Why buy an N router?

[thiggins]

Discuss.

 

[Ronv42]

My reason for buying/keeping a N router is unique. I have a bunch of remote access points in various establishments in Wisconsin that provide "free" WiFi. From a stability and compatibility perspective vs. cost N still makes a better business sense.

 

[L&LD]

Reasons to buy:

1. Budget
2. Low(er) ISP connection speeds
   1. Plus no need for faster internal network transfers via wireless
3. Use as a bridge for a TV, AV Receiver, etc.
   1. Where ~25MB/s is maximum to be ever needed.
4. Hardware limit guest WiFi speeds
   1. Limit further by using 20MHz channel width
   2. Limit further by buying single antennae design
   3. Limit further by using worst (not best) channel for throughput
5. Use as inexpensive way to provide close-range wireless and LAN ports to each room
   1. Also possible requirement; to isolate different segments of the network
6. Turn off radios and use as basic ISP router only (RT-N56U or better).
7. Joke gift to the techie guy/girl in your life.

Reasons to not buy:

1. Budget is not a priority
2. Performance (throughput) is a priority
3. Range / coverage is a priority
4. The need to connect many wireless clients
5. Features are a priority
6. Price can be similar (or more) to AC1200 class routers or higher (on sale)
7. Outdated technology that is a decade past it's true demise.

 

[azazel1024]

If for some reason you need a really cheap router and/or you have specific requirements that can only be managed at much higher prices.

Example, TP-Link WDR3600 had removable dual band antennas and runs about $50. To get something similar in 11ac is likely to run you $80-100 (and generally they'll be 3 antennas, so more to replace). So it would be great for outdoor access point (just running the antennas outside) or a long range wireless bridge.

Another example is if you have limited ISP connection and no inter-LAN/WLAN devices that will exceed whatever WLAN ability an 11n router will provide.

 

[thiggins]

Have either of you guys actually bought an N router recently?

 

[L&LD]

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX46293

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX47224

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX32640

A few dozen (each) of the above.

 

[coldwizard]

You live in an apartment so have a minimum of 8 close wireless competitors.

You are single, therefore no multiple people streaming movies.

 

[stevech]

In this home, there are 2 smart phones and 2 tablet PCs using WiFi. Two desktop PCs connect via etherent.
The ISP service is 35/5Mbps.

Thus, 802.11n is more than adequate for the phones/tablets.

 

[RMerlin]

I mostly sell N routers to my own customers because they want something cheap (they jump at the idea of paying more than 50-75$ for a router), and "that will let me connect my laptop/phone/tablet to Internet". They don't even know what G, N or AC mean. So, we mostly sell Asus RT-N12.

I've sold AC routers in cases where:

- Customer needed a higher performance CPU as he intended to use the router as a VPN server (those are all AC models)
- Customer actually had a 802.11ac device (Lenovo Yoga 2) AND specifically complained about the time it took when moving files from his NAS to his device before leaving for an appointment
- Customer who recently asked me for "the Cadillac of routers, cause my current one keeps disconnecting, and I need to work at home". (ok, when I told him that routers now go up to 400$, we settled on a product in the 200$ range, but still it wasn't a 802.11N model because he wanted something that he felt would be higher-end)

(in all three cases, I was the one recommending the particular router, customer had no idea what 802.11ac was)

 

[Nullity]

I purposely bought the RT-N66U because the 802.11n standard was finalized years ago. I did not want to experience the "draft" clients/APs anymore. My goal was to choose the most modern, but mature, standard.

Though, I second guess my choice because the 802.11ac standard is a much stricter standard which seems to be doing well even during it's early phases.

 

[coxhaus]

We have too many old devices to worry about AC right now.

Maybe in a few years as some of the old gear is upgraded.

If I was just starting out I would probably start with AC.

 

[Cloud200]

I still get the rt-n16 for quick reliable openvpn site to site connections for small businesses. Customer has DSL, 10/1 EOC, or cheap cable and they just need a site to site VPN tunnel for an iPad or terminal to use. Just flash tomato on it and its up and running in about 10 minutes.
I might eventually move away from it to an arm based router once a worthy successor arises, the same like the rt-n16 is to the wrt54g.

 

[Nullity]

Question: If comparable AC and N devices were the same price, is there any reason not to buy the AC model? (I cannot think of any.)

For example, the RT-N66U and RT-AC66U.

 

[L&LD]

I agree in theory, but in your example, I would still buy and recommend the RT-N66U.

Why? The I have seen a few (4 out of 27) RT-AC66U's that I've recommended in the past, just die. Right past warranty.

Performance wise, they are above the N66U, no contest. But reliability seems to be too hit and miss for me.

 

[stevech]

Question: If comparable AC and N devices were the same price, is there any reason not to buy the AC model? (I cannot think of any.)

For example, the RT-N66U and RT-AC66U.

product maturity/stability.
when 11AC is desirably priced and brings real benefit, and when user devices do a churn, we'll have yet another standard with early adopter risk and pricing.

But hey, fiddling with bleeding edge home networking, for some, is a fun also-hobby. Keeps us out of the bars, right?

 

[azazel1024]

Have either of you guys actually bought an N router recently?

Recently as in the last couple of months, not. I did buy a WDR3600 within the last 6-8 months.

 

[azazel1024]

product maturity/stability.
when 11AC is desirably priced and brings real benefit, and when user devices do a churn, we'll have yet another standard with early adopter risk and pricing.

But hey, fiddling with bleeding edge home networking, for some, is a fun also-hobby. Keeps us out of the bars, right?

Dunno. My Archer C8 brings with it better 2.4GHz performance to all of my clients and on 5GHz it is a bit better too. For my couple of 11ac clients it generally provides 120-140% better performance depending on distance from the router compared to my "old" 11n N600 WDR3600 (still using it as an access point though on the other side of the house). Price wasn't bad at all on it when I got it and the performance I'd consider a real benefit.

 

[AdvHomeServer]

Except for another AC router being used as a client bridge, I have no AC devices. If the two cheap Netgear refurbs I own weren't available, I might still have an N router and an N client bridge. I was motivated to upgrade so I would have something to write about on my web site (also now an e-Book) and also to be able to explore some new ideas. Ditto with UTM gateways now ... I have no pressing need for one, it's for hobby purposes (still researching).

Some of my relatives are a little afraid of the internet and have no idea about file transfer around the house. They will upgrade to AC after N becomes unavailable.

 

[sm00thpapa]

I agree with Tim as he stated many times the AC1200 router has now become the N300 router popular years ago for the budget minded.

Linksys is coming out with the WRT1200AC soon. Hopefully the firmware will be polished before launch.

 

[sm00thpapa]

You could also buy the D-link AC750 router from Walmart for $29.99 cheaper than some N300 routers.