Wireless Router Question

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bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Jan 13, 2014 10:15 PM
Have an Apple TV, sling box, 2 MacBooks, iPad, two iPhones, ps3, ps4, 2 rokus.

Is it worth going to AC now?

If I go to AC, is the airport extreme the best option
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DB9WCR6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=T5ZIDEEI6LQY&coliid=I2BB4BQ4CUY6C5
or should I go with the

Netgear Nighthawk

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0DD0I6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=T5ZIDEEI6LQY&coliid=IPP30TUOJWTBC

Or should I just go with a high rated N
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FK1E46U/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=T5ZIDEEI6LQY&coliid=I3UTUKGODC91F7
Jan 13, 2014 10:15pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Jan 14, 2014 9:13 AM
bases_loaded;1566867 wrote:Have an Apple TV, sling box, 2 MacBooks, iPad, two iPhones, ps3, ps4, 2 rokus.

Is it worth going to AC now?

If I go to AC, is the airport extreme the best option
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DB9WCR6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=T5ZIDEEI6LQY&coliid=I2BB4BQ4CUY6C5
or should I go with the

Netgear Nighthawk

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0DD0I6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=T5ZIDEEI6LQY&coliid=IPP30TUOJWTBC

Or should I just go with a high rated N
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FK1E46U/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=T5ZIDEEI6LQY&coliid=I3UTUKGODC91F7
If what you're using now works fine, don't change anything.

Going AC will be useless unless most of your devices are also AC. From your list, only one or two MIGHT be.
Jan 14, 2014 9:13am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 14, 2014 9:14 AM
I use an airport extreme.

Don't care if it helps.
Jan 14, 2014 9:14am
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Jan 14, 2014 9:21 AM
Are you running only Apple products off it?

The one I have now, Im having issues getting the juice out of it. The modem shows 25-30mbs but the PS4 is only getting 10, the laptop sometimes 20, etc.

So if I'm going to buy new, do I invest now in the AC or will the router be dead before AC is current.
Jan 14, 2014 9:21am
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Jan 14, 2014 9:24 AM
You already have the Apple stuff up and running, no reason not to go Airport Extreme. It's the best router I've ever owned in terms of stability.

Also, I'm a huge fan of Airplay.
Jan 14, 2014 9:24am
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Jan 14, 2014 9:28 AM
It plays nice with the PS4 too?
Jan 14, 2014 9:28am
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Jan 14, 2014 9:30 AM
Yeah, zero issues.

I've had one for 2 years. I never had to restart it...not once.

I now have the standard modem/router that comes w/ Verizon FiOS. I'd gladly go back to the Airport Extreme if able.
Jan 14, 2014 9:30am
M

MontyBrunswick

Jan 14, 2014 9:34 AM
bases_loaded;1567019 wrote:Are you running only Apple products off it?

The one I have now, Im having issues getting the juice out of it. The modem shows 25-30mbs but the PS4 is only getting 10, the laptop sometimes 20, etc.

So if I'm going to buy new, do I invest now in the AC or will the router be dead before AC is current.
10-20 is plenty of bandwidth for virtually every device out there. You'd only notice a difference if you were constantly doing file transfers.

And like I said... Going AC is going to be pointless on most of your devices. Just because the router supports AC doesn't mean shit to your N devices. They'll still operate just the same.

For 95% of users out there, the $50 routers they have at Walmart are completely sufficient.
Jan 14, 2014 9:34am
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Jan 14, 2014 9:46 AM
Thank you both. I had read that the AC has dedicated beam technology or something, reduces the buffering even in N devices. Something we have problem with on the Roku/Apple TV sometimes(the quality goes in and out on the HD)
Jan 14, 2014 9:46am
M

MontyBrunswick

Jan 14, 2014 9:57 AM
You're more than welcome to shell out cash for a new router. It's possible it will have a higher gain antenna (increased signal) which may help it along speed wise.

What would probably help you more is changing the channel on the router you currently have to something nothing else is using.

You can find apps on Android/iOS that will tell you what other routers near you are broadcasting on.

If there's three routers near you and they're all broadcasting on Channel 6, your wireless devices will suffer.

You also have to consider that most home Internet providers MAX OUT at 50mbps, so buying an AC router that has a theoretical max of 1.3Gbps is pretty overkill/pointless.
Jan 14, 2014 9:57am
J

Jawbreaker

Senior Member

520 posts
Jan 14, 2014 1:06 PM
Automatik;1567024 wrote:Yeah, zero issues.

I've had one for 2 years. I never had to restart it...not once.

I now have the standard modem/router that comes w/ Verizon FiOS. I'd gladly go back to the Airport Extreme if able.
Why can't you go back to the Airport Extreme?
Jan 14, 2014 1:06pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Jan 14, 2014 1:19 PM
Jawbreaker;1567099 wrote:Why can't you go back to the Airport Extreme?
FiOS provides their own combo router/wireless modem. No issues so far, so no need to really mess with it.
Jan 14, 2014 1:19pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Jan 14, 2014 1:37 PM
Automatik;1567108 wrote:FiOS provides their own combo router/wireless modem. No issues so far, so no need to really mess with it.
Usually those things can be put into bridge mode which basically makes them a plain modem.

If you call them and explain what you want to do they'll be able to talk you through it.
Jan 14, 2014 1:37pm
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Jan 14, 2014 2:15 PM
Whats the difference between the Airport Express and Extreme?
Jan 14, 2014 2:15pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 14, 2014 2:18 PM
bases_loaded;1567136 wrote:Whats the difference between the Airport Express and Extreme?
Spelling

Jan 14, 2014 2:18pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Jan 14, 2014 2:24 PM
Ahhh...Express. I have that....no need for the Extreme.
Jan 14, 2014 2:24pm
J

Jawbreaker

Senior Member

520 posts
Jan 14, 2014 4:18 PM
I put all my modems in bridge mode so I have more control over the connection. I have had some VPN connectivity problems in the past due to the service provider's modem/router.
Jan 14, 2014 4:18pm