Stable and Cheap AC

[feelyat]

I am currently running the very inexpensive RT-N12 router, which is 2.4 only, and up to this point, has generally fit my needs quite well. I now have quite a few devices that support AC, or at least dual-band N, and the neighborhood's 2.4 spectrum is getting quite crowded, so I want to get ahead of the curve and do an upgrade.

Things I care about:
1. Stability. The device should pretty much manage itself. I don't want to make router maintenance a hobby.
2. Price. My experience with the low-end ASUS router has shown me that good performance doesn't have to come with a high price tag.
3. Flexibility. Notwithstanding point #1, I like the fact that I can run Tomato on my router. I've used DD-WRT or Tomato for years, and I like having options.

Things I care less about:
1. Cutting-edge speed. I'd like gigabit LAN support (which I don't have now), but beyond that, I'm OK with most anything. My main goal is to not be too out of date for when new devices come out. I'm aiming at AC1750.
2. USB Support. Meh. I don't use it.
3. Pretty. I treat my router like an industrial access point and put it up on a shelf in the middle of my house. It's out of sight.

Currently, I'm leaning toward the ASUS AC66R.

 

[jegesq]

Would highly recommend the AC66U/R. I have two of AC66U's (one a router the other repeater). Very solid, excellent range (if you use either Merlin at 374.xx or John's 374 fork...when I switched to the 376.xx firmware version, my range dropped about 10-20%, but that may not matter to you).

I don't use the USB features either (have NAS'es for those functions), don't use the media or FTP server functions of the router either, so like you, I'm not to concerned with those bells and whistles. I just want stability, speed and throughput. And the AC66U has been very good and that regard.