Considering a router upgrade
Considering a router upgrade
My household is based in the United States and relies on AT&T as our internet provider. We subscribe to their premium plan, which includes fiber connections to a standard router. This device generates two types of signals: a 5GHz wireless connection and a 2.4GHz one. The 5GHz offers speed but can be inconsistent; it works well for streaming and browsing, though it struggles with online gaming due to brief interruptions. The 2.4GHz provides steadier performance, sufficient for playing Waframe and watching YouTube simultaneously. My personal computer is not directly connected to the router, while my parent uses an iMac that connects through a wall in their bedroom. I’m unsure of the precise speeds we receive since I don’t rely on speed test sites. I’ve learned that ISPs sometimes boost speeds beyond normal limits to appear faster than advertised, especially when customers pay for their service. While our current setup functions adequately (except occasionally), I’m curious about possible router upgrades that could enhance our internet usage. Thank you.
The best approach is to disconnect as many devices from the Wi-Fi as you can, and connect everything via Ethernet whenever possible. Then, if you're confident, adjust your router settings as needed to improve performance. Only do this if you understand what you're doing, because incorrect changes can harm your network. If you're prepared to invest in a quality router, go ahead. The all-in-one models from ISPs often have poor performance. Using your own router will enhance reliability and extend coverage. To measure speeds, try DSLSpeedReports—it conducts thorough tests, including bufferbloat checks. You can also use fast.com to see if Netflix throttles your connection, since it's hosted by Netflix on their servers.
They provide the top option of Gigabit Fiber. You won't experience true Gigabit performance on WiFi because interference limits its speed in real conditions. Expect some challenges: 1) AT&T won't let you fully replace their gateway; you must switch it to pass-through mode to avoid double NAT. 2) You must choose a router capable of Gigabit speeds if that's your plan; just having Gigabit ports doesn't guarantee performance. Check LAN to WAN and WAN to LAN speeds on sites like smallnetbuilder.com for detailed info. 3) WiFi is unlikely to reach Gigabit speeds over distance with interference—WiFi 6 offers the best chance for maximum speed.
Considered an alternative, but I understand the drawbacks of longer cables affecting latency and speed. A ~50-70ft cable might still offer better performance than WiFi. Checked my PC's wireless card—it only supports up to WiFi 5. For stronger options, I recommend looking into WiFi 6 cards.
Ethernet distance shows only a tiny change in performance compared to speed or delay, roughly an order of magnitude less than what WiFi experiences close to the router, and it will consistently outperform WiFi.
The parents are restricting my ability to run a cable, so I’m relying on WiFi. Are you referring to cards that use Intel’s tech? PCPartPick doesn’t directly list Intel WiFi 6 options, but the screenshot shows cards they do. The ASUS AX58BT appears suitable. Checking Smallnetbuilder’s router rankings, the AX5700 and AX6000 seem to score well based on performance and stats. You’re wondering if those models are regarded as strong choices. Smallnetbuilder doesn’t provide clear details on WAN/LAN and LAN/WAN speeds. Regarding the passthrough setup, I’m curious if using the Ethernet ports on the UVerse router and the wireless channels on another router can work together without affecting speeds, especially since those devices don’t seem to have dedicated Ethernet ports.