What router to get?

[Phoenix]

Is the time of having a good stable wireless router is over?

I had a trusty AC68U that was great, then I just wanted something a bit better and liked the idea of having Smart Connect (I wish it worked properly) so I got an AC3200 which kept disconnecting my devices all the time, I kept waiting patiently for a firmware update but every month, it would be the same story so I sold it and went back to my AC68U.

Now I got an AC5300 and I don't have any disconnection issues. The router is in the bedroom which is about 18 feet from where my laptop is in the living room but I only get 173MBPS connection with Smart Connect. Somewhere between N and AC

What other options do I have? I see the latest Netgeat R7800 also has issues while browsing their forums...

All I care about in a router is great range and low ping rates

 

[pege63]

Use the other 2 Routers as APs between your AC5300 and the other rooms

 

[Phoenix]

Use the other 2 Routers as APs between your AC5300 and the other rooms

those are sold long back. It baffles me that the latest and greatest router cannot even give me full bandwidth despite it only being 18 feet away from me

 

[System Error Message]

well if you want an even better router check out the mikrotik CCR series.

 

[schoondoggy]

What is the WiFi adapter in your laptop? Is the 173Mbps your link rate or transfer rate?

 

[Phoenix]

What is the WiFi adapter in your laptop? Is the 173Mbps your link rate or transfer rate?

I have a Killer AC1535 WLAN card. 173MBPS is the link rate.

If I changed my WLAN card to the Intel AC8260 I could barely get 73MBPS the range sucks on that Intel card

If I disable Smart Connect I can get 650 - 800 MBPS link rate if I manually connect to the 5GHz network but I want to make this Smart Connect work. Everything is at default and I don't know how to tweak anything

 

[schoondoggy]

Sorry to be nit picky, but we are talking about Mb megabits not MB megabytes correct?
Are there any other routers or WAP running nearby that could be giving you channel conflicts?

 

[Phoenix]

Sorry to be nit picky, but we are talking about Mb megabits not MB megabytes correct?
Are there any other routers or WAP running nearby that could be giving you channel conflicts?

no other devices connected. it's the range. If I go to the bedroom I get the full speed but I can literally see the router away from me a few feet and it is very hard for it to keep up the max speed so I'm connected at the below speed right now with 5 bars. I think this router's 5GHz bands are sucky

 

[System Error Message]

You have the best of consumer routers, Why are you asking what router to get? Are you planning on moving up to x86 linux/unix routers using supermicro servers equipped with xeons and 10Gb/s networking or mikrotik CCRs?

From my experience i dont really use smart connect, it does work but problem is with compatibility and drivers of client as they dont always reconnect properly. Nothing wrong however setting up 3 different SSIDs and deciding which devices go where.

 

[Phoenix]

You have the best of consumer routers, Why are you asking what router to get? Are you planning on moving up to x86 linux/unix routers using supermicro servers equipped with xeons and 10Gb/s networking or mikrotik CCRs?

From my experience i dont really use smart connect, it does work but problem is with compatibility and drivers of client as they dont always reconnect properly. Nothing wrong however setting up 3 different SSIDs and deciding which devices go where.

right, I was just wondering if there was any better router out there

 

[Phoenix]

Interesting thing just happened, I just enabled MIMO and now my speed is back up to 866 MBPS! My Killer AC 1535 supports MIMO

 

[Phoenix]

and now it's back to 144 MBPS, what the heck is this....

 

[L&LD]

Indicated link speed is no indication of what your throughput may or may not be.

Link speed will fluctuate depending on the strain you put on your wireless connection (this is normal).

 

[System Error Message]

right, I was just wondering if there was any better router out there

There are a lot better but not for the consumer. You could always make your own monster of an AP for cheaper than the AC5300 but again its not a direct route.

 

[pete y testing]

173MBPS connection with Smart Connect. Somewhere between N and AC

ok first take the 5300 out of smart connect and run it as 3 ssid's for testing as i think you will find you are on 2.4 gig and its running at 20mhz

If I disable Smart Connect I can get 650 - 800 MBPS link rate if I manually connect to the 5GHz network but I want to make this Smart Connect work.

and that proves it

it also suggests you may only be 18 feet away from the router but there must be some quite dense material in the form of solid walls and or something actively blocking the signals from the router to you

this would also be why smart connect is bumping you down to the 2.4 gig bandwidth in smart connect

If I go to the bedroom I get the full speed but I can literally see the router away from me a few feet and it is very hard for it to keep up the max speed

you understand that your never going to get max speeds out of 5 gig out of the same room anyway right

right, I was just wondering if there was any better router out there

coverage wise maybe the linksys 9500 by a hair but im pretty sure power and coverage isnt your issues here

there are a few things at play here

you must have some form of environmental issue causing the wifi to drop so quick , eg dense walls or metal or some building construction material

by running smart connect the router is seeing this poor connection and i believe band steering you down to 2.4 gig which is set at 20/40mhz and is using the friendlier 20mhz which is why you are seeing that low a sync

there seems to be a little lacking in your understanding when it comes to how smart connect works and this is why you are confused by the sync results

if you want max sync rates get the transmission in the same room as you or run multiple transmission points to achieve this

pete

 

[sfx2000]

I had a trusty AC68U that was great, then I just wanted something a bit better and liked the idea of having Smart Connect (I wish it worked properly)

FWIW - go back to the RT-AC68U - if it worked great, it likely will still work great...

It's a classic these days - but a good one...

 

[pege63]

Waths the brand on your laptop, maybe its not compatible?
Did you self replace it, wath was the old one?