Upon the input from the Asus AI, I recently ordered a GT-AX11000 Pro which showed up in a box way more huge than I would ever have expected. It turns out the reason for the big box is that the router box itself is HUGE. Way too huge for the space I have to locate it! I admit that this was an oversight on my part. The Amazon page from which I ordered only shows the weight and not the dimensions. I just never thought to check further. So now it has to go back.
So I am seeking a (hopefully) Asus alternative that is:
(a) About the physical dimensions of my current GS-AX3000.
(b) Is designed to sit on a shelf rather than stand up.
(c) Is fully capable of supporting 50+ wifi devices - most on the 2.4Ghz channel.
(d) Is a definite step forward from my GS-AX3000 which is struggling at about 30 devices and is modern enough to have a 64-bit architecture with at least 256M or RAM (DDR4, I hope, or better), at least a 4-core, 2Ghz processor which I think is needed for me to make significant progress.
(e) Has at least 4 ethernet ports plus a WAN port.
(f) Has at least 1 USB port and support for miniDLNA and SMB file sharing.
(g) As I said, hopefully is supported by Merlin.
(h) Hopefully offers greater range for my most distant devices.
AND
(i) Doesn't break the bank!
I do not really need or care about:
(j) Fancy flashing lights (indeed, I need to be able to turn those off if they are included - as I do with my GS-AX3000).
(k) Mesh (I have nothing against it but when I tried using it on the GS-AX3000 with a AC-1750, it made no significant improvement - which I guess makes sense given that all but a few devices are fixed, not mobile).
(l) Gaming optimization - strange to add here since this is a forum for gaming routers - but I don't need it.
(m) Really high throughput as I am limited by my ISP to 100 Mb/sec.
I really do not want a non-Asus router. I have been using them for decades now - I still have/use my RT-N10, RT-N10+, and RT-N12.
Thanks for your suggestions and experience!
So I am seeking a (hopefully) Asus alternative that is:
(a) About the physical dimensions of my current GS-AX3000.
(b) Is designed to sit on a shelf rather than stand up.
(c) Is fully capable of supporting 50+ wifi devices - most on the 2.4Ghz channel.
(d) Is a definite step forward from my GS-AX3000 which is struggling at about 30 devices and is modern enough to have a 64-bit architecture with at least 256M or RAM (DDR4, I hope, or better), at least a 4-core, 2Ghz processor which I think is needed for me to make significant progress.
(e) Has at least 4 ethernet ports plus a WAN port.
(f) Has at least 1 USB port and support for miniDLNA and SMB file sharing.
(g) As I said, hopefully is supported by Merlin.
(h) Hopefully offers greater range for my most distant devices.
AND
(i) Doesn't break the bank!
I do not really need or care about:
(j) Fancy flashing lights (indeed, I need to be able to turn those off if they are included - as I do with my GS-AX3000).
(k) Mesh (I have nothing against it but when I tried using it on the GS-AX3000 with a AC-1750, it made no significant improvement - which I guess makes sense given that all but a few devices are fixed, not mobile).
(l) Gaming optimization - strange to add here since this is a forum for gaming routers - but I don't need it.
(m) Really high throughput as I am limited by my ISP to 100 Mb/sec.
I really do not want a non-Asus router. I have been using them for decades now - I still have/use my RT-N10, RT-N10+, and RT-N12.
Thanks for your suggestions and experience!