which router (usb support) for timemachine and file access?

[phrehdd]

Chino - it takes a special breed to post in one thread a deliberate half truth and then have it revealed it is a half truth in another thread. People can judge for themselves based on your own words. All I can say is it is good that your Airport Extreme works with the second ISP.

 

[chino101]

I haven't made any statements that could be considered to be a half truth. Just because there are different internet and modem/router setups in different countries, does not mean that my individual experience is not true.

I have written about issues I was having in one thread due to a feature missing from an AE, that replaced a faulty R7000 that had said feature. I have then provided an answer about the overall experience I have had using the new router over a short period of a few days (albeit with new ISP), and the experience I have had with my old R7000 (which didn't live up to expectations).

 

[robgendreau]

I too use a R7000 after giving up on my Airport Extreme.

I feel the R7000 has an easier to use interface, with both simple and advanced options. Airport Utility is pretty simple to use, if your needs are simple. Where that simplicity becomes a detriment is when one DOES have to deal with more advanced issues, like routing behind some residential gateways (and watch your ISP or cable guy roll his or her eyes when they have to deal with Apple equipment vs the more standardized Netgears, D-Links, etc; not fair, but that's life), setting up with the instructions from less Apple friendly devices, etc.

Also, no external antennas. Rather limiting for certain installations.

Finally, Apple sunsets their network stuff. The old Airport Utility doesn't run on the new system software, so older Airport Expresses and Extremes that are prefectly usable are now bricked. OTOH, routers that use browser interfaces keep chugging along, and are useful for connecting drives, printers, etc etc.

Most people can, however, get by with Apple's rather meh product, if they are willing to pay the extra money for it. But one can do a lot better.

 

[phrehdd]

Robgendreau, you brought up some valid points about AE vs r7000 (and other standard routers).

Perhaps my biggest beef with the Apple product is that for the price, there are routers out there that both perform better with WiFi, USB connectivity and a more standard set of features that router users should learn about. It really isn't much but it is absent or dumbed down on the AE.

I'll just say if someone is insistent on an AE at home and wants my help, I help them. If they want a new router, I tell them an AE will work but for that price they can do a lot better or for that matter, at a lesser price get the same but a more robust front end via web.

As for me, I'd take that r7000 router over the AE any day of the week. I might also take the ASUS counterpart as well as it is a good flexible performer.

Last - about 3 months ago, I set up an r7000 for someone who had a two story house. After the set up, I went through lightly the interface for the web front and also the app that Netgear offers. They are not tech savvy by any means but it didn't take long for them to get the hang of it and a month after install, they wanted to add some of the additional features. I charged a cup of coffee naturally. This was an Apple oriented family. I mention this because the father commented at one point that he had concerns and thought that he needed an Apple router to make a network work. So far, they seem to be happy with that particular router. I am sure their experience parallels some who use an AE with less demands. - To each their own.