Hello all, I need router recommendation for my new house. It’s relatively a small house, only around 805sqft. However, I will have a lot of smart home devices connected to the router. So I will need to ensure my connection is strong all the time at every corner of the house and also at the main door as I have a camera and smart lock installed.

I will temporarily subscribe to Digi or Celcom Fibre before subscribing to TIME. TIME confirms it will come to my place eventually but needs some time. Eventually I may subscribe a minimum 500Mbps plan.

Any router that is around RM 500 or I can stretch to RM 600? Must be able to use for all above ISPs. None of my devices will be connected via wired LAN, pure wireless connection. Should I also invest into Mesh system? Last but not least, it must be fast to reconnect back if there’s any disconnection or router restarts.

I will prefer Asus due to its consistent update but if other brands are also good and easy to set up, I’m OK. I’m not so good in networking technical stuff but the basic knowledge I’m still OK, so long it has clear tutorial for me to follow.

I will need it only in 2-3 months time, so I still have time for this. Feel free to suggest ya. Thanks!

I assume you meant Mbps right?

Thanks for your kind recommendation, I will look into it. Looks good from what you described.

Is it worth paying additional RM 140 for Asus TUF Gaming AX3000? Or just settle with the normal AX3000? Good enough? I’m not a gamer (I only play Switch lol) but I want good and stable WiFi connection around the house especially for 2.4GHz as a lot of my smart home devices are only able to connect to 2.4GHz. I won’t want to use LAN cable by the way. I intend to keep everything wireless in my small house.

I’m using iPhone 12 Pro Max and Lenovo Carbon X1 if that matters.

blacktubi, care to shed some lights here? I read your review on your site and after that I am torn between the gaming and normal version.

Hmm.. I can consider this option too.. In this case, I will need a few APs right?

I will mainly use for smart bulbs and will be handled by Tmall Genie (天猫精灵), quite a lot of bulbs actually. It's China brand - TOSPO 得邦照明, the route will be from bulbs and connect to Tmall Genie.

Others are like Xiaomi robot vacuum and rice cooker. I have Abrain door smart lock and Eken V7 doorbell+cloud camera. In addition, I also have smart curtains also will be handled by Tmall Genie or Xiaomi Xiaoai. If that matters as well, I will have Daikin aircons that have WiFi capability for me to use the smart app. Last but not least, my smart TV is Sony 55" X8000H and will use with Astro Ultra Box.

Thanks for the suggestion, let me read through this as well. Hopefully not difficult to set up.

Noted on your suggestion, I will check it out.

No, I still haven't moved in yet. I intend to straight buy a better router for future proof. I plan to subscribe to Digi/Celcom Fibre before TIME comes in later which they confirmed they will need a bit of time but I have too many devices that need to use Internet, so I have to apply something temporarily.

If I were to subscribe to 500Mbps or 1Gbps later, won't have issue right?

I mean no issue if I use this router with TIME 500Mbps or 1Gbps? But TM needs to pay for the remaining months and RM 500 so it is not worth. I may only need to use for few months only.

Oh that doesn't look cheap..

I will use the stock firmware anyway, so not an issue for me. However, I have a lot of IoT devices and blacktubi suggested me with 86u instead. Now the question is should I stick to AC86u or AX86u? But the price difference is too significant.

blacktubi, do you have other recommendation for Asus AX routers based on my requirement? Besides AX86u. Is it still a wise idea to get AC routers in 2021? Though I understand AC86u is a good router but if no better recommendation, then I will still stick to AC86u.

Alright, I take your advice on that as many of my stuff are IoT. I will probably choose AC86u then, I saw it is less than RM 500 on Shopee.

If can use for another 3 years I think good enough for the money spent.

Got. Viewnet Shopee is selling for less than RM 500.

Hmm.. WiFi 6. Do you think I will have issue if I really upgrade my budget to AX86U? I'm still thinking if I should just close both eyes and go for this beast and use for few years.

This post has been edited by fruitie: Apr 16 2021, 03:20 PM

Yes, 2.4GHz speed will be slower but the coverage range is longer, it can reach more places. 5GHz speed is faster but coverage range is shorter.

Yeah probably but it is also affected by other factors as well.

Which router are you using now? Maybe can share and let others suggest what other options.

This post has been edited by fruitie: May 5 2021, 04:08 PM

I was thinking so hard and I asked a few friends as well, they said can try AX3000. So, I wanna get AX3000 TUF due to better specs, supposed to get only 2-3 months later when I wanna move in to my house.

Suddenly I saw a deal on Lazada for 5.5 and couldn't resist it. Not sure if it is a mistake on pricing, I bought it for RM 521.73 with shop voucher - RM 55 and some Lazada bonus voucher. For that price, I think maybe cannot even get the AX3000 (non TUF). Hope all OK later.

I got from IT COMP, I think they fixed the pricing now if pay with voucher.

Yeah, I found this deal unintentionally as I wasn't focusing so much on Lazada. I added my routers in Shopee instead but because I searched it before in Lazada, so it came up on first page when I opened the app. So lucky to spot it.

Yeah, it is. Arriving today.

No la, will never do that. My sister is using my UniFi account. So not nice to transfer it to my own house plus I may get TIME later.

After a lot of delays, I only managed to use it last month and now configured for Maxis Fibre. Works flawlessly and perfect for my small house, every single corner is covered now. Plus, Asus makes it so easy to set up these days, even a networking noob like me managed to do it with ease.