hi all, needs help deciding which router to go...

house: typical double storey 20x70
devices: 2 laptops (5ghz), 4 main mobile phones (always connected, 5ghz), 5-6 test phones (wife's job, connect occasionally, some 2.4ghz some 5 ghz), 1 cheap NAS (LAN), Astro decoder (5ghz), tvbox (5ghz), 5 cameras (2.4ghz), 6 light bulbs/switches (2.4 ghz)
internet plan: Maxis 30, but Time is coming so planning to get Time 100mbps (don't know when)
current router: Asus RT-AC1200+
problems: upstair kids room can't get stable wifi when playing mobile games. laptop connection occasionally drops, suspect the router has reached its limit.

I don't have big budget but if something can last me a good 3-5 years I am willing to spend around 800-1000. currently I am looking at Asus RT-AC86U and tp-link Archer C4000, both are similarly priced on lazada.

I just need stable wifi throughout my house and can support as many internet connected devices I am going to add in future (maybe another 10 to 20?)

which one should I go for? thanks!

So I got myself a DIR-2660

but why my Wifi Speed even right next to it or in the same room only 200mbps? I am on a 500mbps Unifi connection and when I tested with ethernet, I get 490mbps.

I've tested on the latest 11" iPad Pro, MBP and essentially new devices, but all seems to give 200mbps download. Oddly enough, I consistently get 100mbps upload.

Thoughts?

Before saw your reply, I just bought Archer AX10 at RM271.50 (after Lazada discount vouchers) after read your website. Actually only my wife will use WiFi from 1st floor which directly on top of the living room which router put. The rest all usage in ground floor. I think Mesh wifi system maybe my future upgrade since now only use unifi 100mpbs.

Just bought yesterday from Lazada sales n not even send out. Lol Can't tell.... Should be better than Archer C5 that I used for few years.

This is why I always say all routers are not built equal.

WS880, Tenda AC18 and ASUS RT-AC68U share the same CPU so they can be modified to run ASUSWRT.

However, the radio circuitry is what really decide on the performance and some people even said WS880 performs like a RT-AC68U. 

What about the coverage? Ax20 or ax50 is better comparing to c2300?

I am currently looking for wifi 6 router to replace my c2300. I was a bit disappointed with c2300 because of the coverage is not really great. I live in a condo and it does not cover the whole house.

20 Mhz only for 2.4G
40 Mhz only for 5G, you can try to use 40/80 Mhz if the signal is strong enough

Basically, any neighbours that use 40 Mhz for 2.4G are idiots and are not being mindful of others

This is precisely what I'm talking about ...

The performance delta on 40 Mhz is negligible, and the main cause is congestion / interference on the 2.4 Ghz band

I live in a semi-d house mate, so there is obviously still interference, coming from several houses i.e not just the immediate next door neighbour

Most routers these days have a firmware option to completely switch off the wireless radio, whether 2.4 or 5 Ghz band, even both if you wish

So, unless you are living in a bungalow on a 1 acre land area, then I can understand why you're raving on about your wifi setup

blacktubi
House type: landed house
Size of house: 25'x70', single floor
Features required: don't know
Number of devices connected to WiFi: 8 or more
Internet Speed: 100Mbps unifi
Budget: Around RM400

I'm considering the TP Link AX20 or AX50, which one is better? About RM20 differences.
And wireless adapter is either TP Link TX3000E or Asus RT AX58BT? About RM50 differences.

Or could you recommend any better alternative, TQ?

1) Which router did you get from TM?
2) How is the performance of the AX50?
3) Does it have significant or minor improvement?

I may get it on 11.11, hope it gets discount.

Guys think twice before buying TP-Link AX73

I just installed unifi few days ago and the contractor tell me tp-link is so bad a lot customer say it has many problems, dlink is the best. I don't believe him because dlink is so old school.

So i ordered AX73 from tplink online flagship store.

I consider myself computer savvy and i have difficulty getting this router connect to internet, it won't connect even i put the correct PPPoE details, after some restart i finally managed to get it connect.

So i started the speed and ping test.

The surfing speed became like i am using mobile internet to tether, there is some frequent ping time out, some rare ping spike. Only positive is that speedtest can cap my unifi subscription speed.

Things doesn't end here, after i switch off and on the power switch of router, the 5G wifi SSID become the same as the 2G wifi SSID (5G being renamed to _2G).

Then the internet won't connect, i have to manually go to 192.168.0.1 to click on button to recheck the internet (takes about 1 minute waiting for the software to check connection) each time i restart the power switch in order to connect to internet.

I did swap between unifi stock router in between to make sure it is not my fibre line problem, also both using same DNS.

At this point i really WTF already, i can't believe i just spend RM400 for this shit, resale also out of the question, how am i going to sell product this shit to someone, even as a individual i feel shame if i wanted to sell this shit to someone. I think if i sell RM200 in garage sales also nobody want to take it after reading my post.

I don't think such company will refund me, so my money is gone case.

This is when i am using AX73



This is after i use unifi stock router

I need help! i just upgrade 100Mbps to 300Mbps, but the speed is still remain as 100Mbps.

Unifi there, i have call and ask them reset my port,but the speed is still remain. im using tenda router supporting 800Mbps speed. help!

I suggest disabling WiFi 6 mode on 2.4Ghz band irregardless of the brand of router.

On WiFi 6, 2.4Ghz will run at 1024QAM for slightly faster speed but it will result in a much weaker and noisier signal. Old 2.4Ghz devices do not benefit from 1024QAM. Disabling WiFi 6 will revert it to 64QAM which will allow the router to provide a stronger 2.4Ghz signal for old devices.


Image taken from the datasheet of a WiFi 6 product. Notice higher TX rate at MCS9 compare to MCS11 (1024QAM).

I suggest disabling WiFi 6 mode on 2.4Ghz band irregardless of the brand of router.

On WiFi 6, 2.4Ghz will run at 1024QAM for slightly faster speed but it will result in a much weaker and noisier signal. Old 2.4Ghz devices do not benefit from 1024QAM. Disabling WiFi 6 will revert it to 64QAM which will allow the router to provide a stronger 2.4Ghz signal for old devices.


Image taken from the datasheet of a WiFi 6 product. Notice higher TX rate at MCS9 compare to MCS11 (1024QAM).

ac86u and ac87u is a bit out of budget...any other recommendation below 250?

Hi Sifu,
Planning to move into WIFI 6, need your advise to get router that worth and suit my use.
Currently using TENDA AC18 AC190

House type: Condo
Size of house: 7th floor, 1100 sqf
Features required: Have NAS so prefer at least 4 LAN port, current modem have 4 port ( 3 usable as 1 for line in) seems not very enough). Good to have VPN but not a must.
Number of devices connected to WiFi: 1 NAS and 1 desktop on LAN, 2 - 3 laptop, more than 5 phone + tablet, tvbox, a few Xiaomi smart device
Internet Speed: TIMES 500mbps
Budget: RM200 - 300

no rush to buy now. maybe will wait next big sales (11.11 maybe).

been looking at TP-Link Archer AX10 / Archer AX20
notice that the main different is as below:



Would like to ask 802.11ax on 2.4 GHz is important?

how far u test it? any wall between?

i using 300 mbps, router on downstair, test from upstair, my room,1 floor + 1 wall.

btw, i using xs max, so 80mhz only.

Also, when i try to access 192.168.0.1, it always prompt me an error page on 1st try, have to key in second time and enter only can get into config, do you experience the same?