Call comcast or buy your own modem, this will make more difference than you might think. Modem first, AC router later.
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All iPads Worth it to upgrade router?
- Thread starter td1439
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I noticed a huge difference when I upgraded to Wireless N a few years back.
And especially now, that I have the devices that can utilise it.
I have a 100mb/s internet connection and my iPad 3 used to top out around 40mb/s. Prior to that on wireless G, it used to top out around 12-15mb/s.
And now, with my iPad Air (which has MIMO wifi), I max out my internet speed, hitting 98mb/s!! (Photo attached)
Great for internet, but especially great if streaming HD movies over your home network.
And especially now, that I have the devices that can utilise it.
I have a 100mb/s internet connection and my iPad 3 used to top out around 40mb/s. Prior to that on wireless G, it used to top out around 12-15mb/s.
And now, with my iPad Air (which has MIMO wifi), I max out my internet speed, hitting 98mb/s!! (Photo attached)
Great for internet, but especially great if streaming HD movies over your home network.
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Yeah, probably a valid point. 50 mbps would run us another 10 bucks a month from Comcast, so it's not totally out of the question. If we did that I suppose I'd upgrade. Thanks for the help.
You can buy your own modem!? I thought comcast had tight reign over that sort of stuff? I currently 'rent' this one from them...
So far, it's been cheaper for me to rent. Modem rental is $3/month and our modems have needed replacement at least once a year (hardware failure, upgrade to DOCSIS 3.0, etc). It's much faster to get a replacement modem from the local cable office than it is to RMA and ship the modem for warranty repair/replacement.
Best to get one on their approved vendor list, Google it. They publish such a list.
You can find deals at least as low as $40, if not lower. Surge protect it, the coax and the power.
It starts to pay for itself in a little over a year. Dad ran the same Motorola Surfboard for probably a decade.
I used the same Surfboard all through college, and apt life after that. Probably 6-7yrs. Use fiber now though.
Only if it doesn't fail. Otherwise, you're on the hook for replacement after warranty expires. I've never had much luck with modems. I've actually purchased my own cable modem before (back when DOCSIS 3.0 modems were going for $100+). Broke after warranty expired so decided to just rent one from the cable company. What's $3/month? Just $180 in 5 years?
A Related Modem/Router Question
Menel or anyone else, not the sharpest knife in the drawer but need some input.
I use ATT w/ a DSL, in a small apt., had to replace my original, all in one base model 2wire modem/router combo.
I ended up w/ a PACE DSL Gateway Model 4111N @ $99.00 NIB @ BBuy, an all in one wireless combo like my previous & it works well enough for Wi-Fi to my IMAC/iPad.
My question is, might there be an alternative for something like this NIB (which I prefer) as I am still in my BBuy return window? Thx in advance for any replies/input here.
Menel or anyone else, not the sharpest knife in the drawer but need some input.
I use ATT w/ a DSL, in a small apt., had to replace my original, all in one base model 2wire modem/router combo.
I ended up w/ a PACE DSL Gateway Model 4111N @ $99.00 NIB @ BBuy, an all in one wireless combo like my previous & it works well enough for Wi-Fi to my IMAC/iPad.
My question is, might there be an alternative for something like this NIB (which I prefer) as I am still in my BBuy return window? Thx in advance for any replies/input here.
Don't know the 'best'. Very few options for combined modem+router.
I have used the 2Wire for years. I disable its wireless interface, then plug my Airport Express/Extreme's WAN port into it. Set DMZPlus mode to the Airport, then it takes over with an external IP. And the Airport handles my entire home network.
where? Can't be in the U.S. We're so far behind...I just saw a tweet from friend in Atlanta GA getting free upgrade from 25 to 46.Thx for the prompt reply, I do not have/need an Airport Express (small size apt) & I like the all in one feature + wireless offering that is ATT compatible.
I do not use the rental option due to not having a modem while they SLOWLY ship a replacement if/when their base model has to be replaced. Thx again for the input.
Verizon FiOS goes up to 500/100 Mbps in some areas, I believe.
IPad Air at my father's in Chattanooga. 100/100. I think $58/mo alone, but he had tv bundle. For $70/mo get 1gb/1gb service, but hard to justify, can't really max out the base 100 service.
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I have last gen airport extreme and i am very pleased with it.
I also had the wrt54 router before it and the main reason i switched was that it could only deliver 54 mbps in wifi and i got a 100 mbps connection athome.
If u can afford the extreme then buy it. I would.
