Affordable option to get the quickest Wi-Fi connection.
Affordable option to get the quickest Wi-Fi connection.
We recently upgraded to gigabit internet but continue using a mix of our built-in router/modem setup and an Asus RT-ACRH13, which functions as both a router and a wireless access point. Devices sometimes fail to switch between the two when moving around the house, and there are times when certain gadgets activate and block connections until we restart the Asus router. Signal strength remains strong throughout, though speeds plummet—from about 200-250mb/s down to around 50mb/s or less. All devices are AC-powered; my phones (iPhone 6s+, Galaxy S6 Edge+, LG G6) and PCs with Intel AC7620 chips handle the connection well, but my laptop (Precision M6700) consistently gets only 300mb/s or less, while my mother’s laptop (Satellite P775D) manages roughly 50-100mb/s. Additional problems include the Windows laptop sometimes crashing the Wi-Fi driver during connections, and the Galaxy S6 Edge not connecting to the 5GHz band on either router. Overall, I had two options: either install a budget mesh system or invest in a more capable router for better coverage and performance. Idea 1 suggests a Linksys Velop AC4600 (AC2200 + two AC1200 satellites) around $160, which would provide Ethernet to all PCs—though it might not match the wireless speeds, it could help with the laptop issue. Idea 2 proposes purchasing a stronger router to cover the whole space and deliver solid speeds instead of relying on a mesh network.**
many routers, even those with Gigabit ports, can’t handle gigabit internet because they lack sufficient power for Gigabit LAN to WAN (NAT). Now I’ll consider ASUS, as they offer an AI mesh technology. You can purchase a good router and test it; if it doesn’t work, you can upgrade to another model and set it up as a mesh network.
It's a Moca router, not a modem or router you have. FIOS doesn't use a traditional modem; it has an ONT with some inside or outside your home, delivering internet and TV via Ethernet or coaxial cable. Coax is for TV if you have one. For speeds over 100 Mbps, they likely connect directly to the internet through Ethernet. So, if your ONT has an active Ethernet port, you can connect any router there and it should function properly.
During the upgrade, we needed to connect an Ethernet cable from the fios box in our garage to the Verizon router. I intended to connect a new router straight to this Ethernet cable while keeping the Verizon router responsible for TV over coaxial service.