802.11ac Phone - New Time Capsule Time?

[JRoDDz]

In the past I must have had at least 3 or 4 non apple routers. IE: linksys, cisco etc.. they were all garbage that required reboots every couple of weeks or so. Then, ever since getting Apple Airport Extreme, I don't even think about WiFi anymore. It just works. 24/7 365 days a year.

 

[alphaod]

Don't bother with the Time Capsule. The wireless performance on the new Apple APs are pretty terrible when at the same price you can get something better from Asus or Netgear. Just attached USB 3.0 drive to those and they all support Time Machine.

 

[DayOfChaos]

They might be better technically, but those things are always a PITA to set up, troubleshoot, upgrade firmware, and maintain (especially if you are giving one to say your parents in a remote location). So easy to set up and monitor Airports from a Mac or iOS device.

Yeah, I know you are gonna say you've never had a problem with yours, but that is b.s.. I have dealt with dozens of these Netgear, Belkin, Linksys type routers and they are always total pieces of crap that have annoying issues. Tried it so many times and I am done with them. Airports are maybe not perfect, but they are by far the easiest to just get things working.

You obviously haven't touched a router since like, 2006. I can't speak for Netgear's junk, but I own ASUS's AC87U and AC68U and it was literally a three step process. The 87U can reach down three houses before it finally drops from my phone.

I could even use an app on my phone using AiCloud to set it up if I wanted to. If you want a quality router, ASUS is the only choice in my book. Yeah, Apple's look good but that's about it. Personally, I think this looks better than the Airport.

 

[PaythePiper]

You obviously haven't touched a router since like, 2006. I can't speak for Netgear's junk, but I own ASUS's AC87U and AC68U and it was literally a three step process. The 87U can reach down three houses before it finally drops from my phone.

I could even use an app on my phone using AiCloud to set it up if I wanted to. If you want a quality router, ASUS is the only choice in my book. Yeah, Apple's look good but that's about it. Personally, I think this looks better than the Airport.

Image

I install internet for a living, so I see every router known to man on a daily basis. Apples are crap, net gears are a little better, link sys-cisco ( which I have at the moment) are pretty good. Asus is the new kid on the block, so I'm hesitant, but intrigued. My next AC router will prob be an Asus.

 

[jmxp69]

This got off topic quick. Obviously lots of personal experiences too. I had a whole long reply put together but figured it would just flame the opinion fire, so I'll just say: I'm invested in the overall ecosystem: TV, mobile devices, computers, whole home audio, wireless. Not in the cards for me to change.

Throughput on my LAN isn't terrible though:

PS Before some wise guy comments on the Win7 VM and my '' ecosystem--I have to have Windows for certain automotive software I use. They don't have a Mac version.

 

[alphaod]

PS Before some wise guy comments on the Win7 VM and my '' ecosystem--I have to have Windows for certain automotive software I use. They don't have a Mac version.

Ah, so do I. Except I don't use a VM. I have this budget computer I found on sale for $150 that I use to code my car with.

 

[boomhower]

WiFi Syncs



Streaming from NAS. Transferring files from computer.



I don't need to dig out my USB cable every time.

Streaming isn't going to be any better unless your current router is subpar to start with. Syncs will be faster though. Just seems to be a lot to spend for faster iTunes syncs.

Now if you have other devices that take advantage then it is certainly worth it. I have an AC router and would like to add an AC card to my PowerBook if it's possible.

But I wouldn't get an Apple router. I had one and had to replace it because it doesn't have features that just about every other router in its price class do. I needed a static IP service for remote access to my home surveillance system. Apple believes that's to advanced for consumers apparently. That is the cost for the simplicity. I bought an Asus AC66U and flashed it to DD-WRT. It's has much improved coverage and is much faster than my Apple router. (Granted it was a generation older Apple router but it's still all N devices.)

 

[Crzyrio]

Streaming isn't going to be any better unless your current router is subpar to start with. Syncs will be faster though. Just seems to be a lot to spend for faster iTunes syncs.

Now if you have other devices that take advantage then it is certainly worth it. I have an AC router and would like to add an AC card to my PowerBook if it's possible.

But I wouldn't get an Apple router. I had one and had to replace it because it doesn't have features that just about every other router in its price class do. I needed a static IP service for remote access to my home surveillance system. Apple believes that's to advanced for consumers apparently. That is the cost for the simplicity. I bought an Asus AC66U and flashed it to DD-WRT. It's has much improved coverage and is much faster than my Apple router. (Granted it was a generation older Apple router but it's still all N devices.)

File transfers from NAS to iPhone as well

No doubt buying it just for iTunes syncs might not be worth it and definitely agree the Apple routers are not the best

I have the Asus RT-AC68U and the speeds are phenomenal from my NAS to rMBP