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Help chosing a Wifi Router please

pdxmatts said:
When the Xfinity service guy came to give us a new modem after ours died about a year ago, he told us it would be better if we got our own router compared to using their modem/wifi router combo they had. So, I am assuming he gave us a modem that doesn't have wifi included with it? IDK..Lol
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If your package from xfinity included the Internet he should have included a wireless router. I have no extra charges on my account for the wireless router they left me.

If you do not have a wireless network set up for your house, either call Comcast or go with the AirPort Extreme unit. I can not imagine not having a wireless network anymore.
 
Newtons Apple said:
If your package from xfinity included the Internet he should have included a wireless router. I have no extra charges on my account for the wireless router they left me.

If you do not have a wireless network set up for your house, either call Comcast or go with the AirPort Extreme unit. I can not imagine not having a wireless network anymore.
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I do, I just had to buy my own router (Belkin N450). It did seem weird that the service guy told me to do that. He was not very good. He was at my house for hours trying to set it up and swore in front of my kids. I reported him.
 
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pdxmatts said:
I do, just had to buy my own router (Belkin N450). It did seem weird that the service guy told me to do that. He was not very good. He was at my house for hours trying to set it up.
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It is possible that you plan did not cover a wireless modem.

I am no fan of Comcast. In fact I dislike them very much as do most who use them. My X1 equipment they installed is slow and stupid. My bedroom HDTV box continues to lockup and require the painful 5+ minute reboot on a daily basis. They have replaced multiple times which tells me it is a signal problem. The hatred for Comcast is popular in my neighborhood and from what I read on the internet, is universal.
 
Newtons Apple said:
It is possible that you plan did not cover a wireless modem.

I am no fan of Comcast. In fact I dislike them very much as do most who use them. My X1 equipment they installed is slow and stupid. My bedroom HDTV box continues to lockup and require the painful 5+ minute reboot on a daily basis. They have replaced multiple times which tells me it is a signal problem. The hatred for Comcast is popular in my neighborhood and from what I read on the internet, is universal.
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I see them as a necessary evil to deal with, as they are the only ISP in my area that provides 105 Mbps. Every time I experience a slowdown in the service once after I do a speed test it gets fixed. Also by checking other ISP websites for prices and packages the service gets steady. As soon as any of their competitors offer something faster I will switch.
 
McGiord said:
I see them as a necessary evil to deal with, as they are the only ISP in my area that provides 105 Mbps. Every time I experience a slowdown in the service once after I do a speed test it gets fixed. Also by checking other ISP websites for prices and packages the service gets steady. As soon as any of their competitors offer something faster I will switch.
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Agreed. We have Dish or Comcast. I picked Disk for my office as it was cheaper but you can predict rain by the loss of signal on the Dish and I am not willing to put up with that at the house.

Part of the reason Comcast is such a POS to deal with is the lack of good choices.
 
Never had any issues with Comcast. I do need to call them once a year and threaten to quit to gget a better deal. But I kind of like doing that. See how many free channels they will pile on to keep me.

But Google is coming here. So I will be moving to that for the speed improvements.
 
I've been trying to research routers still. Is it worth it to get an AC router if just two of our iPhones can use it? Should I look at the 6th generation AirPort Extreme or would the 5th generation be better for what I have?

2 iPhone 6's
2 iPhone 5's
Xbox One
Xbox 360
PS3
Nintendo Wii
Wii U
MacBook Pro late 2011
Nintendo 3DS XL

We don't use some of them. Mostly the PS3 and Wii for Netflix or Hulu Plus. The main ones on Wifi all the time are the 4 iPhones, Xbox's and the MacBook Pro
 
The 6th gen is a better router than the 5th, even if you don't have any AC devices. Get the 6th gen.
 
For a dead simple WiFi setup, I would go with ASUS. Three steps and a network name and your done. The AC66R (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320157) is awesome. It looks great, has far better signal than the AirPorts, and can even work as a Time Machine backup hub. You can also create your own cloud service if you wanted too. Lots of great features + great WiFi. I'd only buy an AirPort if I wanted it to be an art piece. From someone that works in networking, go with something that values performance over looks.

The AC87U is the newest if price isn't an issue. If you want stable wireless performance with litteraly signal everywhere, that is your device. http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTAC87U/
 
DayOfChaos said:
For a dead simple WiFi setup, I would go with ASUS. Three steps and a network name and your done. The AC66R (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320157) is awesome. It looks great, has far better signal than the AirPorts, and can even work as a Time Machine backup hub. You can also create your own cloud service if you wanted too. Lots of great features + great WiFi. I'd only buy an AirPort if I wanted it to be an art piece. From someone that works in networking, go with something that values performance over looks.

