So my trusty RT-N66R decided to disappear last night. Even running a line directly to my laptop would not let me see the router. After some wrangling, I managed to get it to reappear (power cycling and the resetting did not seem to want to work but eventually did). About 2 hours later it disappeared again and it took a factory reset to bring it back.
To be fair, it's been hanging on the back of a filing cabinet in a corner since it was new without great (or really, any) air circulation (which was after AC was out but I had no AC devices at the time so the N was fine).
I've been waiting for the RT-AX86U since I heard about it...and now it's out and nobody seems to have any in stock. Asus does but 2 business day processing plus 2 day shipping puts me a week out and I'm not confident that I can keep the old one working long enough (all my son's college classes are online and my daughter's HS classes are online 3 days a week starting after next week....add to that how antsy teenagers get when the internet is down for any reason and....).
So the question. I can get an RAX50 today at BB for $300, I haven't really checked the availability of the 82U but considering how close in price it is to the RT_AX86U but with less ram 2x2 vs 3x3 on the 2.4 and a slower processor, it seems to not be a great option. I did find a place that claims to have three RT-AX86U's in stock, they do not ship and it's a decent drive away (but certainly doable...just not until saturday).
Any of them should be an upgrade over what I have now and I imagine any should handle the 12-16 devices that are typically connected (with 4 phones, 3 laptops and 3 PS4's often in use at the same time...the PS4's wired).
Any reason to stay away from any of these? Is there a better option (should I just go with an RT-AC86U?) I think the phones and 2 laptops do have AX capability but all are limited by my internet plan anyway. I do plan on relocating the router to a shelf just inside the door of the stairs to the basement (middle of the house, up high, just have to check how long the power cord is).
To be fair, it's been hanging on the back of a filing cabinet in a corner since it was new without great (or really, any) air circulation (which was after AC was out but I had no AC devices at the time so the N was fine).
I've been waiting for the RT-AX86U since I heard about it...and now it's out and nobody seems to have any in stock. Asus does but 2 business day processing plus 2 day shipping puts me a week out and I'm not confident that I can keep the old one working long enough (all my son's college classes are online and my daughter's HS classes are online 3 days a week starting after next week....add to that how antsy teenagers get when the internet is down for any reason and....).
So the question. I can get an RAX50 today at BB for $300, I haven't really checked the availability of the 82U but considering how close in price it is to the RT_AX86U but with less ram 2x2 vs 3x3 on the 2.4 and a slower processor, it seems to not be a great option. I did find a place that claims to have three RT-AX86U's in stock, they do not ship and it's a decent drive away (but certainly doable...just not until saturday).
Any of them should be an upgrade over what I have now and I imagine any should handle the 12-16 devices that are typically connected (with 4 phones, 3 laptops and 3 PS4's often in use at the same time...the PS4's wired).
Any reason to stay away from any of these? Is there a better option (should I just go with an RT-AC86U?) I think the phones and 2 laptops do have AX capability but all are limited by my internet plan anyway. I do plan on relocating the router to a shelf just inside the door of the stairs to the basement (middle of the house, up high, just have to check how long the power cord is).