Btw i can get 1000 mbps connection if i want, thats 1 gbps
But for the moment i settle with the 100 mbps. I live in Sweden, Europe.
I also had the wrt54 router before it and the main reason i switched was that it could only deliver 54 mbps in wifi and i got a 100 mbps connection athome.
If u can afford the extreme then buy it. I would.
Btw i can get 1000 mbps connection if i want, thats 1 gbps
But for the moment i settle with the 100 mbps. I live in Sweden, Europe.
This must be new, I don't recall this being available 1-2 years ago. Cool, I'm moving to a city w100mbps by next spring, lol.
I have a 50 down and 25 up from my ISP (Optimum). I am using the ASUS Dual-Band Wireless-N 600 Router (RT-N56U). I get around 58 down and 22 up on my wireless laptop and 33 down and 18 up on my iPad air. I have QOS set up for 60 down and 30 up. Why do iOS devices not get the full speeds like my computer does (which gets even more than what my ISP gives). The iPad Air has MIMO wifi antennas but still does not show any difference in speeds from my iPhone 5 or iPod touch 5. Any help? My router is great and I recommend it BTW.
Which band are you using, 2.4 or 5GHz? Also, were both devices tested at the same location as the laptop?
One thing to say I am a network guy. I can set up routers and know how to trouble shoot them but this problem I cannot fix.
Yes. I am connected to the same access point that connects to my router, testing the connection from the same location which is 10ft away with a wall between from where I am testing the connection.
I think it is 2.4GHz
This access point:
TRENDnet 300Mbps Wireless N Access Point TEW-638APB (Black)
http://amzn.com/B001KUV49U
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Not dual-band then. Perhaps the receiver on your laptop is just better than the iPad's? At that distance, I get even worse throughput than you do (~15-20 Mbps) on all my iPads (apartment complex with lots of interference). I just ended up installing a wireless router (configured as access point) connected via ethernet in my room so I'd get better throughput on my mobile devices.
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Worth it to upgrade router?
My Fathers house.
100/100 fiber service -gigabit to-> WNDR3700, DDWRT, wifi disabled -100base to-> 3 airport expresses extending wifi.
The WNDR3700 supplies DHCP and routing. We used to use its wifi, but could never get WDS working reliably. Hence the 3 airport express hotspots.
Desktop gigabit into WNDR3700 could speedtest 112/101.
2x2 MIMO IPad Air into 2x2 Airports due to overhead and the 100mb interface, should have only been able to speedtest 80/80. But it actually hit 93/83, see earlier in thread.
Turned on its 2x2 wifi 5ghz on the WNDR and set a channel far from the airports to take advantage of its gigabit link. ~60mbps speedtest, only linking as if 1x1.
No clue why. IPad Air may not be playing perfectly with non-Apple access points.
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Dual band
Simultaneous dual band
dual spacial stream / 2x2 or 3x3 / MIMO
Are 3 different things.
IPad Air is Dual Band (not-simultaneous), MIMO 2x2.
Asus n56u is. Dual Band, Simultaneous, MIMO 2x2.
It *should* work. It *didn't* work with Dad's ASUS.
Interesting.
My Fathers house.
100/100 fiber service -gigabit to-> WNDR3700, DDWRT, wifi disabled -100base to-> 3 airport expresses extending wifi.
The WNDR3700 supplies DHCP and routing. We used to use its wifi, but could never get WDS working reliably. Hence the 3 airport express hotspots.
Desktop gigabit into WNDR3700 could speedtest 112/101.
2x2 MIMO IPad Air into 2x2 Airports due to overhead and the 100mb interface, should have only been able to speedtest 80/80. But it actually hit 93/83, see earlier in thread.
Turned on its 2x2 wifi 5ghz on the WNDR and set a channel far from the airports to take advantage of its gigabit link. ~60mbps speedtest, only linking as if 1x1.
No clue why. IPad Air may not be playing perfectly with non-Apple access points.
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Caution.
Dual band
Simultaneous dual band
dual spacial stream / 2x2 or 3x3 / MIMO
Are 3 different things.
IPad Air is Dual Band (not-simultaneous), MIMO 2x2.
Asus n56u is. Dual Band, Simultaneous, MIMO 2x2.
It *should* work. It *didn't* work with Dad's ASUS.
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Yes, I'm aware of what those mean. I asked if the poster was connecting to 2.4GHz or 5GHz and he mentioned the devices were connected via wi-fi to his access point (TrendNet TEW-638APB N300) and not directly to the dual-band Asus RT-N56U.