3700 configured and use it primarily for visitors as well as for all of my work-related devices.

I have a Buffalo Linkstation NAS that performs very well so the USB port on the 3700 is unused. I have 50Mbit ethernet Internet, so I need a router that can handle that kind of throughput. I would also prefer to get something that can handle more TCP sessions, simply because we have so many connected devices.

Maximum range on the 2.4Ghz band is probably my primary concern right now. I would consider using 5Ghz again if I could get a router with better range than the 3700.

Can anyone assist? Thanks in advance.

 

[TonyH]

Hi,
I evolved from WNDR3700v2(Trondah f/w) > ASUS RT-N66U(Merlin f/w) > ASUS RT-AC66U(Merlin f/w) > Netgear R7000(Kong's dd-wrt or stock f/w-lately improving steadily) At the moment IMO, upgrade choice is between ASUS RT-AC68U or Netgear R7000. My work is done on Zyxel USG 20W separate from home network.

 

[htismaqe]

Both of those devices are ~$200 and contain a boatload of features I really don't need.

I was thinking of going to the ASUS RT-N66U, even though it's not AC, due to it's 2.4Ghz performance.

I'm just wondering if there's something else that I'm missing.

 

[TonyH]

Hmm,
WNDR4500 has decent radio. Comparing RT-N66U to R7000 there is
10db difference in my case on both 2.4 and 5GHz bands. New routers
have beam forming ability, implicit &/or explicit to improve WiFi performance.

 

[htismaqe]

After thinking about it some more, I just can't see paying $125 for an N900 router that is already obsolete. The Netgear R7000 is $200 but theoretically, I should have to upgrade again for quite some time.

EDIT: The problem is I just really don't need it and $75 is a pretty considerable difference in price.

 

[stevech]

IMO: spend no more than $100, and stay one or two generations back, to get stability and avoid bleeding edge technology and early adopter prices.

For what we do in this house, a $50 WiFi router is fine, given the ISP is 15/1 and the NAS for big transfers is not WiFi. The iPad and Android phones do just fine with a few megabit/sec.

And we don't own anything like this: http://www.cadillac.com/escalade-suv.html

 

[htismaqe]

I'm not fond of the routing performance of most of the routers under $100, unless you're talking about refurbished higher-end gear, which I'm not sure I want to do in this case.

I do have some 5Ghz devices and if I could get a good enough signal, I'd probably use it.

I'm leaning towards the Asus at this point. At $125, it seems like the right fit for me.

 

[stevech]

I'm not fond of the routing performance of most of the routers under $100,

could you elaborate? NATing?

WiFi is not related to routing (to / from the WAN).

 

[remixedcat]

could you elaborate? NATing?

WiFi is not related to routing (to / from the WAN).

mabye not handling all those TCP connections....

Lots of routers also got weak CPUs that can't tolerate those.

 

[htismaqe]

mabye not handling all those TCP connections....

Lots of routers also got weak CPUs that can't tolerate those.

Correct.

For example, the WNDR3700 I have now can easily handle my 50Mb internet connection but IIRC it maxes out at 4096 simultaneous sessions. I've never actually looked but I'm guessing with the sheer number of devices we have going some evenings, we're getting close to that number.

 

[htismaqe]

WiFi is not related to routing (to / from the WAN).

It's only related in the fact that I'm looking for a device that does both relatively well (my 3700 has been rock solid really).

 

[remixedcat]

My Amped RTA15 has done pretty good with all the stuff. I tested a meraki MX60W for a month and it was awesome sauce but I couldn't keep it it was a review unit only

 

[L&LD]

I upgraded to the RT-N66U from the Netgear 3700v1. Huge upgrade.

Recommend RMerlin's firmware 374.39_0-em or the soon to be released .40-em version (many fixes) with the RT-N66U.

If I was buying today though for the next few years; the RT-AC68U would be my choice (look for sales in the $120 - $150 range).

For routing (wired) performance the RT-N56U is very hard to beat for the money. It is also cheaper ($80). Since you have and use AP's already; this may be good enough for now (with an eye to upgrade to the AC2300 Class routers when they become stable).


For the RT-N56U I would recommend the Padavan firmware (.75 version - I have not used the just released .78 latest version, though I'm sure it is 'wow' too).


http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/router-charts/bar/76-total-simul


Thinking about this more; the RT-AC56U will be the best fit for you. With the same RMerlin firmware (.39_0) it has much greater range and throughput than the RT-N56U while also having very high routing (wired) performance. This has been on sale lately in the $99 range - look for sales or try to price match (or price beat) it for the best deal. Except for the better range the RT-N66U will offer in the 2.4GHz band because of the external antenna, it is possibly the better deal and the better router too (especially in the 5GHz band and with AC clients of course, going forward).

 

[htismaqe]

My Amped RTA15 has done pretty good with all the stuff. I tested a meraki MX60W for a month and it was awesome sauce but I couldn't keep it it was a review unit only

Yeah, I almost ended up in a similar situation with Aerohive. I ended up not doing the demo, though, so I have no idea if they would have let me keep the gear or not.

 

[htismaqe]

I upgraded to the RT-N66U from the Netgear 3700v1. Huge upgrade.

Recommend RMerlin's firmware 374.39_0-em or the soon to be released .40-em version (many fixes) with the RT-N66U.

So out of the box, the N66U has a lot of issues?

If I was buying today though for the next few years; the RT-AC68U would be my choice (look for sales in the $120 - $150 range).

I don't really have the luxury of waiting for a sale. I'm not sure how much longer I can limp along on the 3700. If I'm gonna go the $200 route, I'd probably opt for the R7000 over the AC68U.

For routing (wired) performance the RT-N56U is very hard to beat for the money. It is also cheaper ($80). Since you have and use AP's already; this may be good enough for now (with an eye to upgrade to the AC2300 Class routers when they become stable).

I do have other APs but they're doing specialized functions. I still need this device to provide maximum range, particularly on the 2.4Ghz spectrum, since it will provide my guest network.

 

[L&LD]

No, the RT-N66U has no issues for me out of the box. However, the RMerlin firmware puts this 2+ year old router back on the map in 2014 again.

If you do go for the R7000 - be sure that you are completely happy with the performance and features it offers. Netgear products have a habit of being forgotten after the major bugs are fixed (in the first 6 to 12 months).


Wrt the RT-N56U; please see my original post again - I edited after you responded I think.

 

[htismaqe]

No, the RT-N66U has no issues for me out of the box. However, the RMerlin firmware puts this 2+ year old router back on the map in 2014 again.

I really think this is where I'm headed. That being said, can you clarify what you mean?

What specifically does the RMerlin firmware provide that the stock firmware doesn't?

The main features I need are:

1. maximum wireless range, preferably ability to change transmit power
2. DHCP reservations of at least 64 hosts (that's the max on the 3700)
3. Outbound QoS by MAC address on the internet link
4. Guest Network

I don't really need USB tweaks/performance enhancements (won't be using the USB ports) nor do I need anything related to built in media servers or anything like that.

I'm just wondering if I *HAVE* to flash it or not...

 

[stevech]

Sometimes, a flaky or "dying" WiFi router, as is sometimes described, just have a failing wall transformer power supply.

 

[htismaqe]

Sometimes, a flaky or "dying" WiFi router, as is sometimes described, just have a failing wall transformer power supply.

Thanks, I'll replace it and see if that helps.

 

[htismaqe]

I ended up buying the RT-66W (the white version) for a decent price. If I can salvage the 3700, I might try using it as a 5Ghz bridge.