The AC87U is the newest if price isn't an issue. If you want stable wireless performance with litteraly signal everywhere, that is your device. http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTAC87U/
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Is there a difference between RT-AC66U and RT-AC66R? NewEgg on eBay is selling a refurbished one for $99.99 same as the one on your link, but cheaper. But, Amazon is selling Brand new for $119.99 direct from Asus. Do these run hot? I have read concerns about that issue. Thanks
 
cababah said:
This ^

The new Airport Extremes are awesome. Much improved over the previous gen AirPort Extreme (flat version) I had before. You can get them used on eBay of refurbished like the previous poster mentioned. I still feel at $199 it was well worth the price. With 802.11ac, I'll be keeping it for a while...
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Is the Airport Extreme an easy setup? Can I just plug it in and connect?
 
cababah said:
Paco II beat me to it. It's probably the easiest router to set up with the Airport Utility App.
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Okay, I'm going to purchase one after Christmas. I have no patience for setting things up or even reading an instructional manual. I can set and build things without instructions. I've yet to set-up a router which is why I asked. Do I need my MBA or 6+ to set it up or will it have a display window to guide me? I just want to be able to plug it in and have the signal ready for me to log-in my devices and create a password.

I currently am leasing a TWC Motorola router for $5 or $10 month and I don't think it has the new ac support.

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Paco II said:
Very easy. You'll have some minor setup that the Airport Utility will easily guide you through.
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Alright… as indicated I'll make that purchase after Christmas. I'm excited to try it out.

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cababah said:
Paco II beat me to it. It's probably the easiest router to set up with the Airport Utility App.
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WAIT…? The Airport Utility App…? this means I need to download this app to my iPhone or MBA right?
 
ET iPhone Home said:
WAIT…? The Airport Utility App…? this means I need to download this app to my iPhone or MBA right?
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You should already have it on your MBA :) Just Command-Space, AIRPORT UTILITY and you should see it in Spotlight.

There’s also an iOS App, but I’ve never had a need for it, I manage our network from a Mac.

Over the last 20 or so years, I’ve owned dozens of routers from all the major manufacturers (including various models using custom firmware), I finally bought an AirPort Extreme (the previous model) and it has worked fantastic.

No issues with the AP Extreme WiFi - though admittedly, all the WiFi gear in the homestead is Apple (everything else is wired). It’s being used via WiFi by 2 Macs, 2 iPhones, 1 Mini 2, 1 Apple TV (via wired connection to the Airport [and additional switches]: PS3, XB360, a second AppleTV, a SmartTV, Pioneer AVR and 4 servers :D )
 
pdxmatts said:
Is there a difference between RT-AC66U and RT-AC66R? NewEgg on eBay is selling a refurbished one for $99.99 same as the one on your link, but cheaper. But, Amazon is selling Brand new for $119.99 direct from Asus. Do these run hot? I have read concerns about that issue. Thanks
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If you have T-Mobile. They will give u a RT-68U for free. Stay away from the 66U. If you want a crash course on routers go to http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com

If you want a crash course on your ISP or modems go to
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/comcast
 
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Another vote for the AirPort Extreme. Also make sure your modem supports all the latest tech comcast offers. If not I'd recommend an Arris SB6141.
 
If you want the best performance at a low cost absolutely skip the Apple Airport models and grab something like a Ubiquiti Unifi + Ubiquiti Edgerouter Lite. Gobs more performance and range out of their wireless kit. There's other brands doing similar kit, but I've use primarily there stuff at work and home, and I couldn't be more pleased.
 
I can't wait to get my new to me Apple AirPort Extreme. I got a 5th gen on eBay for $35. Ditching my trusty OLD Linksys WRT54G.
 
Apple routers although easy to setup but lack the more advanced features.

I have had AC66U for couple years now and works great. Have owned Apple routers in past and found them too limited. Asus has newer models out now so get those.
 
Peepo said:
Apple routers although easy to setup but lack the more advanced features.

I have had AC66U for couple years now and works great. Have owned Apple routers in past and found them too limited. Asus has newer models out now so get those.
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This is true. And if that is important too you the Airport models should be overlooked.

That said I remember the old school days of port forwarding, static IP's and placing certain IP's in DMZ of the router, plus a ton of other things JUST to make them work.

When I first got my Airport I didnt know how much of these features it lacked. However its been nearly a year with it now and everything has worked flawlessly (PS3, PS4, ATV, 2 mbp, iMac, iPhones and multiple Android devices, window boxes, xbox 360, 2 appletv's, and other various things) without modifying a single settings. I've NEVER had to power cycle it either.

So while it may lack some advance settings one should keep their usage in mind and whether it dictates needing those settings anyway. Also a lot of those settings you can still set its only some of the more advanced stuff you cannot.
 
I'll add in the Airport Extreme, I have it and everyone who comes over to use my wifi always comments how they can walk down to the end of the block and still have it running smooth.
 
If you are a Tmobile customer, you can get a brand new Asus AC68U router for free! This retails for about $180 on Amazon. This is my first AC router and the speed difference is unbelievable.
 
Peepo said:
Apple routers although easy to setup but lack the more advanced features.

I have had AC66U for couple years now and works great. Have owned Apple routers in past and found them too limited. Asus has newer models out now so get those.
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I personally have both ASUS 68u and AirPort Extreme and have set up countless AirPort Extreme for family, friends ext.. I have not run into a situation were the airport extreme could not handle. What Advanced features that are worth mentioning that the airport does not have.?
 
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